Isha Koppikar: "I'm going to become an action item afte

[Nokia]

Isha Koppikar will perhaps always be spoken of as the ‘Khallas’ and ‘Ishq Samunder’ girl – that’s one of the hazards of being part of phenomenally successful item numbers. Isha’s next film ‘Rudraksh’ is all set to hit theatres around the country this Friday. We catch up with her to find out what she’s upto… And we learn that she’s not only got a great role but is also doing yet another item number in Mani Shankar’s SFX thriller!

What projects are you working on right now?

Isha: “I’m doing Hansal Mehta’s ‘Raakh’. Then there is a Harry Baweja film, which will be directed by Karan Razdan and will start immediately after the first schedule of Hansal’s film. There are three or four films I have signed, so far. I have Mani Shankar’s ‘Rudraksh’ releasing soon. Then Balaji’s ‘Krishna Cottage’ is coming on the 27th of February. It’s a horror film. Then Pankaj Parashar’s ‘Intekaam’. Then Hansal Mehta’s ‘Humrahi’ in May. I have another untitled film with Balaji Telefilms which stars Aftab and it starts in February. That’s untitled so far, but I’m sure it’ll start with a ‘K’! (laughs) They should probably call it ‘Koppikar’! But, seriously, I have three films all set to roll in Feb-March!”

What’s your next item number?

Isha: “I just have releases where I’m the leading lady of the film. But in the films that I have, the makers have incorporated songs which are item numbers. That’s thanks to ‘Khallas’ and ‘Ishq samunder’ . I don’t really need to look at other films just for the numbers. ‘Qayamat’ had one, ‘Rudraksh’ and ‘Inteqaam’ each have one number.”

[Nokia]

What’s ‘Rudraksh’ all about? And what’s your role in it?

Isha: “It is a paranormal, supernatural subject. I don’t have so many scenes with Sunjay Dutt except for the climax, but it was great. Imagine doing action scenes with two action heroes -- Sunjay Dutt and Suniel Shetty. I’m going to become an action item after this! And there are a lot of special effects.”

What’s ‘Raakh’ all about? Reminds one of the Aamir Khan starrer of the same name…

Isha: “No, it’s nothing on those lines. ‘Raakh’ is a lovely story set against a gangster backdrop. We finished the first schedule and now the second schedule is in January.

Sohail Khan and Aamir Ali are my co-stars. Actually, I’m already working with them in other films as well. Like I am doing ‘Humrahi’ with Aamir, and Sohail is in ‘Krishna Cottage’. So this is my second film with both of them.”

You seem to be becoming a favourite with Hansal, too!

Isha: “Yeah! Happens, no? When you’re working with someone, you get comfortable. Tuning ho jati hai .”