‘I AM A GO-WITH-THE-FLOW KIND OF PERSON’
Kriti Sanon says that she is not good at planning and is grateful that five years in showbiz for her as she completes things turned out right
Kriti Sanon, who has completed five years in the industry, feels it’s time she plays the solo lead in a film. The actor, who plays the protagonist in Mimi, says, “You always know it when your heart says yes and you want to take up the challenge. Bareilly Ki Barfi (2017) opened new doors for me. When Luka Chhupi made a certain box office number, it gave me the confidence to try something different. I am ready to take more responsibilities,” says Kriti. Excerpts:
You play a surrogate mother in Mimi. How are you preparing for the role?
It’s a beautiful story. The film has a social message, which is communicated in a light manner. It will make you go through a lot of emotions and make you laugh a lot in portions, and hopefully also make you weep (chuckles). It’s about this young girl who has certain dreams and ends up becoming a surrogate. I have never experienced motherhood and the emotions completely. So, discovering that will be a challenge.
Are filmmakers still apprehensive about shelling out a bigger budget in case of women-led movies?
Yes, and I don’t blame the producers for it. But slowly they are beginning to invest. Now, films that are based on female protagonists, are making money. That is giving the producers a lot more confidence in making more films. As audiences start accepting more of these films, the budgets will also get better. It’s a process. Apart from that, another issue is that if the woman’s role is bigger than the man’s role, male actors are not willing to do those roles. This is a problem that I’ve faced.
How was your experience of working with Ashutosh Gowarikar in Panipat?
It was a magical experience. You feel like you really belong to a different time, wearing the nauvari sari and dressing up as a Maharashtrian. Ashu sir has an open mind and likes talking to actors and taking their suggestions. But at the same time, his direction is quite detailed. Also, Arjun (Kapoor) is a fabulous co-star. I had a great time working with him.
How do you look back at your journey so far?
I don’t think I plan at all. Even if I plan, it goes down the drain (laughs). I am not very good at planning. I am more of a ‘go- with-the-flow’ kind of person, and I like to follow my gut. Choosing a film can be tricky, but as long as you know the reason why you are doing it, you won’t regret it. I will do a film because I want to do it and not just for the heck it. For me, it’s about enjoying the process. Those many days of shooting of the film are more important to me, sometimes even more than just the Friday.