Going Places

Shahana Goswami has come a long way from her days as the angsty Debbie in Rock On!!. While her passion for acting has increased manifold,her physical self has undergone a makeover of sorts.

Shahana Goswami has come a long way from her days as the angsty Debbie in Rock On!!. While her passion for acting has increased manifold,her physical self has undergone a makeover of sorts. Those extra kilos have been shed,the wavy locks straightened and the face glowing more than ever. Dressed in a pair of blue denims and a white shirt,she decides to walk it from her Pali Hill residence to Cafe Basilico,Bandra. I thought it would be a pleasant walk,but these shoes hurt my feet, says Goswami as she settles down for a chat. She has a busy day lined up. After the interview,she has to head to a visa office and later pack for her Delhi trip.

But the actress isnt complaining. She is content with the way her career graph is soaring,with meaty roles in some big banner films. She plays the role of a non-conforming journalist in Game,a happy-go-lucky Parsi girl in Break Ke Baad and a video game designer in Ra.One. The shooting schedules of these films have made her a globetrotter. I was in Istanbul for the shoot of Game and then went to Mauritius for Break Ke Baad, says the actor,who will now head to Delhi to be with her family. This will be followed by a trip to London,where she shoots for Shah Rukh Khans Ra.One. After her return,she will start work on Abhay Deols home production Basra. It is a busy year,but I am happier this way. I also have two releases the yearMirch and Break Ke Baad, she says as she leans towards the glass window.

The actress,who was appreciated for her brilliant performance in Rock On!!,had been off the hook for a while. Her poor PR machinery did not help the cause. She also blames her disappearing act on the similar roles she bagged after Rock On!!. I was typecast as the feisty woman. And people came to me with roles of older characters. Although I dont blame them for doing that,I really wanted to explore newer arenas, she says. In the bargain,she also turned down quite a few films.

Her tryst with destiny continued even though she signed quite a few films,most of them refused to take off last year. For a year,I did not do any shooting. I spent a year in anticipation. Now that I have signed a few movies,I thought the difficult part was over,but it wasnt smooth sailing, adds the 24-year-old and recalls being worried about her career. And for an outsider like Goswami,the struggle continues even today. I am still struggling to find that elusive solo heroine project, she smiles. But that doesnt make her any less content about the projects she already has in her kitty. Big banner films do matter a lot. Small budget films gain a lot of recognition. But recognition doesnt always equate to popularity, says the actor,who now wishes to find a balance between offbeat and mainstream cinema. I want to do both kinds. Doing fluff at all times doesnt give you that much satisfaction,after all, she says.

Seated at the cafe,Goswami is happy reminiscing all the years that have gone by. She considers herself fortunate to have worked with actors like Naseeruddin Shah,Ratna Pathak Shah,Farhan Akhtar and many others. With Ra.One,I also get a chance to share screen space with Shah Rukh, she exclaims like a star-struck teenager. But one actor who will make her journey worthwhile in Bollywood is Aamir Khan. I had a huge crush on him when I was growing up. I hope I do a film with him some day. Aamir,we hope youre listening.

Wish List
Bungee jumping
Jump from a cliff into water
Learn jazz
Play basketball

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Tags:
Mumbai
talk