Its not healthy to date an actor' Kangana Ranaut

Kangana Ranaut has been on roll-unprecedented levels of critical acclaim particularly for her last hits - Queen and Tanu Weds Manu Returns. The roles have been usually built around her rather than a male lead, but in her forthcoming film Katti Batti it is a bit different. By her own admission, this is, unusually, not her film. Or not just. The power house of a talent talks to Pinkvilla, at times on a serious and philosophical note and many a times breaks into peals of laughter with her humourous take on dating, boyfriends and life in general.

So how is it different in Katti Batti?

In the film Imran is clearly the protagonist and I'm clearly the antagonist. He drives the plot. When Nikhil (Advani, the film's director) called me, he said he has got Imran on board. You know usually, and this is a very superficial way of looking at projects, but when my films are cast usually I'm the first one that gets cast. And I think this is how it works, that the person who drives the plot, is the person is cast first but I don't see many films that I am approached for where I get to hear, "Ok this person's on board and now we want you."

Then how was the idea sold to you? What attracted and convinced you to accept the film?

When I sat for the narration, I had some preconceived notions that this is a hero-heroine film. After Queen I have been getting strong female-centric films. But Salman, who was working with director Nikhil Advani on Hero, felt that the role is tailor made for me and that I should hear the script. I am very honest during my narrations, I don't beat about the bush, I say as it is. I heard the script and got so involved that I started giving suggestions and they realised that I was on board. I imagined myself in the script from frame one. That is the magic of a good script; you don't have time to think.

So you are okay working with the hero whose career is currently on a downslide?

I have started from scratch and I have been in situations where I was struggling to earn my bread and butter. I would land a project...hundreds and millions of things would fall in place for that one thing to happen, and then some person would show up to say, I can't work with her because her this film or that film didn't work'. Now the same set of people are calling me, sending me scripts and are desperate to work with me just the same way they were desperate not to work with me then. Even as the director was convinced because I was always a strong performer, they would oppose and threaten the director. I have many bitter experiences in life. During that time I felt that these people have a small vision while taking such crucial decisions. I decided then, that when I am in a strong position I will never question anyone else's presence in the project. Not only the actors or stars, even when they ask me who is the designer I would like to work with, I say whoever is making his or her way into it I will go with that person because what do you know about that person's calibre. For all you know, he may be the best person around and you are not allowing him to come into your life. With the limited vision and small understanding, never ever take a crucial decision. When they told me that the hero is Imran, I was more than happy.

During the film's shoot, you once said that Imran is a relief as compared to other heroes, who scream and abuse on the sets. So who are these heroes who scream and abuse?

(Laughs) I am not here to malign people. I have so many of my friends, in fact, my own younger brother who sometimes utter things by mistake and bites his tongue. I don't judge people based on these things but it is nice when people are polite, decent and gentlemanly around women. You can then build a nice atmosphere around you. Your intention should be right. Imran is a delight to work with, he is very chilled out. The kind of family that he comes from, his upbringing...he is very cultured and trustworthy which was also the main requirement of his character Maddy.

Tell us about your character Payal in Katti Batti...

I can't reveal much about my character but I don't know why people are perceiving this as a live-in relationship film. The film starts at a point where the woman has disappeared and the hero is desperately looking out for her and the clues which can lead him to her. Slowly when we start to visit his past through several chain of events, we start to build the film in our head and every time it is constructed and deconstructed. You can't tell what Payal is, she at times comes across as a conventional, at times moody...and eventually in the climax like every thriller she is a revelation, there is a big fat reveal which I can't share. I am finding it very hard to promote this film because my character is completely under wraps.

Anything interesting that happened on the sets you would like to narrate?

It is unfortunate but I hardly get to mingle with any of my co-stars. Promotions are the only time when we start to discover each other. I come prepared and further work very hard on my character on the sets. Imran would be in one corner chatting with four to five people and I on the other just trying to sustain the cocoon of that mood and that reality that I have created. I don't like when someone breaks through that. Imran is a very cooperative co-actor.

So when do we get to see you in a stylish avatar particularly since you have a good sense of style and fashion?

Yeah, I should do something like that... play a stylish person. I am just playing very very raw woman. Let's see if something comes my way. That way my character in Katti Batti is relatively little bit more polished but then how her life turns out to be, it gets very intense and then it is hardly about how she looks.

