A beginner’s guide

The 20-year-old,who plays the protagonist’s close friend during her sojourn in India,is more excited doing a film with Roberts as opposed to bagging a prestigious project. “I knew the audition I was to attend was for an international project. When I filled in the form,I read that the name of the movie is Eat Pray Love. I remember thinking to myself that it’s a nice name for a movie,” she recalls. “But it was only after I had cleared some five rounds of auditions that I realised how big this project is.” And it was upon seeing the script that the enormity of the opportunity dawned on Singh. “I thank the producers for giving me the script in advance because when I met Julia for the first time and she introduced herself saying,‘Hi,I’m Julia’,I even forgot my name,” she laughs,referring to Roberts as the most striking personality in the film.

Singh started her career pretty early with films like Nanhe Jaisalmer and Halla Bol. Although she initially planned to become either a radio jockey or a news reader,she didn’t clear any auditions or tests for the same. She later tried auditioning for television. “Even that did not work out,” she says. It was ad films that finally gave her a break and Singh continued to do a few until she bagged movies. “I was never interested in studies,” she honestly states. “I believe everyone has their calling and things happen the way they are destined to.”

And it was destiny that beckoned her to play the coveted role of Tulsi in the film. “Though there is a huge age gap between the two characters,I have quite a prominent role. In the movie,which revolves around the character of Gilbert,Tulsi plays a part in teaching her the Indian rituals and traditions,” says Singh,who shot for about a month in Delhi. “I have around five to six big scenes and also attend Gilbert’s wedding that takes place in India.”

During the duration of the shoot,she also got a chance to understand the workings of a Hollywood production,which is far more disciplined than an Indian production house,she believes. “If a shot has to be done at 4pm,it will be done no matter what,” she says.

But it wasn’t all work after all for Singh. “There was an ‘Eat,Drink and Chill’ party hosted by Julia for the entire cast and crew in India. We got to mingle with her on a personal level,” she says. Praising the Hollywood actor’s professionalism and patience,she says “Roberts would sign autographs endlessly and pose for pictures with whoever requested her.”

With her Hollywood debut in one of the biggest films,Singh is now worried about her future assignments. “I will work hard. I will make sure something good happens,” she says confidently. After all,she has to prove her worth to the world and also justify her choice to her parents. “When I got through the audition,I kept the news to myself. It was only a week before I had to leave for Delhi that I told my parents. They weren’t really happy about it. Even now,they are just about getting used to the idea,” she says. However,once the movie releases in India on October 8,she is sure they will be happy. For now,Singh is glad that is has occupied number two rank despite a limited release.

Being with Julia
* I learnt from Julia Roberts how to be a thorough professional even during unfavourable circumstances like illness and also how to double up as a mother.
* No matter what’s your age you and whether or not you use make-up,all that is required from an actor is to be convincing.
* Julia Roberts wasn’t the only one on the team with Scorpio as the sun sign. I am a Scorpion too and so is the director Ryan Murphy.
* Julia and I both hate onions.