Nushrat Bharucha

How I Made It! "I revamped myself"

Nushrratt Bharuccha, our this week's guest on #HowIMadeIt, has worked her way up the ladder. It has de initely not been an easy journey for her so far but every time she has kept her chin up, braved all odds and made a forward move. This petite girl, brought up in Mumbai's plush Juhu, is here to stay. Not too long ago, she starred in an Ajay Devgn production and played the leading lady opposite Ayushmannn Khurrana ('Dream Girl') and Rajkummar Rao ('Chhalaang'). But how did this girl who was quite bright but distracted in her studies reach here? Seizing the opportunity to have a chat with her when she had a day off from her hectic on-going shoot of 'Chhori' in a village near Hoshangabad, she calmly ielded a volley of questions online about her journey till date. "I had no ambitions of becoming a Bollywood actor. In fact, I was so shy when I was growing up. I hated to occupy centrestage. When any group photos were clicked, I would mostly stand in a corner. I never imagined that I would make a career in acting," shared the actress. So how on earth did Nushrratt jump into the fray? "It all began when I did a few ads for just a lark. One ad followed another and I began to think that I should make acting as my career. But..." she pauses. But what? "While my father who has done theatre was open, my mother had her share of apprehensions. Add this to my extended family too, who tried explaining to me that the acting profession is very unpredictable. Ismein future kya hai, they wondered. They would have loved it if I had a plan B. But I had somehow set my goal that I have to make a career as an actor only," says Nushrratt who made her debut in 'Jai Santoshi Maa' in 2006 followed by 'Kal Kissne Dekha' in

2009.

INSTEAD OF SULKING, I DECIDED TO JUMP MY HURDLES HARDER

Ms Bharuccha, who will soon also be seen in ‘Hurdang', did not think that beauty pageants would be the route to take as she felt she wasn't cut out for it. And, it didn't even strike her. "If it had struck me, I would have still not quali ied. I don't have the required height. Besides, I was a very petite, chhota bachcha type. Also, to be honest, I don't think I was beauty pageant-beautiful." As

cool as cucumber- and this girl didn't even sulk that she's an outsider. "Haven't many insiders also struggled? This industry is magic and a lot of it is also luck. My struggles are meant to be mine. I never wanted to blame it on the fact that I was an outsider. So I worked harder and jumped my hurdles harder instead of sulking or brooding over them. Yes, I underwent several auditions and was rejected at many places. I didn't even have a portfolio and I landed up for auditions! I landed up in glasses, jeans, T-shirt and chappals! I thought they only wanted to always see how you act and not whether you look the part.”

I REGRET NOT BEING CHOSEN FOR 'SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE’

Guess enough was enough one day and Nushrratt decided to reinvent herself, as she explains, "I decided to do a revamp. I started doing my hair and make-up in a certain way. I started swimming in the rough waters. It took some time but now I am here, inally here. And I am here to stay," she underlines her decision and determination. Ekta Kapoor's 'Love Sex aur Dhoka' and Luv Ranjan's 'Akaash Vani' are two ilms very close to Nushratt's heart; she feels they were special in helping her to dig her feet in Bollywood. 'LSD' is one of my best performances and I invested a lot of emotions in 'Akaash Vani'." But yes, frank as ever throughout the chat, Nushrratt says, "I regret that I was not cast in 'Slumdog Millionaire'." Nushrratt was very close to getting the role which eventually landed in Frieda Pinto's lap. "I wish I had looked the part they wanted me to," she rues, looking back. And the 'Dream Girl' actor has one more regret. "I am not given different characters to play. People feel I can do only romcoms. How does an actor get tested and acquire growth if he/she does the same type of roles?" A good question to the industry, this young lady has asked bravely. Please note, ilmmakers!

I WEAR BIKINIS ON MY BEACH HOLIDAYS

Ms Bharuccha, who will soon also be seen in ‘Hurdang', did not think that beauty pageants would be the route to take as she felt she wasn't cut out for it. And, it didn't even strike her. "If it had struck me, I would have still not quali ied. I don't have the required height. Besides, I was a very petite, chhota bachcha type. Also, to be honest, I don't think I was beauty pageant-beautiful." As cool as cucumber- and this girl didn't even sulk that she's an outsider. "Haven't many insiders also struggled? This industry is magic and a lot of it is also luck. My struggles are meant to be mine. I never wanted to blame it on the fact that I was an outsider. So I worked harder and jumped my hurdles harder instead of sulking or brooding over them. Yes, I underwent several auditions and was rejected at many places. I didn't even have a portfolio and I landed up for auditions! I landed up in glasses, jeans, T-shirt and chappals! I thought they only wanted to always see how you act and not whether you look the part.