Amisha Patel

Ameesha Patel (pronounced [@|mi:s.a: p@|t.e:l]; born Amisha AmitPatel on 9 June 1976) is an Indian actress whoappears in mainly Bollywood movies and also in Telugu films.Making her acting debut in the blockbuster Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai(2000), Patel won critical praise for her performance in Gadar: EkPrem Katha (2001), which became one of the biggest hits in the historyof Hindi cinema, earning her a Filmfare SpecialPerformance Award. She would subsequently star in a number of films,most of which proved unsuccessful at the box office. However, herperformance in the 2006 film Ankahee, received criticalrecognition and she followed it in 2007 with a supporting/comic rolein the multi-starrer hit Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. and alsoco-starred opposite Akshay Kumar in the hit Bhool Bhulaiyaa. In2011, she founded her own production company Ameesha PatelProductions, along with her business partner Kuunal Goomer.

Her relationship with filmmaker Vikram Bhatt was often talkedabout in the Indian media as well as her long-running rift withher parents.

Early life and background

Patel, a Gujarati, is the daughter of Amit Patel andAsha Patel, sister of Ashmit Patel and the granddaughter ofthe famous lawyer-politician Barrister Rajni Patel who was theCongress Pradesh Committee President of Mumbai. She was born in theBreach Candy Hospital in Mumbai and is a trained Bharatnatyamdancer since the age of five. Her birth name is a blend of thefirst three letters of her father's name Amit and the last threeletters of her mother's name Asha.

She studied at the Cathedral and John Connon School in Mumbai andwas head girl for the academic year 1992-1993 before heading overseasto study Economics at Tufts University in Medford,Massachusetts.

Patel's career began as an economic analyst at Khandwala SecuritiesLimited after graduation. Later on, she received an offer fromMorgan Stanley but turned it down. After returning to India, shejoined Satyadev Dubey's theatre group and acted in plays,including an Urdu language play titled Neelam (1999) that waswritten by Tanveer Khan, upon receiving permission fromher conservative parents. At the same time she plunged into modellingappearing in several commercial campaigns. Patel has also modelled forwell-known Indian brands like Bajaj Sevashram, Fair & Lovely, CadburysJai Lime, Fem, Lux and many more.

Acting career

Debut and Initial success, 2000-2002

Patel's first opportunity for acting came in the form of an offer fromher father's schoolmate, Rakesh Roshan, to star opposite his son,Hrithik Roshan, in Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000). The offercame immediately after she graduated from high school but she refusedthe project because she wanted to continue her education inUSA. Afterward, Kareena Kapoor replaced her but luckily,Kapoor dropped out a few days into principal photography and Patel wasgiven the opportunity once again during a family lunch. Shereadily agreed to do the project this time. The role of an exuberantcollege girl in love, undergoing a tortuous time at losing her loverand rediscovering a more mature relationship gave Patel scope toperform. The film was a smashing success and established Patel as arising star, earning her awards for Best Debut at a number of awardceremonies. In her second film, the Telugu language dramaBadri, she starred opposite Pawan Kalyan. The film was a majorsuccess, grossing more than Rs 120 million in India.

2001 saw her appearing in Anil Sharma's cross-border romance,Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, alongside Sunny Deol. Patel signed onmuch before she shot into the limelight with Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai andwas among 22 girls that were screen-tested from 500 girls who came toaudition for the film. Patel had gone through a 12-hour auditionbefore she got the part. The film went on to become thetop-grossing film of the year, as well as the biggest hit of the 21stcentury, earning Rs 973 million in India. Set during theIndo-Pakistani War of 1947, it featured Patel as Sakeena, a Muslimgirl who finds refuge in Deol's house during the riots, andsubsequently falls for him. Her performance was praised, and won herthe Filmfare Special Performance Award, as well as nominations forBest Actress at various award ceremonies. Taran Adarsh ofIndiaFM concluded, "Despite being one-film-old, Amisha Pateldeserves full marks for handling the complex role with elegance. Shelooks the character she is portraying and impresses with a naturalperformance." The film was perceived as being excessivelyanti-Pakistani.

