Dipti Sherchan

Kathmandu

What did you want to be in your childhood?

I didn’t want to be anything actually. I am the youngest in my family (five brothers and sisters) and it was such a happy childhood. I don’t think school is the stage where one really thinks of ambition unless one is an extraordinary student. I was good at studies.

When you were in school Duruelo, Mumbai and St Joseph later, you never took part in extra-curricular activities. You seem to have been very shy. But it is said that things changed when you were studying B Com in N M College of Commerce. What happened in between?

I did nothing in school. I was a tomboy because of my brothers. They influenced me. I used to fly kites with them, play football. I was a very safe child. But slowly as you grow up, your confidence builds up. It does not mean that I wasn’t confident earlier, but I never thought that I would do this. In college opportunity comes and slowly I came out of that shell.

How did modelling happen?

I was in the second year of my college when modelling just happened but nobody inspired me.

After doing few fashion shows in New York and London you were rejected for not being tall enough (at 5’8”) by international standards. How did you take the rejection?

I definitely tried abroad but was getting smaller shows. I would not make it to the top there, so there was no point staying there. I didn’t feel bad or anything about it. What felt good was that I gave it a shot. I don’t care about rejection.

And then choreography...

After 10 years of modelling, I made choreography happen to me. I think a lot of models in the end of their career think, ‘Oh my God! What am I going to do now?’ So I decided enough is enough and said: ‘Yes, I can do it’. Now I have been named as a choreographer and that really matters a lot to me.

How did your first film ‘Kamasutra’ come?

That was a very funny incident. Dipti Bhatnagar and I were flying back from Delhi after a fashion show. The casting director of ‘Kamasutra’, Uma Dacunha, was also in the same flight. She approached me saying whether I was interested in doing a movie. It sounded good. Later she sent me the script. Then I met Mira Nair, the director, and she liked me.

You were offered the famed ‘Chhainya Chhainya” song from ‘Dil Se’? Why did you reject it? Any regrets?

Farah (Khan) had called me up and we conversed on the phone. I had not heard the song, maybe if I had, it would have been different. The only thing that she told me was, ‘You will be doing a dance on top of a train.’ I had visions of this western railway train, which is really large, scary, and I said ‘No’. I should have said yes! Also I was very busy at that time with a lot of other things. Well no regrets, but definitely I made a wrong decision.

“Meinu Lagan Lagi” the track from ‘Dil Kya Karen’. Did it fill the gap?

That came my way and I said ‘Yes’. Both have their own place but of course “Chainya…” became more famous. But we cannot compare the two songs.

How did the role in ‘Na Tum Jano Na Hum’ come?

They had seen me on TV and liked me. Initially, Lisa Ray was supposed to do that role but she apparently walked out after one day of shoot. They called me in the night. I was just watching TV and was getting ready to go to bed when my phone rang and they asked me to meet them immediately. I was like, ‘Are you kidding?’ They gave their reasons and then I went to meet the director and the producer. They told me that the shooting starts from the next day only. Luckily I was free for the three-four days and liked the role.

How was it working with Bollywood’s hunk Hrithik Roshan and with Esha Deol?

There is only one word for that man. He is a complete thorough gentleman. He is kind, caring, nice. I didn’t for a second think of him as this fabulous, sexy, icon. Not at all! He is so nice. I remember one day we were shooting and always there were thousands of people wherever we were shooting and people screaming his name. He always has bodyguards around and I had one too. But I don’t know where my bodyguard went and that time when the crowd was coming to us almost.

I don’t know what happened he just held my hand and pull me in the shooting van. I thought I was really saved from being crushed, I guess. He is also extremely helpful. Esha is also a very sweet girl. We are friends now.

Describe yourself.

I am not very complicated person. I have always been ambitious. I am very determined, very strong-headed but not dogmatic. I am very open-minded. I love people and think people get along with me too. I have lots of friends. Though an extrovert I have this other side also. I like to have my own space. I am also a very spiritually inclined person. When I am alone I take care of my house, read and watch TV. My hobbies are playing squash. I don’t know whether going to the gym is a hobby but I think it is part of my job. I do that five times a week for sure. I like cooking too.

Who would you like to work with?

I would like to do a Ram Gopal Varma film, even if it is a small role. He has a completely different mind. He experiments. I think I will work with him free of cost. I would like to dance with Govinda too!

Your opinion of Nepal?

I love Nepal. The people here are very nice and kind. There is so much beauty here. Every side you go you see a different beauty. There is so much to explore. I went to Patan, Bhaktapur, Thamel, Nagarkot, New Road, Manakamana, Last Resort. I did not bungee jump, I was scared.

You came for Valentine’s Day celebration at Everest Hotel. What about that special person in your life?

I am here alone. I don’t have any special person now. I had but there is no one right now.