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After receiving rave reviews for her performance in Imtiaz Ali's 'Highway', Alia Bhatt is all set with her next movie, '2 States'. The movie which is based on Chetan Bhagat's novel by the same name, has Arjun Kapoor as her co-star. Directed by debutante director Abhishek Verman, and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala & Karan Johar, the movie is slated to release on April 19th.

While on her promotional tour for the movie, Alia chatted exclusively to Pinkvilla for a quick tete-a-tete. Read on ...

So far a lot of attention in all publicity for 2 States has been on a kiss. Going beyond that, tell me something about the film and your character in it. What drew you to the film, and did playing a Tamil Brahmin come naturally to you?

Uhhh (Sounds exasperated)...Short Pause... then begins.

Firstly, we've been trying very hard to put out there that this film is Not about a kiss, I also took to twitter to say that it's not about a kiss. It's a film about two families, it's a love story of two families. The kiss came up in a couple of interviews where when asked,we answered very honestly, that we don't find kissing such a big deal, as we are doing it as two characters. But it's not like we've enjoyed doing it everyday, that's not what this film is about. This film is about the next step, its about getting married. And the challenges that we faced with this character, obviously, was that I had to play a Tamil Brahmin, and I had to have a certain mature body language. After Student of the Year, I never thought this film will come to me, for I was perceived as one of the youngest actors of the industry, and everyone thought that I would probably play another teeny bopper character, act in a teeny bopper film. I had my reservations, but my main motive was to kind of break away from the idea, that people think that I Won't be able to do a role like this. I have genuinely come here to be an actor, I have not come here to be a star or to be a person who is just a love interest in the film. I want to do roles as different as possible, and deliver performances as challenging as possible. Which is why, I did a film like Highway that gave me that edge probably as an actor.

Two States- while playing a Tamilian was a challenge, but Ananya is a modern day Tamilian, if you read the book, you know that they were not always based in Chennai. What I did have to work on was the body language. I had to be a Bharat Natyam dancer, and had to rehearse in Bharatnatyam, to get the poise and body language right. I worked very hard for a small Bharat natyam portion and rehearsed for seven days straight, I wanted to be convincing. A lot of work for my character was also done by costume, I sport sarees, bindis, gajras and have lighter eyes. The idea was not to instantly look at Ananya and say, O, She's Tamilian.' Krish and Ananya need to blend in, even Arjun hasn't played Krish as a loud, brash Punjabi. We didn't want to make the characters caricaturish but make them as real as possible.

You mentioned that you look for range and variety in your roles, want to be known as an actor. Is that your primary interest while picking a film? Does a new, fresh role whet your apetite, like you established with your work in Highway?

You are right, I like to look at challenges with each script. My interest in being an actor is that I get to play a different role, a different character each time- I get to become a different person. I don't have any opposition against being glamorous, and doing a song and dance routine, I did that in my first film and I had a blast doing it. But I feel today to be taken seriously as an actor, you need to be remembered. I don't want to be remembered as just another pretty face. People didn't realize that when I was 18 or 19, now I am 21, and I have done Highway, so probably now they will. I want to be known that every time I play a character, people feel, that that's a different person, that's not Alia Bhatt.

How did you prepare for your Role in Two States? Have you ever been to a Tamil home, or met a cosmopolitan Tamil girl?

We shot for this film in Chennai, where I met both the clichd sort of Tamil families and the cosmopolitan folk. I personally drew from the book, of how Ananya is- I find her a strong willed, mature and yet, sensitive woman, not a frivolous, young girl. For me that, and my director's vision, was most important in playing and developing the character. My director already told me that I am not a clich, or caricature, but I need to get my culture and personality right. I have done just that- and what I bring on the table is a little freshness. Also the book is set at a time when technology had limited impact so we have made a more modern version of Two States here. But Ananya's character remains true to the book- she is strong willed and mature, but she will not go against her family's wishes and hurt them, rather she will bring them around because she is sensitive and is mature.

2 States is considered Chetan Bhagat's autobiography. Have you met his wife, and have you had the chance to interact with her?

I met her just today! And she teased me about this little skin that I am flaunting here (points to a slight split in her blue dress, laughs). So that's how she is, spunky and very beautiful! Like Chetan has described her in the book, you cant take your eyes of her because she is beautiful and because of her personality which is very attractive! Its her personality that makes her so charming, and I really like that. I have tried to be like that in the film too, and she told me she loves the promos.

You and Arjun are both very young actors, and haven't yet had ten films in your repertoire. So I am curious, how do you enact falling in love? How do you recreate that feeling for the cameras, and bring alive the chemistry, especially, when you haven't quite done it in 10 or 12 films to hit a formula.

In this film, there is no melodrama around love. We chat, we hang out, we are interacting normally and we spend time together. Falling in love has been expressed by how Krish's character is around Ananya, he fumbles and mumbles all the time. And how Ananya is shown falling in love with him is by the fact that she finds his nervous, mumbling self endearing and finds it funny. The script and screenplay build their love story around moments- both songs Locha E Ulfat & Offo- show that the characters adore each other. There are no slow motions or dramatic moments in this love story.

So do guys react the same way to you, like Krish in the film? Do they mumble and fumble?

Ummm... (pauses) Not really...not to this point... I am very bad at telling if someone is flirting with me, I don't get to know really if I am having any such effect on a guy.

Has no one tried their luck or tried to hit on you? How would you react?

I get to know when someone is hitting on me, and is sending me cheesy lines over SMS or saying something cheesy. I get very visibly awkward, you can see that I am finding this weird. And usually, I clamp up after that. If you are around, you can see it that I am feeling weird about a guy, immediately, anyone can spot it! So cant say more than that.

Who is better in the film- you or Arjun? Did you like working with him?

Arjun has become a friend to me, working with him was fun. I miss him like, I miss Sid & Varun, when I am not working with them and we haven't met in a while. I have always made great fiends on the sets of my films- be it Randeep, Imtiaz, or Arjun now. I think I am fortunate that way, my experiences have been positive.

On Koffee with Karan, conflict between you & Parineeti Chopra came up. I also get thinking sometimes that, to reverse the equation, would you agree to a film say with this new batch of young actors- Parineeti, Arjun , Varun, Sidharth.

I think that film would be great, if anyone ever makes it! I make no bones about it, Sid and Varun will Always always be special to me, they are my boys and we are friends. Now Arjun has become one too. I love these guys ,and we will always share a special bond. I know girls might hate me for it, but that's just the way it is.