TOUGH ACT

With politics at its core,did you prepare yourself by watching women politicians?
For the campaigning portions,I did. I watched some people,like Priyanka Gandhi giving speeches. But the angle in which politics is dealt with is more humane. It is about the greed for power and how one misuses it.

Did you follow politics before signing Raajneeti?
I didn’t follow politics before or during the making of Raajneeti nor did I pretend do. I will not do it in future either. I am just not interested.

You have a simple sari-clad look in the film. Who conceptualised it?
It’s all Prakashji’s (Jha) vision. He knew what fabric to use and what kind of clothes to sport. For the majority of the film,I wear normal clothes,like a salwar kameez or a jeans-kurta.

With you being the lone female lead,was all the attention centred on you?
The boys had their own share of fun by playing pranks on me. Once they told me that the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh was coming to meet us and made me dress up in a sari. And when I did,they all started laughing. We also played cricket on the sets. Since I owned the bat and ball,I insisted on batting.

There were reports of you aiming for awards with Raajneeti.
That isn’t true. If the film does well,I am more than happy. Even if I am not mentioned in the review I am fine with it,as long as the movie does well.

You are being modest here.
But that is what you want,right? You just want to be able to stay here and maintain your goodwill.

After the hard-hitting Raajneeti,will you be working on a lighter film?
I have Zoya Akhtar’s film with Hrithik Roshan next. Then I will be completing Tees Maar Khan with Akshay Kumar. By the end of the year,I start work on Dostana 2.

Are plans of turning producer still on?
I am trying to buy the rights of the French film,À la folie… pas du tout. The process is too complicated.

If I get the rights,I will get it made. I haven’t decided yet whether I will make it or give it to a production house.

Will you be essaying the role of Madhubala in Anurag Basu’s next?
Since I have a two film contract with UTV,they discussed it with me. It is just a discussion that’s happened. The film is a year away from being made.

Have you opted out of Anurag Basu’s Silence?
I need not do every film I am offered. It is not a romantic comedy that I can say yes to. It is a complex film. So may be there is something that may not be right for me. But even before I decide on the film,the media is already saying that ‘I hate Priyanka and I am at war with her. And so I am not doing the film.’ Do people think we are so comical and so flippant? One day they decide I am seeing somebody,next day I am seeing somebody else and the third day it is a love triangle. They make us look like we are some kind of insecure,childish,immature,disloyal,flippant and indecisive people.

Have you learnt now to take this with a pinch of salt?
I can take it with a pinch of salt. But I wonder if people know how ludicrous this is. It is a frustrating battle to fight with that logic.