FEBRUARY 18, 2011, AUCKLAND 06
F
rom ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’
to ‘Patiala House’, how
much have you grown as
an actress?
I would say that I have changed a lot
from the time I made my debut in ‘Rab
Ne Bana Di Jodi’. To start with, I am
far more confident as an actor today. I
have also begun to understand the basic
nuances of filmmaking. I was a total
novice when I shot for my first film.
COVER STORY Shah Rukh and Aditya Chopra helped
me with the markings and gave me clues
from time to time. Now I know when to
start and how to go about my dialogue-
delivery. I have also learnt how to focus
on my lines and react to my character.
The success of ‘Band Baaja Baarat’ has
also given me a certain comfort level. I
am now being perceived as a bankable
actor in the industry.
What is ‘Patiala House’ all about?
Patiala House is a big house based in
Southall. It is the story of a father and
son against the backdrop of racial riots
based in London. It is about the social
scene that was prevalent at one point in
England and the repercussions it had
on society thereafter. I play the role of
the nosy neighbour Simran, who takes
a fancy to Akshay Kumar and motivates
him to realise his dreams.
How was the experience working
with Akshay Kumar?
Akshay is a thorough professional and
it was inspiring to work with him. He’s
extremely punctual about his timings,
y
after all these years in the industry.y
He also comes thoroughly
prepared for his
day’s
work. I
got to learn a lot
ffrom hi
him d i the
during h shooting
h i
of the film.
Was it difficult working with
A-listers like Shah Rukh, Shahid
and now Akshay, in the initial
stages of your career?
It was no doubt a bit difficult initially
considering that I am not a trained actor.
All the co-stars I have worked with so far
are trained actors with their own distinct
style. Shah Rukh and Shahid are both
methodical in their style of working. My
co-star in ‘Band Bajaa Baraat’, Ranvir
Singh is also a trained actor. On the other
hand Akshay has his own distinct style of
acting, with his vast experience. Since I
am not trained, I had no fixed perception
about how I wanted to go about my role in
each film. Of course, I did not allow it to
deter me from attempting the character
the way I wanted it to. Now I am far
more spontaneous in my interpretation
of a role.
Just three films old now and you
have already been linked to your
co-stars- first to Shahid Kapur
and now Ranveer Singh. Have you
become cautious?
I have learnt to ignore all the
rumours. It used to affect me earlier
when I was new to the industry but now
I have realized that there is no point in
reacting. I have no further comments to
make on this.
How do your parents take the
news, since you are not from the
film fraternity?
I discuss everything with my parents
so I have nothing to be worried about.
They too are well aware about the way
the industry functions. Moreover, they
trust me a lot. I am not going to stop
living my life just because some wild
rumours originate day in and out in the
media.
Knowing that you hail from a
conservative background, how did
you parents react to your bikini act
and kissing scenes
in ‘Badmash
Company
Company’?
As I
mentioned
earlier, my
parents
know that
I am in a
glamo
glamorous
profession. My father
fa
has an army background and
my family has travelled the world over.
If they had any objections, they w would
have never allowed me to take up a acting
f i
as a profession. B id
Besides, h
I have b
been a
model earlier, so these things are part of
the profession.
What’s your take on marriage and
love?
I believe in marriage and definitely
in love. I hope I find love some day. My
parents have had a successful marriage
all these years. I would definitely
like to get married but right now I am
concentrating on my career. I still have a
long way to go.
By Sharmishta T