MUMBAI: She plays one of the three wives of the hero in “Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon,” Kapil Sharma’s debut film. On a humid afternoon, we meet up at the Sun N Sand hotel with Sai Lokur. An established actress on the Marathi screen, Sai Lokur began in Hindi films as an adolescent in the 2002 “Kuch Tum Kaho Kuch Hum Kahein,” starring Fardeen Khan. Since then, she did five Marathi films before this Hindi debut.
Here are excerpts from the interview:
Q: Do you feel that for a proven actress this is the right break in a new language, as there are three other girls?
A: This is the perfect break — a dream debut! My Hindi launch in an Abbas-Mustan film after they have launched so many stars is a big thing — and I am being launched opposite Kapil! I was trying for a Hindi film for almost two years.
Q: Did you have scenes with the other girls?
A: Yes, some scenes are there with Manjari and Simran.
Q: How did you get this role?
A: Our close family friend, Kiran Kotrial, who wrote “Race 2” for Abbas-Mustan, recommended my name. I owe him this break.
Q: Do you intend to continue with Marathi films?
A: Yes, if the characters are interesting. My main interest will now be Hindi films.
Q: You did the Marathi version of “No Entry.” So this is your second comedy.
A: Yes, I played Esha Deol’s role. But this was more difficult, as I had to match Kapil’s comic timing. And he is so versatile that he would improvise in every take! So finally, I decided that I should not prepare much but react to him!
Q: And your views on Abbas-Mustan?
A: Simply the sweetest, loveliest people I have ever met. No matter whom I work with in the future, they will always be my favorites!
Q: Who are your inspirations among actresses?
A (Instantly): Priyanka Chopra hands down! The amount of work she does, her hardworking nature — in every movie, she’s something else! She’s a huge inspiration to me, and I hope that I can do one percent of what she has achieved. I think that it is all about the right attitude. Like Kapil, who is so big but so grounded.
Q: And who is your future dream co-star?
A: All of them, but I love Ranbir Kapoor. Oh, and I must share this with you. Since my childhood when I decided to be an actor, I had kept this diary — about whom I would like to co-star with, who should be my designers, and where I would like to shoot. I kept adding names to that, and the last name I added some years ago was Kapil Sharma and going on “Comedy Nights with Kapil.” And that last wish was granted first!