These successes were followed by a series of films that flopped at thebox-office. In Yeh Zindagi Ka Safar (2001), she played asuccessful singer who was abandoned by her mother at the time of herbirth.

In 2002, Patel had three failures. In Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage,she played the role of Sapna who is caged in protective custody of herown father. She co-starred opposite Hrithik Roshan for the secondtime in this film. Unlike their successful pairing in Kaho Naa...Pyaar Hai, the film proved to be a disappointment and resulted in acritical and commercial failure. Patel's performance in the film wascriticised by a section of the media, but during an interview sheclarified that there was an "error" because the scene explaining thather character is supposed to be asthmatic in the film was editedout not knowing that one shot would make such a difference, thuscreating confusion to the viewer about her appearing out of breath, asif she's overacting or crying. Patel's unsuccessful follow-upcontinued with Kranti and David Dhawan's comedy Yeh HaiJalwa in 2002. In the same year, she tasted minor box office successwith Kya Yehi Pyaar Hai, in which she played acareer-oriented young woman who rejects the advances of AftabShivdasani's character. Then she found another major success when herlast release of the year, Humraaz, became 5th highest grossingfilm of the year at the box office, and her performance earned her anomination for Filmfare Best Actress Award. The Abbas-Mustanmarital thriller saw her playing a character with negative shades forthe first time. She played the girlfriend of Akshaye Khanna, whomarries Bobby Deol to grab his wealth - but, seeing Bobby'shonesty, her character surrenders to him. Taran Adarsh commented,"Amisha Patel is just about okay as Akshaye's lover (first half), butsplendid as Bobby's wife (second half). This performance shouldsilence her detractors for sure. Also, she's looked her best withadmirable outfits and perfect make-up."

Struggle phase, 2003-2006

During 2003 to 2006, Patel's acting career entered a slump. After therelative success of Humraaz, Patel's string of unsuccessful filmsfollowed and would continue until 2006. In 2003, her only releaseswere Tamil language film Pudhiya Geethai and Hindi filmDeepak Bahry's Parwana. Her releases in 2004, VimalKumar's comedy Suno Sasurjee, a delayed production since 2000,and her second Telugu language film Naani, followed. That yearshe also appeared in the music video for "Kasam" and "Kasam(Unplugged)" by Adnan Sami.

In 2005, she starred in Satish Kaushik's thriller Vaada,playing the role of Arjun Rampal's unfaithful wife who isfollowed by her obsessive ex-lover. In her next release, Elaan,she played a TV reporter. She later appeared in Ketan Mehta'shistorical drama Mangal Pandey: The Rising where she played therole of the soft-spoken Jwala, a Bengali widow who gets rescuedfrom committing Sati by a British commanding officer. Patel wascast as a replacement for Aishwarya Rai under the recommendationof Aamir Khan who was impressed by her IQ level when he saw heron BBC under the segment of Question Time India in2003. The film, which saw her appearing without make-up forthe first time, became the 3rd highest grosser of that year but due tohigh cost, it was an average at box office. Herother releases that year include Zameer: The Fire Within, adelayed production since 2001, and the Telugu filmNarasimhudu, both of which failed at the box office.

Patel featured in six films in 2006, all of which failed commercially.She first starred in Mere Jeevan Saathi, a production that hadbeen delayed since 2003. She next appeared as a blind girl inHumko Tumse Pyaar Hai, another delayed production since 2002. Thefilm had a limited release and flopped badly with some criticsdescribing it as "outdated". In Teesri Aankh: The Hidden Camera,she played the role of a mute girl who witnesses a murder. She learnedthe sign language in order to fit the role. Patel wasnext cast in Tathastu, based on Denzel Washington's thrillerJohn Q (2002).

Patel's fifth release in 2006, Ankahee, earned her criticalpraise despite its failure at the box office. The filmcentred around an extramarital affair with Patel playing a housewifewhose husband cheats on her with a model. To understand the mentalityof a wronged wife, Patel spoke to her own grandmother who hadundergone a similar situation. Diganta Guha fromHindustan Times noted "...it's Ameesha's performance that remainsin your mind. She is dignity personified in the film, playing a womanbetrayed in marriage, going all out to save it and in the end choosingher own path." Later that year, she appeared alongsideAkshaye Khanna and Priyanka Chopra in Dharmesh Darshan'sAap Ki Khatir.

