I love Shahana: Milind Soman

In a candid chat with Shashank Chouhan of Spicezee, Milind Soman speaks about his personal and professional life.

New Delhi: Fourteen years after he found himself in a controversy over an ad featuring himself and then girlfriend Madhu Sapre in the nude, Milind Soman has been acquitted in the case. He shares his reaction and reveals surprising news to Shashank Chouhan of Spicezee.com- he has not broken up with actor Shahana Goswami.

The actor, who believes in going for offbeat ventures rather than mainstream cinema, was last seen as a crime reporter in the film ‘Shadow’. Shashank: Your reaction to the acquittal… Milind: I am very happy. We always knew that the court, in its wisdom, will see that there was nothing wrong in what we did. The main thing for not getting convicted was that we were all just doing our jobs. It would have been very complicated. Moreover, I won’t have to pay my lawyers to fight it out anymore! Shashank: Was there any one good thing about this long stretched controversy? Milind: The good thing is that the media has become very proactive on such issues. There is an awareness that today anyone can point a finger at and object to any creative work which is a wrong thing. There probably needs to be a body that will look into such complaints in all fields. Shashank: What would you like to say to those who filed this case? Milind: Nothing. I wouldn’t even want to see them again. In the end, it’s their life, their personal view about anything, but I choose to live my life on my own terms. Shashank: Even at that time when this ad came out it was a bit ahead in time. How did you feel doing it and did you ever think it would generate a controversy? Milind: I have always tried to do things differently- be it shooting one of the first music videos in India, sporting clothes for designers that no one else ever would etc. I like to do exciting things in life and this advertisement was surely one of them. I didn’t think it would have such a reaction and even now when people see it, they do agree that it was ahead of its time. But today it wouldn’t evoke such reactions. Shashank: Now you are hosting a TV show to choose calendar girl. India has come a long way- there is no uproar over a show which has models posing provocatively in lingerie… Milind: Yes I definitely think so. Every society evolves with time and even ours has. The US had a big controversy over the bikini when it was first revealed in the 1940s, but look at it now- we call it the source of all things ‘bad’. Shashank: How is the show coming along? Milind: It’s a good show conceptualized by my own company and that is why I am anchoring and judging it with Shobhaa De. It’s a great opportunity for girls to have a big platform and get launched in the modeling world like this. Shashank: It’s a good job being a host for this show- there is good money and wonderful women… Milind: Well, I have been always surrounded by wonderful women! My mother, sister, my colleagues and friends, have all been a major influence in my life. This show is no different. Shashank: What are you looking for in an ideal calendar girl? Milind: There are some conventional notions about calendar girls, some statistical requirements that they have to adhere to. But, I am looking for someone with an unconventional personality, who will bring out the look of the calendar. There has to be that undefined X factor in a girl for it. Shashank: This has been an eventful year for you - two break ups Milind: Are you talking about Shahana and me? Well, that is a completely baseless story. I am very much in love and happy with Shahana. I don’t know where that story came from but it is ridiculous. I had to part ways with Mylene Jampanoi, who is a very good girl and I am glad she is still part of my life. It’s been an earthquake for me- this year really. I have also done some great projects in my profession and many are in the pipeline.