Gul’s horsing around

January 28th, 2009

After Lara Dutta, Dia Mirza, there’s dainty Gul Panag who’s crazy about horses. And, it’s the beautiful animals that she spends time with when not shooting. She’s a regular horse rider and has actually been riding since the age of ten. Wow, she must be some child prodigy. Gul has even won medals in various equestrian events. The horse shoes definitely seem to be working for her as far as riding is concerned; she should try carrying ’em with her on film sets, too. They may just work their wonder there as well.

Gul Panag in RGV's Rann

January 27th, 2009

Fresh from running in the Mumbai marathon, Gul Panag has been signed up for RGV's new movie, Rann. The film will also star Amitabh Bachchan, Riteish Deshmukh, Paresh Rawal and Manisha Koirala. It's set in the world of electronic media. “I just want to say that my character represents the youth of India," she says, "I play the common voice of the people that represents the attitude of the masses especially in current times. The shooting of the film will start in the next couple of months as Ramu is busy with another project. But I can’t wait for him to direct me!”

Gul has a busy year ahead of her. Her movie releases include Hello Darling with Rajpal Yada, Isha Koppikar and Celina Jaitley; Phir Zindagi and A Rectangular Love Story with Ranvir Shorey and Purab Kohli - as well as Rann which will be released towards the end of the year.

Gul happily performs in both commercial and parallel cinema and refuses to recognise that there is a difference any more. "I guess this entire concept is dated. I just keep myself aloof from such conversations," she explains, "My belief is that every good film is a piece of art while every other film is crap. Take for example Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi; now that's what I call as a work of art because it is a well made film. I think the distinction of art v/s commercial is passé since the days of Smita Patil and Shabana Azmi.

I have always done things my own way - Gul Panag

December 27th, 2008

Lo and behold - Gul Panag has gone chic and how! Though in real life she has been a bindaas woman all these years in spite of being a part of so-called serious films like Dhoop, Dor and Manorma- Six Feet Under, on print she has rarely gone the whole hog in projecting a sensual image.

However, she has gone ahead and done what is hardly-unthinkable for her by getting into a dare-bare shoot for Maxim.

"I have always done things my own way and it was irresistible when the magazine approached me to get down to my night suit. Did I feel awkward about doing so? Nope, not at all. What's there at all to feel awkward about?

I have never felt odd driving an Enfield or a F1 car for Renault or picking up the kind of projects I believe in. It was the same in case of this shoot as well.

I was promised a lot of fun and though some may be getting shocked with my dare-bare poses, my message to them is that 'Hey you there, I am like that only'", says Gul in a rapid tone while being mighty excited about the kind of response that her shoot is fetching for her.

Says Anup Kutty from Maxim, "A very simple reason for putting Gul on the cover is the fact that she's stunningly beautiful. Plus, she occupies a space in Indian cinema that not many share.

She has done some critically acclaimed roles and still can carry off a "sexy" look with complete ease. In short, she's a real woman of substance and probably the best thing that could happen to a man! The shoot in itself was a lot of fun."

How did the shoot go?

Reveals Anup, "We booked a suite at the Le Meridien and ordered a bottle of champagne to go with it. More than anything, it was just one big party!"

Gul agrees, "Yes, it was indeed one huge party out there. It was nice to be working with some real chilled out guys who belong to your own age group.

I got such a comfort feel while working on the assignment and the results are there to be seen. Believe me, I truly felt beautiful as the shutter bags went on."