Were you one of those people caught up in the girl from New York Aarti Menon’s large eyes and reticent personality in ‘Aisha’?
Well, off camera too, Lisa Haydon comes across as someone sans affectation, who knows what it takes to make it to the top. After all, it’s not everyday you come across a model who’s picked out at a coffee shop by a veteran like Anil Kapoor and asked to debut in Bollywood.
With her mixed cultural and modelling backgrounds, and her lack of knowledge of Hindi (not to mention the fact that she too has seven siblings!), Haydon reminds us of a current reigning Bollywood queen, Katrina Kaif. Will the dusky 25-year-old take a similar route to superstardom?
It’s too early to say, but what we can tell you is, she has certainly got the looks and the pluck. We caught up with Haydon for a chat; a few excerpts:
The early years
My mum’s Australian and my dad’s a Tamilian from Kerala. I was born in Chennai. We moved to Sydney when I was six months old. I began modelling in Australia when I was 19. I came to Mumbai when I was 21, as my parents had by then moved here. I was offered the chance to host a TV show, ‘Babelicious’, on Zee Trends and so stayed on.
The Chennai connection
I don’t really know much about Chennai, since we moved away when I was an infant. I’m angry with my dad because he never spoke to me in Hindi or Tamil when I was a kid, so I didn’t have the chance to pick up the languages (laughs). For now my Tamil vocabulary is mostly restricted to Vanakkam!
A career choice
At one point I really wanted to be a dancer. I’m trained in ballet, and have explored jazz, hip hop, Afro, etc. The part I enjoyed the most about ‘Aisha’ was filming the salsa scene. A regular nine to five job is not my kind of thing. College was never on my ‘to do’ list. After high school I went to the US, where I worked with kids with cancer at my parents charity organisation. That’s when I knew I want to make a difference — I thought of becoming a yoga teacher and studying psychology. My elder sister Mallika has been modelling in Mumbai since I was 16, so that was also an option. In the end, interestingly, that’s where I ended up.
Getting into acting
I did a lot of commercials in Australia, including ones for Cornetto, Citibank and Axe. There I was always considered an ad commercial model rather than a fashion model, because there were many models who were three to four inches taller than me and even thinner. When I moved here, everyone said I’m great fashion model material. Meeting filmmakers here was always. Then one day, I was at the coffee shop of the JW Marriott in Mumbai, Anil Kapoor, came up to me and asked me my name and told me I am very beautiful. The next day my agents got a call from the people at his production house.
Prepping for ‘Aisha’
My character Aarti never says much. If she did, the mystery element would be spoiled and the audience would see her as a bimbo — I was quite scared of that happening. I wanted to portray Aarti as a classy woman, and that’s what I worked on at acting school in New York.
The Hindi factor
I took a Hindi class while filming, still do. People on the sets good-humouredly laughed at my accent, but Rhea Kapoor (‘Aisha’s producer) told me it worked well with my character.
My kind of role
‘Omkara’ is an excellent film. I would love to play any of its characters. I also liked Woody Allen’s ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’ — I like most of his films. Most of all, I’d like to do comedy.
A dance film with Hrithik?
A while ago, the media asked who’s my favourite actor and I said its Aamir Khan, because he does movies with substance and soul. Then they asked me who I think is good looking, and I said Hrithik Roshan, who I like also because he’s a good dancer. Before I knew it, there were reports that I want to act opposite Hrithik in a ‘dance movie’ — not that I would complain if given the opportunity, but then what is a ‘dance movie’ in Bollywood? They all feature dances!
Is Indian cinema risky business?
It could be, with regards to the filmmakers. Sometimes the original script and the final product play out quite differently. At times during the editing process, the original script loses some of its spunk and pizzazz.
Indian fashion
It’s coming of age, but it’s not all good. At fashion weeks you find some designers who are still in the learning process. I love Tarun Tahiliani’s work, he’s a genius. Manish Arora has created quite a niche for himself. While in Monaco recently, I found people walking around in his creations. Another favourite is Rajesh Pratap Singh. His work is very elegant and has great finish — definitely something I would wear.
One thing I’d like to change
I’d love to see ghagra cholis become street fashion. It’s the kind of thing New Yorkers would love — the flowing skirts are so pretty — but you never find anyone here wearing it casually.
My fitness regime
The last time I visited a gym to pump iron or cross train was about three years ago. Nowadays, if I visit the gym, I go for the power plates. If not I stick to my treadmill at home and do a lot of yoga. It’s important to develop a spiritual place at home, and practising yoga in my living room gives me that.
A day in the life of Lisa
If I have a shoot, I’m up by 6 AM, else I love to sleep in. When I wake up, I do yoga. Then it’s time for Hindi class and driving class (yes, I’m learning a lot these days!). In the afternoon — when I’m most awake and functional — I take care of meetings, before visiting family. I enjoy spending time at my younger sister Annabelle’s ballet school. Then I head to Breach Candy Club for a swim, before dinner. I can put together all kinds of dishes — from lasagne and salads (think blue cheese, walnuts and apples) to pancakes and Thai green curry.
My hobbies
I like to read biographies. Right now I’m reading Angelina Jolie’s biography by Andrew Morton. I also love to write about personal epiphanies, but I’m not forward when it comes to sharing my writing with people. I also dabble in photography — I have a Nikon D70.
Eyes right
I have big eyes, so don’t accentuate them too much — no eyeliner on the upper lid. When going out during the day, I just cover under eye dark circles, curl my lashes and dab on a lot of mascara. If I’m headed to a party, I also dab on brown eyeshadow with hints of purple (great for brown-skinned people) in the corners and socket, leaving the inside clean — this gives the eye a perfect, almond shape.
The Lisa look
I have two looks. Firstly, I like black or block colour clothes paired with high heels. Secondly I love my skinny jeans and often pair it with something funky, something you wouldn’t expect. I love statement jewellery, like accented stone rings. You’ll never catch me wearing earrings though. ‘Urban Gypsy’ is how I describe it.
Aston Martin girl
In Australia, a friend was organising a car show for Aston Martin. He asked me to help unveil the cars — for this I had to know everything about them. So, he told me all about Aston Martin, and now I know a fair bit about these cars.
Need to know
● FAVOURITE HANGOUTS: * The Japanese restaurants, Tetxum and Wasabi * Koh, a new restaurant on Marine Drive * Pali Village Café * Blue Frog.
● IN LISA’S SHOPPING BAG: I shop everywhere, from designer boutiques to Colaba market and the flea markets of Goa. For shoes, it’s always designer boutiques, bags are often picked up at flea markets, while clothes are a mix and match of both.
● TOP BRANDS: Etro, Dior, Tod’s, Gucci, Chanel
● ON LISA’S IPOD: I’ve broken four iPods, so now I stick to an MP3 player! Right now you’ll find music by Train, The Temper Trap and the Aisha soundtrack. I also love Coldplay and Lady Gaga.
● BIGGEST INDULGENCE: Cheese! Blue cheese, brie, mozzarella with balsamic vinegar, smoked cheddar with tomatoes...Mmm.
● THE FACTS: * I’m 5 ft 9 inches * I love sushi * My favourite holiday spot is the Maldives. * I’m fearlessly protective of my friends, cross them and I’ll bite * I’m happy doing one film a year — I want a life too!