Debutante Teena Singh is a model who has done several commercial advertisements. She talks about how she bagged a negative role in the Sonakshi Sinha starrer, Akira.
Tell us about your role in Akira?
I play a bully in the film. My character has a gang and she is the gang leader.
Do you have any scenes of actual physical combat with Sonakshi?
I am the strong, silent type. Bullies never fight — my gang does everything; I just stand around and give orders.
What was it like to work with Sonakshi?
It was lovely. She is very sweet and chilled-out. There is no drama, no tantrums, nothing. She is extremely professional, never late on the sets and so prepared that she never forgets her lines.
Was it easy to play her tormentor?
She was very encouraging as it was my first film. Even when I fumbled or forgot a line, she was very encouraging about it.
How did you bag this role?
I came to Mumai about three years ago and have done 70-80 advertisement commercials. I am a part of 24 Season 2. I just did a Kingfisher campaign with Dhoni and Sushant Singh Rajput for the film Dhoni, which will be out in August. I have done a Netflix series called Sense 8 directed by Wachowski, the guy who made Matrix (1999).
One day, I got a call from the casting department of Akira. I auditioned for this role and after three months I got a confirmation call from them.
Tell us about your trek to films.
Coming from Punjab to Mumbai after taking a stand against the family was the toughest part. It’s a very different life over here. We are not star kids, so nobody would come and offer us a film. It’s really tough as every day I had to go to 3-4 auditions. I did advertisements because that was the only way to get noticed. Now there is a little consideration since I am a popular face in advertisements but even today I have to audition for my next one. Nobody says, “She has done 80 ads so just cast her based on the work she has done.” I have to make sure my audition is better than 80 other girls’. But I have confidence, so I got to play this part in the film.