KOCHI: Model and actor Karishma Kotak who donned the role of ‘Dorothy Madamma’ in the movie ‘In Ghost House Inn’ is back in the city with a handful of modelling and acting assignments.
You may not be familiar with the name Karishma Kotak, but all Malayalis who saw the Lal movie ‘In Ghost House Inn’ will not forget ‘Dorothy Madamma.’ It is Dorothy madamma who opens the movie, scaring the wits out of the audience.
Karishma who donned the role is back in the city with a handful of advertisements and movies. “I loved the role, scaring people,” recollects Karishma, with a captivating smile. Soon after the shoot, she had to go back to London. “It is only now that I came to know that the movie was a
hit,” says the tall and svelte Gujarati gal who could easily be mistaken for a foreigner.
No wonder that Lal did not have second thoughts when he gave her the Madamma’s role in his super-hit horror comedy. The London-based Karishma who has been modelling since the age of 16 is happy to be back in God’s Own Country. Taking a break from her shoot for Punjabi Libas, she spoke about her passions - modelling, acting, dancing and anchoring.
“I love to do different things. Big or small is not an issue for me,” says Karishma. She has modelled for magazines like Just Seventeen, Asian Woman and Asiana, and for some of the world famous brands like Ralph Lauren and FCUK. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in advertising and marketing but instead of getting hooked on to a run-of-the-mill job, she wanted to be in front of the camera.
She came to India in 2005 to try her luck. Her talent did not go unnoticed. In a few months’ time her career took off with one of the biggest assignments for Kingfisher Calendar.
Karishma made her acting debut in the film, ‘Shankardada Zindabad’ (2007), a Telugu remake of ‘Lage Raho Munnabhai’. “It was a great learning experience as I could work with some of the big names in the film industry like Chiranjeevi and Prabhu Deva.” She did learn a few dance lessons from Prabhu Deva and says his discipline and hardworking nature impressed her.
“After working with him I realised that he is really good. He brings the best out of you,” says Karishma, who loves to take up challenges.
Without any formal training she entered the dance reality show on Zee Telugu, ‘Nach Baliye’.
“It was, indeed, tough as I had to learn eight songs in three days. But I enjoyed it thoroughly.”
Did she ever feel out of place in India after having been born and brought up in London?
“No, never. I am very adaptable. After moving here I never felt lonely. I just need my laptop and cellphone for company. Language was a bit difficult to grasp,” she admits.
In 2006, Karishma took part in the ‘Lakme Fashion Week’. She has also done music videos for artists like Jay Sean, Sonu Nigam and Apache Indian. The brand ambassador for Dove shampoo in India, Karishma has modelled for Alapatt, Kalyan Silks and Tanishq. She has also appeared in a number of other commercials as well.
In April 2008, Karishma started to host a show for an international luxury channel called the ‘Spa Diaries’, which requires travelling all over India. The same year she signed her first Bollywood movie titled ‘Seasons Greetings'.
Now back in Kerala, Karishma says she would love to stay here for a little longer. With a guest appearance in a soon-to-be shot Malayalam big banner movie and a handful of ads up her sleeve, we will soon be hearing more about this lucky lass.