Your first-ever Punjabi film, Jag Jeondeyan De Mele, is doing exceedingly well. Did you anticipate this sort of success?
Honestly, I did. When I was offered the film, I leapt for it because of multiple factors. Firstly, the script, and more so the double-role offer. On one hand, I had to play a Vancouver girl who was blind and on the other, a local gypsy based in Punjab. I found the contrast quite attractive as it allowed me to display the range of my acting skills. Also, my co-star for the film was Harbhajan Mann who is a superstar. It is always good to do commercial cinema with popular people.
How did you land the offer? Were you consciously contemplating an entry into Punjabi cinema after trying your hand at Telegu and Malayalam films?
I got a call from director Baljit Singh Deo asking me if I would mind doing a Punjabi film. My answer was that I would since for me language is no bar. As far as it’s a good film with good opportunities, I am game to it. Though it was Deo’s debut feature film, the fact that he had been a photographer by profession went a long way in the film’s visual treatment.
What is the kind of homework you had to do for the role of a blind girl?
In general, I am a very observant person. Besides that, I also did some research over the Internet. But I think what helped the most is the fact that my grandmom, who was extremely close to me, had lost her eye- sight three or four years before she passed away. And the time that I spent with her during that period was etched in my subconscious. So when I was shooting for Jag Jeondeyan…in the back of my head, I knew the reactions that would come from a visually-challenged person.
What is the biggest compliment you got so far for your role in Jag Jeondeyan…?
Not just Punjabis in India, but also the NRI population from the UK, Canada and US, where I was put up for quite a bit while shooting for an international film, came up to me and said that were very impressed with my performance. Also, an interesting incident happened while we were shooting in Vancouver. I was dressed up in a skirt and top like the locals there and had to walk with a stick across the road (where the camera was stationed). Just then, a gentleman walked up to me and asked me whether I was okay crossing the road myself, which I think was a big compliment.
Now that you have done cinema across languages, which industry are you looking to focus on?
As far as I am concerned, I want to play roles across cinema from different regions as that is challenging in itself. I am not fluent in Telegu or Malayalam for that matter. But I think it’s more important to focus on the emotions; the lines just come by default. I want to grow as a human being through acting.
What is this international film you have been shooting for in the US? Is it a Hollywood project?
It is a co-production between the Indian and American film industries. Though it’s a film with global appeal, I cannot talk much about it at this stage.
What are your other upcoming projects?
I have Runway with newcomer Amarjeet, wherein I play a bar dancer. There is also the Indra Kumar-directed Daddy Cool in which I am paired opposite Aftab Shivdasani. I believe both the films will release once the ongoing revenue issue with the exhibitors is sorted out.
