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Join UsThis week apart from Prakash Jha’s Chakravyuh also saw Shamin-Priyanka Desai directed Rush at the theaters. Sagarika Ghatge, one of the long forgotten faces of the 2007 mega-hit Chak De! India, will be seen opposite Emraan Hashmi alongside Neha Dhupia in the flick. Rush revolves around media, politics and crime and is a tale of how a reporter’s life is left in disarray due to a chain of events.
To add to this, even Vidya Malvade, the Captain of that dream team from Yashraj’s stable, would be seen next month in Vikram Bhatt’s 1920 – Evil Returns, a sequel to his earlier horror flick 1920.
We thought it would be interesting to chart the success and the not so great stories of these starlets, if one would go back in time a bit.
Sagarika Ghatge
The Preeti Sabharwal, the UK-return Chandigarh’s lassy lady, the main striker, post Chak De’s success went onto being an ambassador for Reebok, and was the first female to be signed by the brand for its promotion of the Lifestyle Stores. Had a few small roles in duds like ‘Fox’ (if you are trying to figure, it was a Bollywood movie featuring Sunny paaji and Arjun Rampal, in the leads… still wondering? Well, you are not to be blamed then, was a box office disaster) and Miley Naa Miley Hum (yes, Shri Paswan’s son movie). She has been in a long hiatus post that and one would hope that ‘Rush’, brings some glitter back into her film jagat career too, speeds it up.
Vidya Malvade
At 35 (yes, you heard that correct!) she was perhaps, the most experience & elegant of the ‘Chak De’ clan and had already worked on quite a few projects. Chak De! India didn’t quite added that spark she might be hoping for. Many considered her role as Minissha Laamba’s mother in ‘Kidnap’ as a big mistake. The lady went onto do small roles in Tum Milo To Sahi, No Problem and Striker. However, she did had some good news on the personal front as she married Lagaan’s AD Sanjay Dayma in this period.
Would be next seen in Vikram Bhatt’s 1920: Evil Returns, it’s noteworthy that Bhatt was instrumental in giving her a break initially in Inteha and Footpath (also Emraan Hashmi’s debut). Let’s see if she can pack a punch even at 40.
Chitrashi Rawat
“Khelne waala Khel Rahega, Rokne waala Fail rahega”, Yes, that’s Komal Chautala’s intro in Chak De! and yes the lady has toiled hard and all at 22 now recently appeared in Prem Mayee a movie featuring Chandrachur Singh where she played a Rockstar. Although the movie didn’t do well but she does have a small fan base for herself and has appeared in movies like Fashion, Luck and Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya and also in ‘Iss Jungle Se Mujhe Bachaao’, a reality show. For this cute pocket sized dynamite, the mischievous hockey-wielding girl of yore, there are immense opportunities in times to come, noting that she has the age on her side. Perhaps, SRK can then truly say – “Aa gayi bhaiyya , cha gayi bhaiyya — Komal Chautala”.
Tanya Abrol
The gutsy, high tempered, sardarni of ‘Chak De’- Balbir Kaur has hadn’t had much to show post the flick and is currently hosting Star Gold’s ‘Sabse Favourite Kaun’ with Chitrashi Rawat and Shilpa Shukla.
Shilpa Shukla
The most daring, the stubborn , relentless, perhaps , the biggest nakhra girl of the gang,the Bindiya Nayak, has had a decent run lately, only to go missing at times. A theatre actor, she had earlier worked with Arvind Gaur, Govind Deshpande and Girish Karnad only to be lapped up by Shimit Amin for his directorial classic flick. Her major movies post ‘Chak De’ being Chal Chalein and Bhindi Baazaar Inc., a role appreciated, but not the movie. She was a contestant in Season 3 of dance reality show Jhalak Dikhla Jaa and is currently a host of Star Gold’s Sabse Favourite Kaun. Needless to say, the Miranda House girl has come a long way!
Seema Azmi
Many wouldn’t know of her even after seeing ‘Chak De. She was Rani Disspotta in the movie, the girl from Jharkhand, perhaps a look at the edited scenes and one would see more of her. She has also had a theatre background and worked with some great likes Girish Kanad, Piyush Mishra and was also seen in ‘Saas, Bahu Aur Sensex’.
Anaitha Nair
She was the only source of glam quotient in the otherwise de-glam flick. Aaliya Bose was definitely the most chilled out of all and took the life as it comes. She has had a decent run ever since and has not only appeared in a couple of Malayalam movies, but also a number of commercials. Went onto do some good cinema in Well Done Abba and Aashayein, a role for which she even tonsured her head. There were once reports of her and John Abraham being too cosy as she did Force and Jhootha Hi Sahi Hai with him, a speculation that died soon.
Shubhi Mehta
If one would say that Gunjan Lakhani of ‘Chak De’ has had the most memorable and diversified run till date, then we won’t be surprised. Prior to even ‘Chak De!’ the Chandigarh girl was already a participant at Roadies 3.0 and an Emcee too. She went on to do a couple of small budget movies and even TV serials like Amrit Manthan and Bairi Piyaa. The IIHM Aurangabad pass out is currently setting up Operations for Human Synergisis Intl. in India and was even a part of ‘Natura’, an adventure service providing firm, yes, the love for Roadies, truly showing. Way to Go!
So, most of them who got a sneak peek in the movie went onto do considerably well. However there were some who were not the Editor’s favourite. One can easily grab Chak De! India’s DVD for such wonderful scenes that would remind you of the movie which is almost ‘sattar mahine’ old now! As for the Chak De girls, we will see Sagarika Ghatge and Vidya Malwade on screen quite soon! And yes, the rest aren’t far behind.
