Latest in Bollywood: Actresses play journalists

New Delhi: Film stars may have a love-hate relationship with the media, but it seems playing a journo on the big screen is the latest popular trend among actresses. Kareena Kapoor, Amrita Rao and now Nargis Fakhri are essaying the role of journalists in their forthcoming movies.

For the glamorous Kareena, who plays an international journalist in Prakash Jha`s ‘Satyagraha - Democracy Under Fire’, the role gives her a chance to emulate the grit that she witnesses in the reporters around her. "I think I am going to take inspiration from all the reporters. The aggression, the drive and the energy that all of you have (the determination that) I will get this answer and will do anything for it," Kareena told reporters. "It is a tough job that you all do and sometimes, we are a little harsh. But I am going to take a little of your grit," she added. In Anil Sharma`s ‘Singh Saheb The Great’, Amrita Rao, last seen in ‘Love U... Mr. Kalakaar’, will be seen as a journo and she admits it is "extremely exciting to be on the other side of the mike". "I always knew it was a tough job to be a journalist. And now after stepping into their shoes, my respect for them has shot up so much more," Amrita said. Shoojit Sircar`s political thriller ‘Madras Cafe’ will see Nargis playing a similar role opposite John Abraham. This will be Nargis` second film after ‘Rockstar!’, and Sircar assures the actress will surprise everyone with her performance. "Nargis suited the role and I can assure you that she is going to surprise everybody with `Madras Cafe`. She is playing a journalist in the film," Sircar said. In ‘Shobhana 7 Nights’, ravishing Raveena Tandon has picked on the role of a journalist-columnist who forms an intense relationship with a boy younger than her. There`s a lot of variety indeed. Even in the recent past, actresses have impressed with bold portrayals of journalists. If Konkona Sen Sharma left an indelible mark as Madhvi Sharma in Madhur Bhandarkar`s ‘Page 3’, Preity Zinta created a statement by playing Romila Dutta, a war reporter in ‘Lakshya’. Konkona`s role took a leaf out of a celebrity journalists` life in the superficial world of Page 3, while Preity`s character was heavily inspired by media personality Barkha Dutt. Konkana even played an aspiring journalist in ‘Wake Up Sid’. Rani Mukerji took the role of a powerful female journalist with her role in ‘No One Killed Jessica’ - showcasing how a TV journalist could drive a whole movement to help shape up a murder case. She hurled abuses left, right and centre for the role, and received critical accolades galore. Actress Kangna Ranaut recently played a mediaperson in ‘Knockout’, as did others like Deepal Shaw, Divya Dutta and Aditi Rao Hydari in ‘A Wednesday’, ‘Monica’ and ‘Rockstar!’, respectively. In fact, legendary Madhubala too had played a reporter in 1960 release ‘Kala Bazaar’. The movies may glamorise a journalist`s job, but the profession looks far better on screen than in real life. IANS