When you were growing up who were your acting heroes?
I’ve never had any acting heroes as such. I grew up in the South Indian state of Kerala, which has Malayalam films, which are more realistic. I grew up watching Malayalam films and the actors who were toasted were Mammootty and Mohanlal. The celebrated actresses were Shobana, Revathy and Urvashi.
At what point did you decide I want to be a leading lady?
It was not until my fifth film that I decided to take this up as a profession. I was into a lot of extracurricular activities at college, like inter-college festivals. I had also got into modelling, advertisement campaigns (not ramp modelling), so film offers kept coming my way. I said why not, it will be part of those extracurricular activities that I am doing and if I enjoy it let's see. That is the way I was taking it forward, it wasn’t really a profession until I had received, my first Filmfare trophy for Best Actress.
Why did you decide to move from South cinema to commercial Hindi language Bollywood?
It was not a conscious move. I did not think that this much I have done in the South and my next step is Bollywood, I didn’t have such a strategy. I was just very happy doing South Indian language cinema. Ghajini was being remade in Hindi and the producers approached me to be a part of it. I thought it was a lovely project to be a part of, a good role to perform and connect with the rest of the audiences in India, which hadn’t known me so far, the Hindi speaking audience.
Is there a different process of working in terms of South cinema and Bollywood?
There is of course a difference in the culture, lifestyle, in perception and views of people in North and South India. That obviously affects the working style and way of functioning. South Indian audiences are also a little bit more conservative. If you look at the male/female ratios in south Indian cinema there are more males working behind the camera than females. You are yet to find many females coming into the direction department and they have a very limited presence in the different departments. Whereas in Bollywood there are females in nearly every department whether it is music, editing, directing producing, set design, everywhere. So that is a big difference. Also the working timings are very different.
Is there anyone film or star that made a massive impact on you?
I must say I admire the films of actors Mohanlal and Mamooty very very much. I think they are extremely talented and very versatile.
Why do you love cinema?
I think as an actor I get to travel on different journeys and be different people, which in my normal life I would not have the opportunity to do. Also the best part about it is our basic human needs aside, for food shelter and clothing it is the need to be loved and being an actor gives you so much of love. People who don't know you come up and give you so much love for whatever work you've have done.
What has been the secret of your success?
I have been able to have a judgment over selecting projects that I think will do well at the box office and so far it has worked in my favour.
I am happy with the box office success I have had but I feel that I but I am not just defined by that. I think there is a lot more to me than just being the lucky mascot. I think there is a lot more of me that has not been showcased yet in Bollywood so far. I think my journey forward will be just that.
