‘I am fond of Govinda’

Were you flooded with similar bimbette roles after Race?
Playing that role in Race was thrilling after serious stuff like Musafir. I am glad that the film is a big hit. Now I want to do more comedy but of different types. I want to make a mark for myself in comedy!

Actors generally like to play all genres…
I know, but I think I have the alertness and the comic timing required to do comic roles. Also, not many heroines are doing comedy these days and that is the reason I want to reinforce comedy.

Who are you inspired by?
I am fond of Govinda and look up to him. His movies are really funny. While watching his films I actually fall off my chair laughing. His acting, his expressions and his comic timings and everything about him is absolutely perfect. I like Akshay Kumar too. I think even he is brilliant in comic roles.

Do you relate to any of your on-screen characters?
Umm… No! Not even one character that I have played in my films comes anywhere close to the real Sameera. While doing Race, there were times when I would ask myself that how could someone be so dumb? But then Anil Kapoor would tell me that the dumber I acted the better it was for the film. I have also played some intense roles like the one in Musafir, but in real life I’m really chilled out as a person.

Which are your future projects?
I am doing Red Alert with Suniel Shetty. Then there is Mahayoddha Ram, an animation film. I also have two regional films.

What is Red Alert about?
It’s a very serious film that talks about the Naxalite problem. We don’t blame either the government or the militants. Rather, we hope to find a solution to this major internal security issue. I play Laxmi, a young girl who goes to the police station where the cops rape her instead of helping her.
The trauma that she goes through, shatters her faith on the system. I had to lose a lot of weight for this role because they wanted someone with a chiselled look and a firmer jawline to bring out the intensity in the character.

Why did you choose to do Migration?
Firstly, Mira Nair offering me the film was a reason enough to accept it. Besides I really liked the way my character is portrayed in the film. It is a very sensitive issue portraying the life of an AIDS victim and my role has shaped up really well. It was once in a lifetime opportunity for me.

You are also doing a lot of regional films. Is there a dearth of roles in the Hindi film industry?
There can never be a dearth of roles in our industry. I am doing regional films because I have a huge fan following there. My fans wait for my films to release in the South. And all my films are doing really good. Hence, I don’t see any harm in doing regional films.

But you will continue to do glam roles?
Yes, why not? I don’t want to limit myself to specific roles. I have got a lot of compliments for being glamorous and will do such roles in the future.

What would your ideal role be?
I would love to do Rekha’s role in Khoon Bhari Maang. I just love masala films and Rekha’s role in the movie is one to die for.

Out of all your films, which has been your favourite one and who is your favourite co -star?
Without a doubt, Musafir has been my favourite film. I don’t care about the reactions that I got for the film. I think it was the most stylish film made till date in Bollywood. And my favourite co – star is Anil Kapoor. All that I have learnt till now is because of him. He is my mentor.