Will PPP change Resham’s fortunes?

Will PPP change Resham's fortunes?

Resham was declared Lollywood's high-flyer, with her very first film - mid-nineties' record-smashing Jeeva. Overnight this 16-year-old nymphet became the toast of the industry moguls. What's more, she revved up the face of the typical 'filmi' heroine - from laacha-kurta wearing, atrociously made-up, hefty field-hopper to a nubile, uptown girl-next-door. Her small-time training on the small-screen also helped Resham to steer clear of the painfully annoying cliches of acting which were 'staple' Lollywood, and deliver some genuinely heart-warming and award-winning performances in films like Sangam and Dopatta Jal Raha Hai. However, her film career was due to suffer an early trajectory, apparently at the hands of a handful of senior actresses who Resham often blamed, albeit indirectly, for clever manipulation and lobbying, forcing her to surrender to offers of inconsequential, second-fiddle roles in most flicks. A time came when Resham was on the verge of a self-imposed retirement. Only she ended up back in Lollywood studios, following a brief hiatus -now a stronger person but a more compromising actress who was ready to take all kinds of cameos and sleaze in Punjabi films.

Today, as Resham looks forward to giving her career another shot in the arm, with what she terms "a soft love story," Pehla Pehla Pyar, her only lead in a long time, she has already acted in a number of films, modeled for various multi-nationals and also endorsed beauty products.

"Pehla Pehla Pyar is a very well-made film which has an international look," she told The Nation Plus, in a recent meeting.

"We must give full credit to Mubasher Lucman who made sure that the film would meet the demands of the market."

The film, which is ready for release, has Resham playing the main heroine after a gap of many years. Interestingly, PPP has Zara Sheikh, her two-time co-star who always got a meatier part, in a supporting role. If the film fares well at the box office, this will also balance the equation between the two divas who don't much see eye to eye.

Last time, they hurled venom at each other it was over a show that was to be held in Dubai. The show was cancelled, but it stirred a little controversy when it was said that Resham had 'manoeuvred' her way into the show, by overstepping Zara who was said to perform opposite none other than Hritik Roshan before she (Zara) was thrown out.

Resham rejects any such rumour as baseless, "That's an absolute farce. I have never tried to snatch assignments from under somebody else' nose. That's not my scene.

"If I need to compete with somebody, I'll do that only on screen."

As for now, nothing excites this blunt, sharp-tongued actress more than her own character in PPP, "I play a middle-class girl who gets married to a rich old man.

"I am especially fond of the songs of the film, its melodies, and the way they have been shot and choreographed."