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With Kabir Singh you’ve entered the 200-crore club. Does the world look at you differently now?
It definitely feels special. Also, it’s happened quite early in my career. We knew the film was special but seeing the massive success its’ enjoying is something else. This love that people have showered on me, only motivates me to work harder.
What excited you about Kabir Singh?
It’s my first love story. It’s a passionate, intense and romantic film, which at the same time is real and raw. Arjun Reddy (2017), the original, was a cult film. It was told in an unapologetic manner. It was flawed and imperfect as reality. Sandeep sir (Vanga Reddy) has captured the same honesty. It’s a lot from his own life, it’s so close to his heart. That’s also what made it exciting.
How much were you influenced by the original version?
I’d watched Arjun Reddy earlier. But after I signed the film, I didn’t go back and watch it again. The director being the same, there would be a lot of similarities in the female character, Preeti Shetty (played by Shalini Pandey) in Arjun Reddy and the one played by me in Kabir Singh. I just wanted to follow the director’s vision and stay true to it.
For someone, who played a girl who has no qualms expressing herself sexually in Karan Johar’s Lust Stories, playing a meek character must have been a U turn...
Yeah. I feel lucky to be given these opportunities to play such diverse characters and showcase my range as an actor.
While you’ve been loved in the film, a section of women and critics alleged you were unnecessarily submissive for today’s woman…
I understand that. It’s an opinion and everyone is entitled to have an opinion. If you ask me mine, I believe, and especially after playing a character like Preeti that just because someone is silent and not reactive or explosive doesn’t make them submissive. For me Preeti is way stronger. She decides to leave Kabir, she wishes to raise their child by herself, she even walks out of her marriage… and all this without going back to him. That speaks volumes. It’s not always dialogue that makes a person stronger. Sometimes actions speak louder than words. Those who loved her understood that. But like I said, everyone has their own perspective. It’s amazing how people started debating on Preeti and Kabir on TV shows as though they’re real and not merely on reel. That’s clearly because people like them do exist. It’s one of those love stories, which says it unapologetically without trying to make Preeti or Kabir appear ideal.
Kabir Singh is obsessive and abusive. Is that justified?
Kabir Singh’s obsessed with his love but in a protective way. Kabir is a passionate lover. His love for Preeti is something he just can’t go beyond. What happens then is ruin and self-destruction. Every person, who’s been in love and gone through heartbreak, has dealt with craziness. You go through depression, you don’t want to get out of bed, you feel at your lowest… if you’ve ever loved someone so deeply.
I haven’t experienced such level of heartbreak. But yes, I’ve suffered heartbreak. If I had someone, who loved me as passionately as Kabir Singh, then maybe I’d still have been with him.
Okay, what’s the best thing told to you after Kabir Singh?
Seeing everyone choke up during the climax scene and rooting for Kabir and Preeti’s love made me feel that we had hit the right chord.
How was it working with Shahid Kapoor?
I’ve loved his performances in Ishq Vishq, Kaminey, Haider, Udta Punjab and Jab We Met. He was incredible. He’s such a fine actor. For a romantic film like Kabir Singh, it was important to feed off each other’s energy. We were playing opposite characters.
Shahid’s so easy to work with. He doesn’t come with the baggage ki main Shahid Kapoor hoon and I’ve so much experience. He is childlike on the set. He’d ask for my opinion saying, ‘Do you think the shot was good?’ or ‘Should we take another take?’ He made me comfortable. Ours was a chilled-out equation.
You’re part of Laxmmi Bomb, remake of the Tamil film Kanchana. Are you the go-to-girl for remakes?
I’m lucky to have got Laxmmi Bomb (directed by Raghava Lawrence), inspired by the blockbuster Kanchana series. It’s my first horror comedy. Sometimes I pinch myself in disbelief. Akshay (Kumar) sir gave me my first opportunity with Fugly (2014). I’ve completed Good News with him, which was an amazing journey. We will now be doing Laxmmi Bomb.
Would you say Lust Stories was the turning point in your career?
Absolutely. I’m fortunate that Karan Johar gave me a role like Megha’s in Lust Stories. It’s rare to get to play a character like that and being directed by Karan was the cherry on the icing. He gave an outsider an opportunity to do such an incredible role. He’s changed the way people look at me. Finally, people saw the actor in me. He’s special in my life because he saw something in me before anyone else did.
You’ve changed your name from Alia to Kiara.
My name has been Kiara since my debut in 2014. I didn’t want to confuse the audience with Alia Bhatt, an established superstar. It just felt like the right thing to do - to have your own identity. Why have two Alias? The name, Kiara, was inspired from Priyanka Chopra’s movie Anjana Anjani, where she introduces herself as, ‘Hi, I’m Kiara.’ I thought, ‘What a beautiful name. If I have a daughter, I’ll call her Kiara’. But before that I needed a name for myself. (Smiles) So, I took it on.
You’ve had two South hits, Bharat Ane Nenu and Vinaya Vidheya Rama. Will you continue acting in the South as well?
I’d like to continue entertaining in the South as well. I’m reading a few scripts. When I took up Bharat Ane Nenu, it was like a dream launch. It had a fine director and a superstar of a co-star - Mahesh Babu. Even though it was a Mahesh Babu film, my role as Vasumathi was appreciated as it was integral to the screenplay. Though nervous, I went with my gut. The love that I received from the people made me realise that I wanted to be a pan India artiste. Content is what matters and language is no longer a barrier. Sridevi was the first pan India superstar.
Would you say this is the best phase of your career?
Yes absolutely. I believe this is the best phase. Finally, I’m getting opportunities. I’m enjoying this process. I don’t know where the destination is. But this is the journey I want to remember.When you dream of being an actor, the hardest thing is getting your first film. But to get further opportunities is equally hard.
How hard was it for you?
When my first film (Fugly) didn’t click, it was disheartening. But I wasn’t going to give up on my dream. I wanted to begin meeting people again. But they’d say we don’t have anything for her right now, so what’s the point in meeting. But all that shouldn’t dishearten you. If anything, it should leave you stronger.
How did you deal it?
When things weren’t going my way, I went into that mode where I didn’t want to get out of my house or meet anyone. My mother told me no one’s going to come home knocking with a script. You must go out there and grab the opportunity.I thought work would bring work. So, I started accepting whatever films I was being offered hoping something would click. Machine was a disaster. Yet, if I go to a place like Nasik, people there know me for Machine. So, there’s an audience for everything. Every film then is a learning experience.
Why do you say so?
With every film, you learn something. You also learn something about yourself as an actor. I’ve always believed that a film is a director’s medium. I’ve been lucky to work with Karan Johar (Lust Stories), Abbas-Mustan (Machine), Neeraj Pandey (M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story). They follow a school of filmmaking and have their own individuality. What I’ve learnt from them has given me a sound foundation.
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