Are you pretty choosy in the roles that you undertake? What do you look for, how do you pick a role? I am pretty intuitive about the work that I pick up and if a script appeals to me and if the volume of the role is substantial then I definitely pick it up and give my nod to a project. Last month I had nearly 4 releases and in each one of them my role was defined and I had various shades to play through them all.
You have worked with many actors, or co-acted with many actors. Do you have any favorites’? I am definitely one of the few actors who have had the opportunity to share screen space with the big names in the industry. Sanjay Dutt is of particular mention here as he was/is still one of the biggest names of our industry and we had an excellent chemistry too. I also had a great working relationship with KK Menon, Fardeen Khan and Randeep Hooda amongst my co actors.
What were your growing-up years like? I mean, were you a shy child or were you as outgoing as you are now? Was there a little actress in you...? I was never timid because I grew up amongst 2 big bullies at home who are my brothers. I had to match up with them to it all and be a winner so I was allowed very little time to be shy or behave girlish or shy. (Hahaha)...Yes there has always been an actor in me and I discovered her rather unknowingly just by becoming a character while in a play or amongst friends.
Do you think that in today’s times you can successfully handle the burden of playing a solo heroine in a film? Yes why not! Today’s cinema in India has evolved into something much larger and every actor has a role for him or herself to decide from. My last film Mohandas that got released fetched me a lot of accolades too. I am also planning to step into regional cinema apart from Marathi and I am open to looking at subjects that are high in content and solo heroine.
It’s really surprising that after being in Bollywood for so many years, you still are single.
Ha-ha! Actually it’s just a matter of chance and time I guess. Of course I have had my share of relationships and each one has taught me something good only but yes even I think of settling down someday and am waiting for my knight in shining armor to appear just out of nowhere.
(smiles) Is there a movie you feel most proud of, so far? Quite a few! I m very proud of films like Mission Kashmir, Mohandas, Strangers, my Italian film and also my last Marathi film that is still playing in theatres after five weeks called Gabricha paus, which means the damned rain.
You have managed to keep much of your private life, to a certain extent anyway, out of the media. How have you managed to do that? I am not too much of a party person and even If I do its always with friends who are close and those parties are generally in each others homes so I don’t get to be seen so much on the social circuit but I m now changing my thought process and definitely trying to be a more social person, rather a more people’s person.
swati@epmltd.com