Himalayan News Service

Mumbai

After so many years in the industry, how do you still manage to look like a doll compared to the other actresses who started with you?

That’s because you don’t know my age! I started modelling when I was eight years old. I strongly feel I should continue doing that. When you are happy, it shows on your face. No outside force can make you look beautiful.

Do you like shopping a lot?

I’m not too much of a jewellery shopper. I leave that to my mother-in-law as she knows best what jewellery to buy.

Do you think there are chances of reviving your film project with Sony Entertainment?

The post-production work for ‘Pyaar Kiya Nahin Jaata’ is complete. I’m paired with newcomers. It is a typical Mills and Boons romance. I really don’t know what has gone wrong. Now it is between the producers and the director, Mahesh Manjrekar. I’m just an actor so it is beyond my control to release the movie.

You recently did a cameo role in ‘Kal Ho Naa Ho’. You are now known for cameo roles. Why is that?

I did ‘Kal Ho Naa Ho’ because Karan is a very dear friend of mine. And more than that, Yash Johar is a person from our industry for whom I have immense respect. It was a pleasure to do something like this for a good friend.

You have almost disappeared from the big screen. When will your fans get to see you back now?

Yes, it has been a long gap now — the only movie I did was Amol Palekar’s ‘Anaahat’.

After so many commercial Bollywood films, I was getting bored of doing the same routine roles. When Palekar approached me with his story idea, I accepted the film and I’m proud I did as the movie has been widely accepted.

I liked the fact that the film was feminist in a way, but it was not an in-your-face, aggressive kind of feminism.

I feel my roles in the future will be similar to ‘Anaahat’. I’m only looking for very great scripts and that might probably not happen with too many commercial films.

But I certainly have not closed my doors to mainstream masala films. I’m also dabbling with the idea of doing some good theatre.

Has hubby Goldie Behl planned any movie for you?

When we got to know each other, we tried to keep our professional and personal lives separate. That’s a wise decision as it ensures a tension-free home life and I like to keep it that way.

You are endorsing a lot of brands but it seems a bit fake when you realise that stars don’t use the products they endorse. Please comment.

It’s true that celebrity endorsements do not necessarily see the star using the same brand. But not in my case, as I have gotten used to wearing Omega watches and who would not like to wear such exquisite watches?

I come from a middle class Marathi background where wearing an Omega watch was just not possible and today I find it so fortunate to endorse a brand that I could only dream of. I have been selective as far as endorsements go — I would never endorse products that are harmful.