Kriti Sanon: Opportunities reduce when you don't have a famous surname
She may not have had Bollywood connections to boast of, yet Kriti Sanon entered showbiz, and proved her mettle with a series of successful films. Tall at five feet nine inches, and gorgeous to boot, Sanon began her career with modelling and made heads turn with her debut in Heropanti, for which she won the Fimfare Award for Best Female Debut. Soon after that she captured the hearts of filmmakers and fashion mavens alike, while staying in complete control of her career, wowing the audiences in films like Bareilly Ki Barfi, in which she plays a headstrong girl from a small town looking to better her life. A string of awards followed as well, Filmfare Glamour and Style Award for Future of Fashion (Female) in 2017 and HELLO! Hall of Fame Award for Rising Star of the Year in 2018. With a hit in Luka Chhupi this year, the clever, bold, and spunky star is looking forward to a few more releases. Over to her.
You were an engineering student. What made you turn to showbiz?
Sometimes, you don’t know what you want to do in life, unless you try it out. I hadn’t tried acting before, but realised I could do so when I began doing TV commercials. It was only when a few of my directors suggested I polish my acting skills, and try for films, that I thought maybe I’m meant for this.
Were your parents supportive of the choice?
I come from a middle-class family—my dad’s a chartered accountant, and mom is a professor. Although my family members are academically inclined, they believe that people should follow their dreams. My parents always knew I wanted to be an actor, and were supportive as long as I completed my degree, so that I would have something to fall back on.
What was your childhood like?
I was a shy, obedient, and studious kid. When we had visitors, I used my mom’s dupatta as a shield to hide behind. I loved dancing, and my favourite song to dance to at all birthday parties was Ankhiyaan Milaoon Kabhi Akhiyaan Churaoon (Raja). Madhuri Dixit was a favourite, I loved to move on her numbers all the time. I’m also a trained kathak dancer.
Walk us through your initial days in Mumbai.
My father was working in Mumbai a few years ago, and I lived with him. I didn’t have friends in the city and felt lonely, but that changed when I made a few while modelling and doing ramp shows. A few months later, my father moved back home, and that’s when the loneliness reached its peak. I’d randomly call mom and start crying. In times like that it’s important to have a few people you can fall back on, as they motivate, and make you feel better.
What was the biggest challenge you faced in Bollywood as an outsider?
The number of opportunities reduces when you do not have a famous surname. Even meeting people presents a greater hassle for those without connections. The most you can do is message filmmakers and tell them you would like to meet them, but, at times, they don’t even respond. It’s challenging to figure out your first project as not many people know you; it takes a while for the audience to register your name. When you’re a star kid, you are known well before your debut. Some of them sign their second film before the first one is even out. However, a lot depends on how talented you are, and how people connect with you on screen.
After five years in the industry, do you feel like you’re now a part of it?
I have worked with some amazing people, and portrayed different characters. Heropanti gave me the best platform as a newcomer. Dilwale was like a dream come true, as it gave me an opportunity to work with talented personalities like Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Varun Dhawan, and Rohit Shetty. Raabta opened me up as a person, and as an actor. Just as I was getting typecast in glam roles, I bagged Bareilly Ki Barfi. The film opened up many more opportunities. Luka Chuppi released recently, and now, I have three more lined up. The last five years have been the best of my life.
Rohit Shetty’s Dilwale drew flak from the audience. Is it harder to take in failure when films as big as that doesn’t do as well at the box office?
It’s more about perception because Dilwalewas my highest grossing film; for me, it did well. A limited number of people watched Heropanti, but that changed with Dilwale. For a newcomer like me, the fact that I got a chance to be seen by so many people, was a huge success in itself.
Tell us your experience of working with Shah Rukh Khan.
It was nervous and jittery in the beginning. In my first scene, I had to yell at him, and I was thinking to myself, how am I ever going to pull it off since I admire him so much. But Shah Rukh sir is warm and understanding, and befriends you in the first five seconds. He is one of the most chivalrous people I’ve ever come across. The fact that we are both from Delhi helped!
Which movie did you have the steepest learning curve in?
I opened up as an actor in Raabta. I tried different ways of doing a scene, and had to learn a number of skills such as horse riding, chocolate making, scuba diving (I am terrified of being under water), and sword fighting. I’ve worked the hardest for the film because the characters were layered, and I knew I had to do justice to them.
What roles are you most comfortable with?
Any part that’s similar to my personality, like the urban-Delhi-girl, comes naturally to me. But when you do a film where you have to learn a dialect, or you have to be somebody you’re not, that’s when it gets exciting. I get drawn to characters that make me question how I’m going to pull it off.
What’s your secret talent?
I write poetry. I used to write a lot more when I was in school and college, but then my medium of letting out my emotions changed to acting.
Being famous means getting papped everywhere, and link-up rumours fly thick and fast. How do you deal with them?
It gets annoying at times, but I have gotten used to getting papped. I make sure I’m decently dressed, and don’t bother much. I’ve reached a point where even if I get clicked wearing PJs and a ganji, I’m okay with it. With link-up rumours, one shouldn’t bother because it’s a part and parcel of this industry. As long as the people close to you know what’s happening in your life, nothing else matters.
You’re a fashion inspiration to many youngsters. How does that make you feel?
Great! I started off as a model, but some of my old pictures make me cringe. Over time, I’ve learnt what works for me. My style has evolved, and comfort is priority. I do want to stress on the fact that style is personal. Don’t be afraid of experimenting, and getting out of your comfort zone, because that’s when you learn what works for you.
How do you deal with trolls?
By not paying attention to them. Everybody seems to have an opinion in today’s world. Constructive criticism is always welcome, and I listen to that, but there’s a lot of negativity on the internet, for which, thankfully, there’s a block option.
Any dream role? Which directors you’d like to work with?
Imtiaz Ali, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Rujkumar Hirani, Karan Johar, Vishal Bhardwaj, the list goes on. For a dream role, I would like to do something on the lines of Jennifer Lawrence’s character in Silver Linings Playbook. I would also love to play Julia Robert’s role in Pretty Woman.
Jhanak
Geet - Hui Sabse Parayee
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