Shiney reborn

Bhool Bhulaiyaa, and now Ghost... Do you believe in spirits?
Yes. I do. I’ve never experienced anything, but I do believe in them. If you would have asked me this question at the time of Bhool Bhulaiyaa, I would have said ‘no, I don’t believe in ghosts or spirits.’ But now I do. Now I believe that something you can’t see can exist too.

Why was a foreigner chosen for the role of the leading lady in Ghost?
She (Julia) was cast after me. The script required an Australian actress and not an Indian.

You started your journey in this industry without any Godfather. How easy/tough was the journey?
I believe there is a God above and I have a father. So, indirectly, I have had both. If I put both together, I’d say I had my Godfather! My journey in this industry has been terrific. I’ve learnt a lot and there is a lot to learn.

Is it tough to get good movies if you haven’t got Bollywood lineage to brandish?
I think if you are good at your job, sooner or later, the opportunities will come your way. Then it is up to you how to use them.

How did Sudhir Mishra’s Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi happen to you?
Just like any newcomer, I was called for an audition for that role. I gave my audition and he liked me and that’s how he cast me in the film.

How was it working with Sudhir Mishra?
He is a very good director. He is a National Award winning director. It was brilliant. Just being around with him, one can learn a lot. What I believe is one’s best acting school is life. So what one can learn from life, one can’t learn that from anywhere else.

How did Gangster happen? Was that also through auditions?
No, for Gangster I didn’t have to go for an audition. I think they must have seen my performance in Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi and must have decided based on that.

In Gangster, Kangana was the newcomer. How was your experience working with Kangana?
She was very good; a very fine actor. When I worked with her, it didn’t really feel like I was working with a newcomer.

Do serious roles draw you? Are you not looking forward to play romantic or comedy roles?
My next film is a romantic comedy. I am not allowed to say much about it… 

Out of all the actresses you have worked with, who do you think you have the best on-screen chemistry with?
I think, with all of them; Chitrangada in Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, Kangana in Gangster and in Woh Lamhe and also with Vidya Balan in Bhool Bhulaiyaa. I think, generally, the audience likes to see me and Kangana together. I think it is because we both have curly hair! (laughs) and also, may be, because we both are fair… (laughs).

Controversies are the bane of a celebrity’s life. Do you think actors caught in the news for the wrong reasons should voice out their opinions in media and clarify themselves, or is it best to keep quiet?
When you are a celebrity, the media is the only mediator between you and the people. The questions asked by the media are actually what people want to know. So if people want to know the answer, I owe it to my audience to answer that question.

How much does your reputation as a celebrity affect you personally?
It is not a reputation; it is a perception which can be wrong and can be changed with time. I am everything what God has made me; he is the one who changes everything.

What are your plans for the
future?
My future plans are to continue working in this film industry with the lovely people that I’ve been blessed with.