Sana Khan From bubbly to bold!

Sana Khan talks to NIKITA WADHAWAN about romancing Khiladi Kumar, relationship with Salman and her sexy new avatar

Remember the “Ye toh bada toing hai” girl from the controversial TV commercial? Actress Sana Khan was the one who grabbed eye balls with that advertisement. Sana, who made her Bollywood debut with Salman Khan-starrer Jai Ho, failed to make her presence felt with a cameo in the movie. Breaking away from her bubbly, girl-next door image and transforming into a bold, sexy lawyer, her next film, Wajah Tum Ho, did no good for her either. But Sana, hasn’t let failure pull her down. And, now, she is back with Akshay Kumar-Bhumi Pednekar starrer, Toilet: Ek Prem Katha. Though a cameo, Sana hopes to impress the audience with her performance. Excerpts from the interview:

Q. How was the experience of romancing Akshay Kumar in Toilet: Ek Prem Katah?

It was a great experience and a dream come true as Akshay has always been my favourite actor. It is my first movie with him and he made me feel very comfortable. People are going to see me in a new avatar in this movie, different from the popular perception that people have about me. So I am very excited to show something else from my talent bank.

Q. Were you intimidated while working with star like Akshay?

Yes, it was scary. I was shivering during rehearsals, but Akshay consoled and encouraged me to give my best shot. I know he is a superstar, but the way he talks is very ‘delhiite’ and that makes you connect with him instantly.

Q. How did you manage to get into the Bigg Boss house?

There was an ad film of mine, which was quite controversial – Amul Macho. They had been trying to get in touch with me for few years, but somehow they couldn’t locate me.

When then finally realised that I am working down south, they thought that I stay there. Luckily I was in Mumbai so they asked me to be a part of Bigg Boss. There was no audition for it. People who they want, they contact them on their own.

Q. Eventually you became Salman’s favourite, has he helped you get a foothold in Bollywood?

He has not helped me in my career, he was very nice to me in Bigg Boss and then I happened to get Jai Ho, rest you have to give credit to people who work hard for it.

Q. Are you not in touch with Salman?

I am in touch, but it is not like he is out there recommending my name. It is a hard work to get a project and I think that we need give credit to the people who give us that opportunity. Salman gave me Jai Ho as I met him in Bigg Boss and he has been very kind to me. We talk occasionally, but not on a regular basis. He is not my buddy where I text him every day, but he is very sweet to reply back, that is the extent of our relationship.

Q. Have you taken any career advice from Salman?

I think it is very important that you make your own career choices, because good or bad, you will know who is responsible. I don’t want to say that I missed out on an opportunity because of someone else.

Q. Was it a conscious decision to break out of the sweet girl perception?

It was important to do such a movie because of my perception. I had a sweet girl image, but I got Jai Ho where I played a villain and that was a good move. I had a very small part in the film, and playing a negative character was a risk. It was bold of my director to cast a sweet girl like me as a heroine. Moreover, after doing character roles people pigeon-hole you, but now after Wajah Tum Ho, people can see me as a lead. I am happy with the kind of response I have got post Wajah.

Q. Being an outsider, what do you want to say about the nepotism debate?

I don’t have a father who would finance a film that I would like to make. I am an outsider. There is nepotism in the industry, it is not just me, everyone is facing this. You can’t be such a liar to say that it doesn’t exist, it does. It is there everywhere no matter which industry you are from. In spite of it all everyone is fighting and trying to survive. That is what matters.

Q. Any other projects apart from Toilet?

There few things in the pipeline, but since nothing is finalised I would not want to comment on it as of now.