What has been your greatest challenge in life?
I am yet to come across a situation in life that I can call my greatest challenge. I am still waiting for such a challenge.
WHAT WAS THE DEFINING MOMENT WHEN YOU KNEW YOU WERE FAMOUS?
After my debut film Lagaan opened, we had an extensive stint of post-release promotion. People instantly recognised me everywhere we went and hounded me for autographs and photo-ops despite Aamir Khan’s presence. That was the moment I knew I had become famous.
WHAT WAS MOST CHALLENGING FOR YOU AS A CHILD?
As a child I always wanted to be a good Kathak dancer. Working towards that goal was my greatest challenge.
WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF HEAVEN?
My idea of heaven is to pray regularly and spend as much time as I can with my family. The feeling of being with my loved ones spells heaven for me.
ARE YOU AN OPEN BOOK WHEN IT COMES TO EMOTIONS?
I would rather be a closed book. I can only emote in front of the camera and feel uncomfortable revealing my emotions before outsiders. I only reveal my innermost feelings to my family.
ARE YOU A PLAYER OR A STAYER?
I can never be a player. I am a ‘stay-away’ kind of person by nature. When others start playing games, I choose to avoid them.
WOULD YOU CALL YOURSELF AN INSTINCTIVE ARTIST OR A METHOD ARTIST?
I never trained to be an actor. So, whatever I do in front of the camera is driven by instinct. I don’t even know the rules of method acting.
WHAT ARE YOUR GUILTY PLEASURES?
Chocolates are my guilty pleasure. I have an achingly sweet tooth and am driven by the urge to binge on chocolates. It is going to be death by chocolates for me!
WHAT MOVIE COMES TO YOUR MIND WHEN YOU THINK OF YOUR CHILDHOOD? WHY?
I can recall the Anil Kapoor- Sridevi starrer, Lamhe. I remember being overwhelmed by the panoramic scenes of Rajasthan’s exotic Thar desert where a large portion of the film was shot. The beautiful dance sequences are also a part of my memories of the film.
DID YOUR CHARACTER’S TRAITS IN YOUR DEBUT MOVIE STAY WITH YOU LONG AFTER THE ROLE WAS OVER?
Not my debut film, but my character Dinky in the TV show Amaanat — which I did before Lagaan— has stayed with me. I guess that’s because I played Dinky for more than two years on the show. The character made me quite popular. I love the simplicity of the character.
RICH AND FAMOUS, OR POOR AND ANONYMOUS?
Rich and anonymous would be the right combination for me. I want to be happy and I definitely want to be rich.
DO YOU HAVE ANY REGRETS?
I never look back to ponder over life.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST MOMENT OF DESPERATION?
I never crave for something to the extent of being desperate about it.
