Shed clothes, buy PR - two ways to make it big in film industry

So what if her last release, Loot, bombed at the box office, actor Shweta Bharadwaj sees no reason to be cowed down. In fact, she’s quite determined to be at it, irrespective of hits and misses.

“No matter how the film fared, to be able to share a frame with the likes of Govinda, Jaaved Jaffery, Suniel Shetty is a high that’s good enough for me. I’ve grown up watching their performances and to find them so accommodating and easygoing was wonderful,” states Shweta. Though the film took some time to release, the actor has been pretty busy throughout, what with shows, commercials and other film shoots.

“I’ve been on a contract with Popcorn Entertainment (Suniel Shetty’s production house) since my debut in 2008 in Mission Istanbul and was on board Loot even before I read the script,” she says. And being on contract with a production house is a sensible decision for a newcomer in the industry with no connections, feels the actor. “It’s the easiest way to increase visibility and contacts,” she informs, adding, “Even if I get to star in at least five of the 10 films a production house makes yearly, I stand to gain.”

In the meanwhile, Shweta’s done a special number in Puri Jagannadh’s Telugu film, Businessman, apart from a cameo in Abbas-Mastan’s Players, Rakht and a French film. Quiz her if she’s game for item numbers and she says, “Why not? I look at it this way — it’s a guaranteed way of ensuring four-five minutes of screen presence, which is not an easy task in a multi-starrer. Moreover, I love dancing and who wouldn’t want to look hot too? But I can also act and would prefer roles which allow me to act and dance.”

With loads of actors trying to make it big in the industry every Friday, Shweta thinks it’s important to get a few basics right. “I don’t see a point in getting unnerved by competition —is there a place where there’s no competition? With the way things are these days, the right networking can make or break a career. To put it bluntly, either shed clothes or buy PR and you’re safe,” she signs off.