Anushka Sharma Sayed in Interview - “Imran is a younger SRK”

Q. Tell us something about your next release Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola.

I was excited about doing this film because of Vishal Bhardwaj. Although I have only done five films in my career so far, I am greedy as an actor and want to play different roles. It’s hard to stereotype me. I’m blessed that I got to work with a director like Vishal B.hardwaj so early in my career. His cinema is edgy. And he doesn’t do it for effect. That’s how he’s as a person as well. I love the fact that he makes earthy films, which are also cool. His characters are extraordinary. He introduces his films based on his characters. Like this film is called Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola. The title includes the three characters of the film – Matru, Bijlee and Mandola. Vishal sir inspires you not only as an actor but otherwise too. While shooting for MKBKM, I began writing poetry. I used to bounce it off him. He was always encouraging. He’d say, ‘Kahan se aata hai yeh sab kuch’. On my birthday he gifted me some of Gulzar saab’s unpublished poetry. That’s something I’ll cherish for life

Q. How did Anurag Kashyap’s Bombay Velvet come about?

It happened in the Yash Raj studios. Right after Band Baaja Baaraat (BBB), Anurag   had sent me a message saying how much he had liked the film and me. One day he asked me to meet him. I thought maybe he wanted to tell me the same thing in person. But when we met, he had brought along the script of Bombay Velvet. He handed it to me and told me he wanted to make Bombay Velvet with me and no one else. At that time he didn’t even have a hero on board.  In our industry, directors rarely come to actresses and say this role can only be played by you. Usually, they cast the actor and then consider who will look good opposite him. Also, Anurag doesn’t believe in norms. So when I saw something in him, which you don’t usually see in our industry I fell completely in love with him. Today, Anurag is a great friend, he’s like my teddy bear. I can talk rubbish with him.

Q. Tell us something about Bombay Velvet.

This is the first time I’m attempting a hardcore period film. Also this is a script that had to be made. Anurag had it for so many years. Plus, we all know that Ranbir Kapoor is one of the best actors in the country. So the entire team seems top notch.

Q. How did you land Rajkumar Hirani’s Peekay?

Again, after the release of BBB, I got a call and my phone flashed Rajkumar Hirani’s name. I found the closest corner and sat down there. He had called to tell me how much he had liked the film and me in it. In fact, he even told me about a few scenes, which he thought I had done well. Cut to the screening of Rockstar. I was overwhelmed by the film and walked out weeping and there was Rajkumar Hirani standing in front of me. I was a bit out of sorts. So when he told me that he had finished writing his film and would call me soon, it didn’t quite register. When I woke up the next day I asked myself whether he’d said that. I called him up and we eventually met. This was during the promotions of Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl. He gave me the script and told me how his wife often joked that he never wrote strong characters for girls and that this time he had nailed it.

Q. Rumours suggest you aren’t cast opposite Aamir Khan in the film.

I don’t know who benefits from such stories. Whoever gives out these stories has too much time on their hands. Time will reveal everything. When the movie releases everyone will know the truth.

Q. You're a successful actress. Are people jealous of you?

I hope that’s not true. As a person I can never put other people down so that I can come up. And I do know there are people like that in the industry. So far I’ve stuck to my business and that has got me here. It’s also sad there is this whole PR gimmick where stories are planted to throw someone off. I have come this far without a PR person. So I don’t want to play games and lower my dignity. But it’s awful that someone can put anyone down to make themselves look good. Just shows how insecure actresses are. This never happens with the men. I would not hesitate to pick up the phone and tell an actress if I liked her work. I called up Priyanka Chopra after Barfi!, Parineeti Chopra after Ishaqzaade and Deepika Padukone after Cocktail. It excites me when people around me do well because then the industry does well. Also at the end of the day do these negative stories help? When your film does well and people love you all this is forgotten.

Q. What do you think about your co-star Imran Khan?

I don’t think anyone has had a bad experience working with Imran Khan. He’s one of our most intelligent actors. One can actually sit and have a conversation with the guy. He’s well-behaved and courteous. You don’t find that in guys anymore. Imran is a younger Shah Rukh Khan. He’ll see to it that your car has arrived and make you sit in it as well. Recently, he gave me a framed poster of Bangalore because we spoke a lot about the city while shooting MKBKM. He has studied in Bangalore and I too am from Bangalore. It’s a funny, caricature of the city. He sent it along with a handwritten note. How many people send handwritten notes today? That’s so me.

Q. Reportedly, Sidhartha Mallya was showing an interest in you and even sent his private jet to fly you to London to meet him.

(In a British accent) That is bloody crap. Come on, I was shooting in Ladakh. It’s not physically possible for me to be in two places at the same time. I don’t even know Sidhartha Mallya. I’ve met him once and I didn’t even have a conversation with him. Whoever plants these stories is wacky in the head. How do they even come up with all this?

Q. Did you ever believe that you’d get so much so soon and without any backing?

I always wanted to be a young achiever. When I was 17 and hadn’t joined the movies I was like, ‘I’ve done nothing in my life’. I’ve worked hard to be where I am and I’ve done it on my own terms. People used to tell me after Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi that I should sign more films and be seen more at film parties. But that isn’t me. I didn’t do films because Aki Narula or Manish Malhotra were styling me. I did films that I thought would work for me. That could have backfired as well.

Q. Do you have it in you to remain at the top?

I come from an army background. My principles are intact. I believe in competition. I’m bloody competitive. But there are ways of being so. While you’re busy planting stories about me in tabloids, I’ll snatch your work and go ahead. I know it’s hard remaining at the top; I know I don’t belongs to a film family or have strategies to sabotage others’ careers. But it’s too small a price to pay. I might seem like a villain and be the fall guy, so be it. Acting is not the be all and end all for me. For now it’s my career and I love it. But one day I want to get married, have children and drive them to school. At that time, I don’t want to look back and say I played dirty. It doesn’t occur to those who do it but to me it does.