We first met in 2006 when you had just signed Om Shanti Om (2007). How different were you as a person then? Did you, at that time, anticipate your superstardom?
The person that I inherently am, when it comes to shyness and awkwardness, hasn’t changed. People talk of my success or confidence, but I am still such an introvert. I think a lot, I process a lot. Everything about me is internal, there is a lot going on in my head. But the little girl who left Bengaluru still exists in me. My upbringing and values are still the core of everything I do and every decision I make.
Did I anticipate the stardom? I knew I had a purpose; it’s just that my medium was cinema. My purpose was to make a positive impact. I wanted to challenge the system; I wanted to change ideas that people did not even question. Why can’t things be different or why can’t things be more than this? I knew I wanted to bring value and purpose into people’s lives and I just happened to do it through movies.
Q/ How is life after Pathaan (2023)? What has changed for you, work-wise, with a film that crossed ₹1,000 crore at the worldwide box office?
A/ It’s bizarre, because I’ve never been fascinated by numbers whether it was maths in school or the numbers of Pathaan. I was just happy that cinemas had come alive again, that people had come alive again. I was really grateful for that. But my journey sort of got its boost since Cocktail, 11 years ago. That is when people accepted what I could bring to the table as an actor. It’s because of what I bring to the table that Pathaan came to me. Of course, the film has now further cemented this.
Esta historia es de la edición September 24, 2023 de THE WEEK India.
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Esta historia es de la edición September 24, 2023 de THE WEEK India.
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