Posted:
http://priyamulji.com/2015/01/16/2601/
Asjad Nazir Interviews Drashti Dhami
Asjad Nazir recently interviewed the lovely Indian television superstar Drashti Dhami. All you fans out there can read it (and my column entitled PK and the Single Asian Woman') by clicking the links below:
23
Follow us on www.twitter.com/easterneye www.easterneye.eu
January 16, 2015
Soa
p
o
p
era su
p
erstar
by ASJAD NAZIR
TV STAR Drashti Dhami has been in the top
three of
Eastern Eye
's globally renowned list of
the 50 Sexiest Asian Women for the last two years
and just missed out on the top spot in 2014.
Although the lists proved quite comprehen-
sively she is one of the hottest women on the
planet, there is a lot more to Drashti than striking
good looks and sex appeal.
One of the most gifted actresses on TV, she has
delighted devoted fans with winning perform-
ances on iconic serials
Geet Hui Sabse Parayi
and
Madhubala - Ek Ishq Ek Junoon
.
EE
caught up with Drashti to speak about her
acting journey, being voted the sexiest TV star on
the planet, future hopes, passions away from
work, inspirations, her fan base and more...
How do you feel about being the highest placed
TV star in
EE
's list of the 50 Sexiest Asian Women
for the past two years?
(Smiles) The minute you ask me this question I
Continued on pages 32-33
already have a smile on my face, so I guess people
know the answer. It's very exciting! I didn't realise
until I got a message saying that I was number
three in 2013, then in 2014 I got a message saying
I was number two. I was jumping with joy, I just
wanted to party.
How do you feel about the fact more girls voted
for you than guys?
Yes I know! It's a good feeling. I'm really proud
they are my fans. I love them but just one com-
plaint, they keep sending me gifts and I don't like
it because I feel very weird taking everything from
them. Their love is enough.
Did you always want to be an ac-
tress growing up?
Honestly I never really thought about
acting as a kid. I first wanted to become
an airhostess, then a choreographer.
Then my mother thought I should
become a psychiatrist or IAS of-
ficer, and I was like really?'
When college was over my
friend started going to audi-
tions. I went along with her and got
selected for an advert. Then I did a
music video and more ads. After that
there was no looking back.
How did you make the move to television?
I got a call for a show, but thought I would be-
come a slave to TV because they were like 22 hour
working days. You'd have no life etc. But I went for
the
Dill Mill Gayye
audition and was selected.
With
Dill Mill Gayye,
it was just following the
director and not having my own say in things. I
think
Geet
is when I realised I couldn't do any-
thing better than acting. When I did
Madhubala
I
was like bang on, I can't do anything be-
sides this now.
Did you ever imagine
Geet - Hui Sabse Pa-
rayi
would become
so iconic?
I never thought it
would become so big.
(Laughs) In fact I nev-
er wanted to do
Geet
because that was my
first show as the main
lead. I went for the
audition, but left halfway.
Nissar had directed me in
Dill Mill Gayye
and called me
for
Geet
. I left crying and said:
I can't do this. I'm not meant
to do main leads, give me
some sister role in the backg-
round'. He calmed me down.
I went for the audition
again and got the lead. For
the first week I used to cry
every day after every
shot. I was like: You
should replace me'.
Really?
(Smiles) Yes! Nissar had faith in me, but I
didn't have faith in myself. Then after four
months we watched a scene together and
he said: Do you think anyone can play
this character better than you'. I was like:
No'. I was surprised
Geet
got so much ap-
preciation. It's a blessing that people loved
the show.
You must have loved that you and
Gurmeet Choudhary in
Geet
were
voted the hottest soap couple of
all-time in an
Eastern Eye
poll?
Yes, very much. I think a lot of
people appreciated just the way
the scenes were directed and the
script. Everything just fell into place, so it felt
great when it was voted at the top.
What is your fondest memory of
Madhubala -
Ek Ishq Ek Junoon
?
