Tamil, Hindi, Marathi...Milind Soman loves experimenting

By Radhika Bhirani, New Delhi, Nov 8: Milind Soman has two Tamil movies, one Marathi and two Hindi films lined up. The supermodel-turned-actor, who is currently busy giving tips to young aspiring models on a reality show, says he loves to work with "different cultures and languages".

"I like acting and to me, the kind of film, where it is made, which language, is of secondary importance. I like working with different cultures, different languages, from all over India and all over the world," Milind told IANS in an e-mail interview.

He says he has worked on "two Hindi movies, two Tamil movies and one Marathi film" this year. His regional projects include "Vithagan" and "Paiyya" in Tamil and Marathi film "Gandh"(smell).

In the past too, the actor has worked in Tamil films and also featured in Swedish film "Arn - The Kingdom at Road's End" and Pan Nalin's cross-over film "Valley of Flowers".

Now Milind is back to the small screen, which catapulted him to fame as popular sci-fi hero "Captain Vyom" in the late 1990s.

But this time, he isn't acting. He is anchoring as well as judging a show "The Hunt For The Kingfisher Calendar Girl 2010" on NDTV Good Times. The reality series, on air for a week, is a hunt for a sexy model, who will be a fresh face in the annual calendar launched by business tycoon Vijay Mallya. The show airs every Friday at 10 p.m.

Milind says he chose it over most other reality shows primarily because it was being produced by his own company Face Entertainment.

"The other work that I have chosen in the past has also been unique on Indian TV in purpose, content, style and format. I also have the experience of almost 20 years in the glamour and fashion industry and have been on juries that have given to India and the world some of our most famous faces."

Milind says he is on the show to "find some really unique talent and connecting with a new generation of potential stars with a whole lot of new ideas and attitudes".

Asked about the tips he plans to give to the young aspiring models, he said: "Among many other things, I would be encouraging them to understand their own potential, helping them recognise their strengths and weaknesses and, most of all, emphasising to them the professional importance of always being in the moment."

The reality show has many of the young women comfortably showing off skin and posing in swimsuits. Milind says the show reflects the changing mindset of young girls towards beach wear.

"Seeing the response from the aspirants, we can safely say that more and more Indian women are getting comfortable with the idea of wearing swimwear and being photographed as pin-ups. But, however comfortable you may be, there are some women who do carry off swimwear better than others and that is what the contest is about."