Renewed success, 2007-2008

After appearing in a series of box office flops during 2003-2006,Patel's career prospects began to improve in 2007. Her first releasein that year was the multi-starrer hit Honeymoon Travels Pvt.Ltd.. The film made on a very controlled budget went on to become agood success at box office. Patel played the role of Karan Khanna'stalkative wife who tries to overcome her husband's gay leanings.Patel's comic timing in the film was well received. Later in2007, she co-starred opposite Akshay Kumar in Priyadarshan'shit Bhool Bhulaiyaa as a rejected adopted girl who is accused oftrying to disrupt the marriage of her childhood crush.

In an attempt to renew her image, Patel appeared in a bikiniitem number, Lazy Lamhe, in Kunal Kohli's ThodaPyaar Thoda Magic (2008). She learned scuba diving for the songthat took 15 days to complete. Although the filmflopped at the box office, Patel managed to garner attention for herappearance.

Delayed and shelved projects, 2009-2011

Post the release of Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic, Patel signed on toRun Bhola Run and Chatur Singh Two Star. However, both filmswere continuously delayed despite reaching completion in 2009. Shenext attempted a comeback by signing on to Rajkumar Santoshi'sPower, but the film was shelved. Despite repeated attempts toland a starring role, Patel dropped out of several projects due tovarious reasons. Following a two-and-a-half-year sabbatical, Patelmade a brief comeback to the Telugu film industry with ParamaVeera Chakra (2011) alongside Nandamuri Balakrishna; the filmflopped. Chatur Singh Two Star released on 19 aug 2011 after a delayof 2 years and marked her return to Hindi cinema after threeyears since the release of Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic. However, the filmwas poorly received both critically and commercially.

Production and new prospects, 2011-present

On 23 April 2011, Patel hosted an event launching her productioncompany, Ameesha Patel Productions, in collaboration with her friendand business partner Kuunal Goomer. David Dhawan andPriyadarshan were signed on to direct films for herbanner.

In 2013, Patel co-starred in Abbas-Mustan's Race 2 as AnilKapoor's ditzy assistant. Despite being a critical failure, the filmbecame a huge commercial success becoming the first film in 2013 toNeil Nitin Mukesh in Susi Ganeshan's Shortcut Romeo, aHindi remake of his own 2006 Tamil hit Thiruttu Payale. The filmreceived mixed reviews and performed poorly at the box officeprimarily due to a minuscule release by its producer.However, Patel was recognized for her portrayal of an unfaithfulhousewife.

As of August 2013, Patel began filming for her home productionDesi Magic and is set to resume filming Bhaiyyaji Superhittopposite Sunny Deol in September.

Other work

Stage performances

Patel performed in a number of concerts and world tours during hercareer. Her first world tour, The Roshans: Hrithik Live in Concert(2001), along with Hrithik Roshan was performed across India. In 2004,Patel took part in a series of concerts in the world tour Craze 2004alongside Hrithik Roshan, Saif Ali Khan and Lara Dutta. In2005, Patel participated in Adnan Sami's world tour Kuch DilSe... that was performed across USA and Canada from 15 April till 15May. In October 2008, she participated in HimeshReshammiya's comeback concert Karzzzz Musical Curtain Raiserjoined by Neha Dhupia, Riya Sen and AmritaArora. In December 2008, she took part in Akshay Kumar'sChristmas Eve show Chandni Chowk to Hong along with Bipasha Basu,Priyanka Chopra, Riya Sen, Aarti Chhabria, Himesh Reshammiyaand Punjabi rapper Bohemia as part of a promotional campaign forKumar's film Chandni Chowk to China (2009). In responseto 26/11, many New Year's Eve concerts for 2009 werecancelled, but Patel and Country Club India decided to goahead with their show because they thought it would be against theterrorists' will.

Humanitarian work

In September 2004, Patel joined PETA, one of the organisationschampioning the cause of animals, as part of an advertisingcampaign which highlights the lives of captivated animals in a zoo whoare robbed of their natural surroundings for the amusement of others.Patel posed as a petrified prisoner in a jail cell to throw focus onthe plight of animals in zoos. She said,

George Washington, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi... we had them.Animals don't; they need us. Let's fight for theirfreedom.