Don't you want to balance out your career with films revolving around you which you are already doing, along with a few typical commercial mainstream films with a hero? Isn't that the casting strategy to survive longer in the industry?

When I started out, female-centric films were never mainstream. A film like Queen today is considered to be mainstream. The definition of mainstream has widened and I just want to do something that I myself would watch. For me it is a very straight-forward approach. Anything trashy that doesn't stimulate me emotionally and intellectually, or even sensually, I wouldn't indulge in.

Tell us about your forthcoming projects...

I am starting Rangoon in few weeks and we have already started prep for that, after that I have Simran, thenRani Laxmibai and there is one musical that I will announce shortly. Rangoon is a period love story, Simran is slice of life - it is a funny and humorous take on real life events albeit a bit intense and Rani Laxmibai is a biopic.

It was recently reported that you have become the highest paid actress by signing a film at a whopping Rs 11 crore but then there were many people refuting this. So who is the highest paid actress?

It is not about anyone's vanity or ego. It is just about collectively rising together to that level where we as a society could be proud of what we offer to our women today. Even the news about gender disparity or women demanding asking or commanding that kind of price and equality in all walks of life will stimulate a 10- year-old' s mind. She will also start to process information like that - What are my expectations from my childhood?' What should be my future?' Should we tame them and format their brain to just follow the conventions like we were? Nobody told us these are the things you will face; no one encouraged us even to be the career woman. I want to just set examples. I am not saying that we women are miserable and we deserve this and that. Even the talk is healthy for the society. If there is a problem it should be brought to notice first and then the solution will follow. My demanding a certain price is not just my personal victory, it is a collective victory of our society. This is nothing but just one step at a time. But yes, we will get there where we will be proud of ourselves in the society.

Who are your friends in the industry?

You work on a project, you meet every day, you get very close to each other, you become a family and then you move on to another project. It is so demanding. How do you catch up with the ones you left behind? That way I have lot of friends but it is really unfortunate because it is so hard catching up.

We keep reading about the ups and downs in your relations with Deepika Padukone, who is one of your fiercest rivals. How are your equations?

(Gestures with her hand to convey that let it pass)

Now that you have done script-writing course, any plans of writing and directing movies?

I have directed a nine minute short film. I am a certified screen writer and a credited dialogue writer. So I have many things to my credit. That is what I love about me. I don't get too consumed with my achievements and I always thrive to push myself beyond my limits where I can do things that frighten me, do things that test and tease me. It is not easy to just leave everything and go out there and travel... go to places which are unknown. Nothing will stop me from exploring other ventures. I would want to direct films, I would want to write books, I would want to open an acting school, I would want to be a mother, I would want to one day bake a perfect cake, I would want to see my brother married.. I have many projects in pipeline (Laughs).

Who are you dating these days?

Me? No, I am freshly single (laughs uproariously). You come to a point when you feel that now this is it.

Would you prefer to date an industry guy or someone from outside the industry?

I always thought that it is hard to date an actor and it is not very healthy either, and now I am convinced that it is not very healthy especially if you are a woman who has got special abilities. You wouldn't want to trigger a competitor in the guy you are dating. It is the worse feeling when the guy who is supposed to be proud and protective of you, subconsciously starts to compete with you and fails miserably(bursts into peals of laughter). That is the saddest part. So it is better not to date an actor.

You had said when you were going for your script-writing course to New York that you like meeting strangers on the streets, chatting with them in subways...

I am too old for that kind of excitement now. I am 28, but that is a nice way of leading life. But I have just grown into a wise woman and don't find pleasures in these things. I am looking for something more, something spiritual and something that is more evolved, hence you will never hear about small dates and affairs in my life. I feel that my experiences are lot more evolved than any 28-year-old.

Which means you are still not comfortable in your designer clothes and spending time on your hair and make-up something that you had said earlier...

As a part of my job I like to do these things, I like shopping, but I am not someone who indulges too much into it. I like trekking, walking through jungles, sitting on a river bank, talking to water, chatting with birds. I have birds in my house. I have a big garden made on my terrace. I am a mountain girl, I like nature. For me it is more important to grow vegetables than to buy designer clothes.