SECOND INNINGS

She is dressed in a pair of black leggings,a chiffon tunic and thigh high boots. Dogra — who became a popular face in Indian funk-pop nearly three years ago when she formed the band Shaa’ir+Func along with Randolph Correia — now has a new reason to be happy. She makes her acting debuts in Aamir Khan Productions’ Dhobi Ghat,where she will be seen romancing Aamir Khan as well as Pratik. “I have worked very hard for this day. There were days in New York (where she grew up) when I went for auditions and was rejected. But I knew one day it will all fall into place because I had this undying love for acting,” she says,as we enter a small bungalow in the village.

The bungalow houses a group of people called We The People,working on various community projects. One of them is the Kameez Project that involves designing chic ethnic and organic cotton clothes. The debutante actor,who is patron of this project,says,“For all my gigs,I take clothes from here. I don’t like wearing the Louis Vuittons and the Pradas.” The bungalow is also meeting point for the artistes community. “We have a pop up restaurant once in a while. I also come here often to write poetry,” she says.

The area in which the bungalow is located is reminiscent of the locales in Dhobi Ghat,which was shot in real Mumbai locales. “The shooting locations were even better. The best part is we had to work in a discreet manner,and quickly give a take and come back. I did not even feel like a newcomer on the set,” laughs Dogra for whom working with Khan and director Kiran Rao was the biggest high. “I remember walking into theaudition knowing that I had to do the dialogue with Aamir. Initially,I was nervous,but I knew if I pulled it off I would be in. And when Aamir and Kiran gave their nod of approval,I was on cloud nine,” recalls Dogra as we bite into our cup cakes.

Members of the organisation come to greet her as we are chatting on the terrace. She says her hellos and quickly returns to the conversation. With a Bollywood debut now,one wonders if it will be easy for the vocalist to balance both music and movies. “I have been doing it for three years now since the time I started shooting for Dhobi Ghat. I have started doing yoga now,so that I can sleep less and work more,” she says. Her band Shaa’ir+Func has already made a trip to Glastonbury,has three albums under its belt and its fan base is increasing by the day thanks to India opening up to new sounds.

While Dogra has a firm finger on the music pulse of the city,Bollywood,she knows,is a different ballgame. However,she is clear about her choices in Bollywood. “Mainstream Bollywood is for the Katrina Kaifs and Priyanka Chopras. And more power to them. But I need to create my own niche.”