‘HELLO! I’M HOT, SO WHAT...’
May 26, 2004

Negar Khan who was last seen clutching her tushy in the music video Chadti Jawaaniand was in the news recently for her nude pictures in a Norwegian magazine has bagged her debut film Hello... Kaun Hai?as the lead heroine. And the film is already the talk of the town for its tantalisingly promos: sizzling shots of Negar in a black swim-suit. We quizz the actress on her sizzle quotient... 
‘‘What’s the fuss about?’’ asks Negar. ‘‘I am wearing a bikini. I haven’t gone naked! Being a model, I am comfortable shooting in a bikini. But if you ask me to appear naked, I won’t!’’ She further explains the scene in the film as ‘‘an integral part of the script! It’s a swimming pool scene where I emerge from the pool and head for a shower at home.’’ 
She says she finds ‘‘nothing wrong in being hot!’’ She queries ‘‘what can I do if people find me hot even when I am dressed in a sari? That means I am sexy. I can’t change the way I look! I am just 19 and like any other 19 year-old I like to wear bikinis and short clothes too. Besides, other actresses wear bikinis too so why are people just talking about me.’’ 
Getting a bit emotional, she wonders ‘‘Why am I being targeted, man? I am being used by the production houses to make money. They are playing with me. Ok! I shot in a bikini but why are only those photographs being circulated. Similarly, why was only my bum hyped in the music video. And my images were morphed with nude bodies for business in Europe. I am hurt but I won’t let anyone break me! I will emerge stronger from all this and continue to live life on my own terms. I have achieved everything I wanted to in the entertainment industry! And in case I can’t do well here, I have a masters degree to fall back upon, just in case.’’ 
We change track and get her talking on her film. ‘‘The film is a thriller with lots of action and suspense. It has a fresh look and everyone will identify with it. I play my age — a rich college girl. Tom Alter plays my dad. And Adam Bedi, my boyfriend. This is the first time that Adam is sharing screen space with his father Kabir Bedi. We have completed one schedule of the film and will shoot the songs in Canada and Los Angeles.’’ So will her voice be dubbed for the film? She immediately replies in Hindi, ‘‘Maine 6 mahinon mein itni Hindi seekh le hai ki mere producers khush hain. But I don’t mind if my voice is dubbed,’’ she hastens to add. 
Good news is that Negar has already signed on another film about which she feels ‘‘it’s too early to talk.’’ Till then h a p p y ‘ b i k i n i watching!’