In February 2005, along with other Bollywood stars, Patel performed atthe HELP! Telethon Concert raising money for the victims of the2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. She also took part in theTemptations 2005 charity function in New Delhi on 24 December 2005 atthe Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in aid of the National Centrefor Promotion of Employment of Disabled Persons (NCPEDP), a leadingdisabled rights' group.

In November 2006, Patel joined an NGO called PlanetRead, whichhelps people in villages to learn reading through filmsongs. In October 2007, Patel along with John Abrahamand Kirron Kher joined the United Nations Office on Drugsand Crime (UNODC) to curb human trafficking in India.

Personal life

In 1999, Patel met filmmaker Vikram Bhatt on the set of theirfirst movie together, Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage (2002),and they started dating since the film's release. Later, it caused arift between the Patel and Bhatt families with Patel runningthrough a financial crisis after her parents used all her hard-earnedmoney for their personal satisfaction causing misunderstandingsbetween Patel and her parents. In July 2004, Patel sent alegal notice to her father for mismanaging her accounts and assetsamounting to Rs 120 million and demanding the money back.Patel's relationship with Bhatt was often reported to the mediaspectaculating a possible marriage.

In January 2008, the media reported that Patel and Bhatt broke theirfive-year relationship. Bhatt confirmed the break-up in a conversationwith Mid-Day. Shortly afterwards, Patel's parentsexplained their willingness to reconcile with their daughter and that"everybody is happy about the break-up" but their relationshipremained strained. On 12 March 2008, Patel was spotted withLondon-based businessman Kanav Puri at Wills Lifestyle IndiaFashion Week. In June 2008, she confirmed their relationshipin an interview with Mid-Day: "I did not admit to Kanav sooner becausehe's very special and I did not want to jinx it. It was too preciousfor me to talk about it to people. It's almost six months now and nowI am feeling secure and now I know our relationship is too strong foranything or anyone to come between us." The media oncereported that she got married to Puri but she denied theserumours.

In August 2009, Mumbai Mirror reported that Patel and herbrother, Ashmit, had patched up on the occasion of Raksha Bandhanand were spotted together at PVR Cinemas in Juhu. Althoughthe siblings agreed that the matter is sorted, they preferred not tospeak about it publicly. In December 2009, Patel's motherAsha had revealed they have finally ended their five-year estrangementduring an interview with Times of India.

In September 2010, Mumbai Mirror reported that Patel broke off therelationship with her long-time boyfriend Kanav Puri, to focus on hercareer. She confirmed it via Twitter.

Controversy

In August 2006, an Air India employee had filed a policecomplaint, alleging Patel had misbehaved with her after her companionwas not upgraded to first class on the Mumbai-New York flight on 18August. Patel was on her way to attend India's Independence Dayparade in New York. Officers at the police stationsaid Patel could be called in and warned about her behaviour, ifcharges against her are proved, and would be questioned once shereturns from abroad. Later, CISF personnel have corroboratedthe Air India employees' version of the incident. Once Patelreturned to India, she stated that the employees "are only trying tosafeguard themselves by filing a false complaint againstus." Incidentally, there was also a drunken passenger, whojoined in this verbal fight. Afterward, the organizers ofthe annual parade sent a written apology and a clarification to Pateland said it had booked two first class seats for Patel and hercompanion for the Mumbai-New York flight but the booking wasautomatically transferred from one flight to another, creatingconfusion.

In the media

Between 2002 and 2005, Patel made an appearance in a number of talkshows such as Rendezvous with Simi Garewal and The ManishMalhotra Show. In 2006, Patel appeared as the guest judge on thespecial Valentine's Day episode of the singing talent contest,Indian Idol 2.

Patel is frequently cited as one of the sexiest Bollywoodactresses. Rediff featured Patel asone of Bollywood's sexiest actresses and top Bollywoodactresses of 2001. She was ranked first on Rediff's list of2008's Sexiest Actresses. Patel was also cited by Rediff asone of 2008's Sexiest Magazine Cover Girls.

Galleries of Amisha Patel