There are so many great memories from that
show, but one scene in particular that is a favour-
ite is the first time RK leaves me. I was in shock. I
suddenly came to my senses and started crying.
That was the best seen by far I did in that series.
Everybody wants to know what you are going to
do next?
(Laughs) Oh my god, honestly I have no clue. I
haven't been called for anything exciting so am
just chilling and having a nice
break. I went to the US. Now I am
spending time with my mum. I
am in a relaxed mode right now.
I'm just seeing how it goes. It's
not like I don't want to work. I
want to come back as quickly as
possible of course, for the fans
who are waiting for me and be-
cause I want to be back. I am done taking my
share of rest. When something great comes I will
tell everybody. I have nothing to hide.
What about acting in Bollywood films because I
know producers are interested in you?
It's surprising, people tell me about Bollywood,
but I don't get calls. So I don't know what is going
on. A lot of people told me when my last series
was over that I would be bombarded with offers,
but I haven't been getting called as such.
Nothing like this is it and I need to take it up'.
Nothing that exciting. I haven't planned what I
want to do. Of course, if the right offer comes
along I would definitely think about it.
Do you have a wish list of characters that you
want to play?
There are many Asjad. I would like to play Kan-
gana's (Ranaut) character from
Queen
and Priya-
nka's (Chopra) role in
Fashion
. Then if somebody
gave it to me, I would love to do a movie like
Dev-
das
or
Andaz Apna Apna.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I have been catching up on my sleep. I have been
taking care of my health. I'm trying to fix my body
from top to bottom. Besides that I love just spending time at
home. I am kind of an OCD person so love cleaning my
house. I also go for drives, meet friends, play poker and
read a little bit. I love travelling a lot.
It's really awesome that you play poker...
I played poker in Las Vegas also when I went. (Laughs)
I played the first night and lost $300, then the next day
I went again and I recovered my $300.
All the fans seem to know everything about
you; is there something they don't know?
I think they know everything about me be-
cause I have been quite open when it
comes to my life and people wanting to
know stuff. (Laughs)
They should know that I have put
on weight. I am really trying to lose it
and don't know how. All the old
aunties look at me and say: You
look so nice'. Then I meet friends
who say: Oh dude you have put
on weight, you need to lose it',
and I say: Yes I know that'.
Do you have a secret talent?
I cook a lot and very well. I
made a great mushroom
soup the other day and vari-
ous other dishes.
But something that I really
want to learn now is baking.
I'm just waiting to settle a bit
and I'm going to learn. We've
just shifted into a new house so
have been setting up and do-
ing things, so have not been
able to get time to learn. Time
has gone so fast.
Have you made any New
Year's resolutions?
I don't make New Year's reso-
lutions. If I want to make a
change I can make it right
now instead of waiting for
New Year's to happen. So I
don't usually make any.
But if I have to make one, I
want to get more serious
about my health and start
working out. I just find it bor-
ing; I can't get myself to go to
workouts. In fact I'm trying to
find a new trainer.
What is the best piece of advice that
anyone ever gave you?
Someone said that there will be ups and
downs in our industry, which works more on
word of mouth than contracts. So the nicer
person you are, the better work you will get.
So make sure you stay grounded, always give
your best and be nice.
What inspires you?
I just want to do better than what I did yesterday. I
think that inspires me, along with people appreciat-
ing me, when they say they are missing me. Also the
way all my fans voted for me when I was on
Jhalak
and
Eastern Eye
's sexiest list. It just inspires me too
that I can do better than before.
My mum is also a great inspiration because she
is very supportive in every single way. When I do
something good she tells me, and when I am
wrong she tells me too. Today what I am, the
credit goes to mum.
Finally, can you give a message for your fans?
Thank you so much for everything, and I say this
genuinely and from the heart. I am not adding
any sugar coating on it.
You guys are the best. I could have never
been here and the kind of person I am if it
wasn't for you guys.
I hope that I am always myself and not an-
other person when I speak to you. Thank you
so much and I love you all
Itti Si Khushi Sab TV
Cricket
Bigg Boss 19
