What's common between KARISHMA RANDEVA(Hello Dollie), MONA WASU (Millie), KULRAJ KAUR (Kareena Kareena) and PANCHI BORA (Kitni Mast Hai Zindagi)? They are young, restless... but independent, ambitious and level-headed as well. Read on for a freewheeling chat Vickey Lalwani had with them to know what makes them tick:

Background:

Mona

Karishma: My dad is in the army. Back home in Chandigarh, I participated in a local beauty pageant (sponsored by Monte Carlo sweaters). After that, heaps of modeling and acting assignments came my way. This is not my first brush with acting. I have also done an experimental English flick titled Ants in the recent past.   Mona:I am a Delhiite. I did lots of theatre in my college days. I did a few one-off episodes on television. I was bitten by the acting bug and before my graduation results were out, I was in Mumbai. It's been a year now.

Karishma

Kulraj

Kulraj: I am a management graduate from Bangalore University. I did a short stint with Kishore Namit Kapoor. I am here in Mumbai for the last 18 months.   Panchi: My father was in the Indian army and I was brought up in different states of India. I was studying in 2nd year of Law College in Pune, when I participated in MTV and Balaji's star hunt, which changed my entire life.

Panchi

Role:

Karishma: I worked in Kahaani..., Kyun Hota Hai Pyarrr and Tumhari Disha. Kyun... came to an end, while I had to say goodbye to Kahaani... and Tumhari Disha. While Ekta did mind a little initially, she understood my perspective. Zee was good to me. In Hello Dollie, I play a 15-year-old girl called Dollie Suri who has to battle pimples, crushes, stage fright and above all, a short-span memory. To add to my dilemma is my mother, a soap writer, who keeps nagging me. My only cushion is my best friend Lopa (Benaf Dadachanji).
Mona: I did a few ads like Surf Excel, Stayfree, McDowell. Then I did a show Operation Gold for Star which took me to the army locations. I don't know why, but I initially refused this role. In Millie, I play a bindaas tom-boyish girl who stays in an orphanage. When she comes of age, she moves out, falls in love and discovers the other side of her life. I took up this role mainly because I don't have to use too much glycerine and shed tears.
Kulraj: It sort of landed in my lap. Soon after my stint with Kapoor got over, I got a call for this role. It's not a Kkusum or Jassi type of role which are quite plastic, linear and straitjacketed I felt, and signed on right away.

Filmy aspirations:

Karishma: My dad is not too happy that I got into this line; but I could not resist it. Mom comes down every 15-20 days. But they know what their daughter is made of; she will not succumb to any indecent proposal!
Mona: I am not game to a Julie or a Murder where I think the sex scenes were not integral to the script. But I wouldn't mind doing a Fire where I thought the so-called objectionable scenes were not meant for titillation.
Kulraj: I am open to films. I am sure people will offer me roles, because my role has lots of shades. But I wouldn't do roles which one can't see with one's family. Julie, Hawas etc are not kick-ass characters. I don't need to show my skin to prove that I can act.

Approaching producers:

Karishma: I got a lot of film offers recently, after I underwent a makeover in Kahaani.... So I started attending parties and being seen at the right places. But it didn't work out. I got offers which required me to expose. I guess this phase of sex films is temporary. The day it passes, I will take to films. Till then if I get a decent role, I am game. On date, I am concentrating on Hello Dollie only.
Mona: I do party, but never to get work. PR helps but only just. So why not concentrate on hard work? Why would Mahesh Bhatt, Subhash Ghai, et al be interested in me until they see my talent somewhere. I did a telefilm for Sahara. I thought nobody watches Sahara but I got a lot of calls appreciating my performance.
Kulraj: As of now, I am not approaching them. But eventually, why not?

TV actresses in the flesh trade:

Karishma: Even after the Star News show exposing actresses involved in the flesh trade, my parents didn't lose faith in me. If certain actresses are doing it, it's their life.
Mona: There are so many girls in colleges and private offices who have taken to prostitution as an alternative profession. So why single out the TV industry? Guess, because actors in India are public property.
Kulraj: I was a bit surprised when I heard that even TV actresses have got into this. I thought that girls entered television instead of films, only because they thought indecent trade and proposals exist in films only.

Mr Right?

Karishma: I don't see any handsome guys around because I am committed... to work (laughs).
Mona: I am not avoiding men. I find men very exciting. I have gone out on dates. I don't avoid getting into relationships. I am seeing a guy for the last one year. He is from this industry. Let's see how it goes.
Kulraj: I am single and happy. I am not mingling if that's what you're asking. I don't want to be written about in gossip columns.

Tailpiece:

Come November 1, Sahara One will launch a daily, Kuchh Love Kuchh Masti in the 10 pm slot. KLKM is a tale of three girls- Neena (SUNAINA GULIA), Pooja Rastogi (MADHURI BHATTACHARYA) and Vartika (SONIKA CHOPRA). Neena loves a man twice her age as she thinks that men mature only at 40. Puja thinks that no man is complete; hence she loves two men at the same time. Vartika thinks that marriage is redundant and wants a man who does not insist on marriage. Three young girls in unusual relationships in today's changing times.

And then there's Ekta Kapoor's new girl, PANCHI BORA, on MTV's Kitni Mast Hai Ziindagi. It's a long brigade alright.

Looks like femme power is just coming to the fore on Indian television.