SUCCESS MEANS STAYING POWER
Three backtoback hits have given actor Bhumi Pednekar a ‘lot of peace’
Iwill continue to work hard and not take anything for granted.” That’s Bhumi Pednekar’s mantra in life. Be it her filmography or her fit-asa-fiddle avatar, you know that the young actor — she’s just three years old in the industry, having debuted in the role of an overweight girl in Dum Laga Ke Haisha, 2015 — isn’t taking anything lightly. As Bhumi revels in the success and rave reviews of her outing in Lust Stories, we caught up with her about career, acting and more.
You have a 100% success track record so far with Dum Laga Ke Haisha; Toilet: Ek Prem Katha; and Shubh Mangal Saavdhan (both 2017). With this, what does success mean to you?
I love the fact that all my films have done well. It gives me a lot of peace of mind, because it means that my chances of being [in the industry] have increased. Your films need to do well and you also must do a good job for career longevity. [Success of films] doesn’t mean anything more. I’m constantly thinking of how to better myself and ‘What’s next?’
I feel a lot of gratitude and success gives me confidence that I’m in this for the right reasons, and that I have to keep following my instincts, continue to work hard and not take anything for granted.
Have you found your groove?
I don’t think so. Obviously, I feel a bit relaxed now as a lot has changed since Toilet: Ek Prem Katha and Shubh Mangal Saavdhan released. Zindagi bahut zyaada badal gayi hai. So, there’s a feeling of acceptance from audiences. Now, it’s clear that I’m not a ‘one-film wonder.’ But I still have to understand a lot of things about myself as an actor. So, I don’t know if I’m comfortable or not, but every day is a new learning.
No feeling of having arrived?
I wish I never get a feeling of having arrived, so that I never get overconfident. I’m not an insecure person but I’m always a bit worried that what if I don’t get the kind of work I really want to do? Very few people get an opportunity to do what they love doing, and I’m one of them. I just feel grateful.
You must be kicked with the praise for your outing in Lust Stories?
I feel amazing, because this is the most experimental thing that I’ve done till date. In short films, a director and an actor can challenge themselves and break boundaries. I haven’t had a tryst with anything like this. I can never even think of living this particular life (of a house help, like her character). Also, I love Zoya (Akhtar, director). She was always on my bucket list. So, I was very excited but knew ‘Isse bada koi challenge mere liye ho nahi sakta’ as I didn’t even have dialogues. I feel grateful that I got a chance to work with her.
Now, you have Son Chiriya. What else is in the store?
It’s a packed year for me. A few other announcements are in the pipeline. I don’t want to comment, so that the right people involved in those projects talk about it. Things have been really great. Vis-àvis Son Chiriya, I have my fingers crossed that the momentum continues with it.