REALITY cover girl
You have not stuck to a particular genre when
picking films. Is that a conscious move?
My primary motive is to not get bored, because that
eventually reflects on screen. Being in the safety of your
comfort zone can make you complacent, and I constantly
push myself out of it, figuring what I can do and how I can
approach a character.Name a film genre you
wouldn’t want to be
part of.
The only genre I don’t enjoy,
don’t watch, and don’t want to
do is sex comedy. I don’t
find it funny.Tell us a role you enjoyed
working on the most.
Quite a few, and each for
a different reason. Be it Pink
in which I got to a point
where I could cry without
glycerin, (something I thought
I wasn’t capable of because
I am too happy a person in
life) or getting into the
character of Shabana (Baby
and Naam Shabana) where
I was able to convincingly fight
and kill someone (I haven’t
ever slapped a person) were
big achievements for me.
Manmarziyaan’s Rumi was
challenging. The exterior image
of the character may look like
me, but the confusion she
carries in her mind, I’m far
from it. I look at things in black
and white, and Rumi is in the
grey zone. I found it difficult to
make her enduring character
believable. I discovered I did it.How do you prepare
yourself for a character?
For a part like the one I play in Soorma, intense physical
training is needed. In this case I had to learn how to
play hockey, and I quite enjoyed the process since I love
physical activity. For parts like Shabana and Rumi I have
to psych myself out into making the character believable.
It is a tougher process since I have to train my mind to
believe that I am a victim, or a murderer, depending on the
character. Shabana was absolutely intense, someone who
was ready to kick or punch at the drop of a hat. I am notlike that. I have to work hard towards it. Each time I get
into the skin of the character in this manner, it doesn’t leave
me totally after the shoot is wrapped up. About 10 per cent
stays back, changing me in an irreversible way. It takes
a toll, especially when I do such roles back to back.Can you tell us about an instance where you have
behaved like that publicly?
When the Manmarziyaan shoot
came to an end, I was under the
Rumi hangover for a while. At
that time, someone was trying
to take my picture without
asking me. Somehow, I blurted
out, ‘Phone wapis andar rakh
de nahin toh tod dungi’. It was
a reflex action, and I realised it
wasn’t the right reaction coming
from me, but the character had
stayed for a while.What’s the best part about
being an actor?
You get to live many lives in one
life. Even when the hair and
makeup process used to get to
me, this aspect would rekindle
the exitement. Every few weeks,
I’m a different person.Bollywood is a tricky
place where everything is
determined by box office
numbers. Does failure
intimidate you?
Of course! Failure shakes you
up, but there is no better teacher
than failure. Box office numbers
are eventually a mark of your
success. You can be the best
actor in the world, but unless the
audiences show their support,
you can’t become a star. I judge
my films based on whether my
producer made money.Is there a role which you’d give up anything
to play?
A superhero in the Avengers series!Who’s your favourite co-star?
Most of them are my friends, but of the 28 films I have been
part of, the two co-actors I hang out with often are Saqib
(Saleem) and Vicky (Kaushal).The only genre I don’t
enjoy, don’t watch,
and don’t want to do is
sex comedy.
I don’t find it funny.
DRESS,` 47,500, SHRIYA SOMREALITY cover girl
You have not stuck to a particular genre when
picking films. Is that a conscious move?
My primary motive is to not get bored, because that
eventually reflects on screen. Being in the safety of your
comfort zone can make you complacent, and I constantly
push myself out of it, figuring what I can do and how I can
approach a character.Name a film genre you
wouldn’t want to be
part of.
The only genre I don’t enjoy,
don’t watch, and don’t want to
do is sex comedy. I don’t
find it funny.Tell us a role you enjoyed
working on the most.
Quite a few, and each for
a different reason. Be it Pink
in which I got to a point
where I could cry without
glycerin, (something I thought
I wasn’t capable of because
I am too happy a person in
life) or getting into the
character of Shabana (Baby
and Naam Shabana) where
I was able to convincingly fight
and kill someone (I haven’t
ever slapped a person) were
big achievements for me.
Manmarziyaan’s Rumi was
challenging. The exterior image
of the character may look like
me, but the confusion she
carries in her mind, I’m far
from it. I look at things in black
and white, and Rumi is in the
grey zone. I found it difficult to
make her enduring character
believable. I discovered I did it.How do you prepare
yourself for a character?
For a part like the one I play in Soorma, intense physical
training is needed. In this case I had to learn how to
play hockey, and I quite enjoyed the process since I love
physical activity. For parts like Shabana and Rumi I have
to psych myself out into making the character believable.
It is a tougher process since I have to train my mind to
believe that I am a victim, or a murderer, depending on the
character. Shabana was absolutely intense, someone who
was ready to kick or punch at the drop of a hat. I am notlike that. I have to work hard towards it. Each time I get
into the skin of the character in this manner, it doesn’t leave
me totally after the shoot is wrapped up. About 10 per cent
stays back, changing me in an irreversible way. It takes
a toll, especially when I do such roles back to back.Can you tell us about an instance where you have
behaved like that publicly?
When the Manmarziyaan shoot
came to an end, I was under the
Rumi hangover for a while. At
that time, someone was trying
to take my picture without
asking me. Somehow, I blurted
out, ‘Phone wapis andar rakh
de nahin toh tod dungi’. It was
a reflex action, and I realised it
wasn’t the right reaction coming
from me, but the character had
stayed for a while.What’s the best part about
being an actor?
You get to live many lives in one
life. Even when the hair and
makeup process used to get to
me, this aspect would rekindle
the exitement. Every few weeks,
I’m a different person.Bollywood is a tricky
place where everything is
determined by box office
numbers. Does failure
intimidate you?
Of course! Failure shakes you
up, but there is no better teacher
than failure. Box office numbers
are eventually a mark of your
success. You can be the best
actor in the world, but unless the
audiences show their support,
you can’t become a star. I judge
my films based on whether my
producer made money.Is there a role which you’d give up anything
to play?
A superhero in the Avengers series!Who’s your favourite co-star?
Most of them are my friends, but of the 28 films I have been
part of, the two co-actors I hang out with often are Saqib
(Saleem) and Vicky (Kaushal).The only genre I don’t
enjoy, don’t watch,
and don’t want to do is
sex comedy.
I don’t find it funny.
DRESS,` 47,500, SHRIYA SOM