Dirty dozen

You play 12 characters in the film and all are Gujarati. Aren’t there any overlaps?
The characters are all Gujarati and between the age group of 19 and 24,and most of them are educated,so there are similarities. But the differences are all within the realm of these similarities. The 12 characters are distinct from one another not only in terms of looks; I have lent each of them a different set of characteristics in terms of mannerisms,the way they talk or walk. For example,one of them has a thinner voice while one of them has a twisted smile.

Once the director,Ashutosh Gowarikar,had set the tone for the characters,we did a look and video look test for each to see where the characters were overlapping. We then sat down and sorted that out.

Often actors take back home with them the characters they play on-screen. Which one from the dozen stayed with you?
I would even dream of them! And often,at home,I would react to situations like one of my characters,which would make my mother stop and ask me if all was okay. I’d then cook up an excuse of a headache. By the end of this movie I was close to being schizophrenic.

On the sets,it was worse because Ashu would call me by my character name and I would respond to it too. Moreover,we never shot one character at a stretch. We’d go back and forth depending on the convenience of locations. So it was a big issue for me to remember the subtle nuances I had lent to each character. I would often have to think hard whether the character I am playing today has an accent or a twisted smile.

Was the girl with your star sign Cancer close to the real you?
The Cancerian girl has been born and raised in a chawl in Bhuleshwar. She is quiet and comes from an orthodox family. I’m none of that — I’m outgoing and effusive. But the traits that define one’s character are common,like the ability to tell the truth even though it can get you in trouble,the quiet strength to internalise problems,or being loyal.

Don’t you mind that you are looking unattractive in this film,especially where you have a mono-brow. Did you really grow that?
No,that was make-up.

But why did you choose to go that way after being super-sexy in Dostana?
I’m aware that I’m being reprimanded for it at this stage of my career but if I create character by experimenting with looks and make it real and convincing,how does it matter how I look on screen? I’d like to do films that test me as actor and which do well at the box office.

But the Indian film industry and the audiences still consider glamour the biggest virtue in an actress.
If I experiment with my look according to the characters I play,people will say I am looking ugly and if I don’t do that,they will complain that I look the same in every film. One can never win. I am happy I have the courage to look terribly ugly onscreen as well as the penchant to look tremendously gorgeous too,neither of which I know I am.

During the making,there was news of your break-up with Harman Baweja. How was it working with him on the film?
I’ve known Harman for years; my first movie had not even released then. So irrespective of what the media said,we have been friends so there was no chance we would feel awkward in each other’s presence. If it were a co-star I hadn’t known,it would have taken a toll. But Harman and I are still good friends.

Gowarikar’s comment on Aishwarya Rai Bachchan having deserved the IIFA Best Actress Award did take a toll on your relationship with the director.
We didn’t have a strained relationship because we chose to sort it out between ourselves. He told me why he said what he said onstage and I too shared my thoughts with him. I have great respect for Ashu and my personal relationship with him matters to me. Besides,I am concerned about doing my job well in Raashee and not about how any of his previous heroines did.

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