‘IT’S INTIMIDATING TO WORK WITH BIGGIES’

Diana Penty talks about working with established actors in a film

Actor Diana Penty made her debut in Bollywood as a demure, traditional Indian girl in Cocktail (2012)featuring established actors Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone. Four years later, in her second film, Happy Bhaag Jayegi, (2016) she worked with Abhay Deol and Ali Fazal. And now, in the just released, Lucknow Central, she has worked with Farhan Akhtar, Gippy Grewal and Ronit Roy. So, is working with big names of the film industry ever given her jitters? “It can be a little intimidating in the beginning but eventually, everything falls into place,” says Diana, who will be next sharing screen space with John Abraham in next, Parmanu.

Recalling the time when she met the cast of Lucknow Central for the first time, Diana says, “I’d heard about these great actors and seen their work before, but had never worked with them. I felt nervous thinking about their energy. I’m the junior most actor and the most inexperienced of the lot.”

Diana says while working with senior actors, one tends to put a certain kind of pressure on themselves. “You feel that they might judge you; or will I be able to match their level of performance. But at the same time, there’s so much that you can learn from being in the same film with these talented actors,” she adds. Diana says she is always on the lookout to pick newer things from her co-stars. “Seeing them and perform alongside them, you get to learn and observe a lot. I feel, it enhances your performance automatically. So, there are more things than there is to worry about.” she quips.

PHOTO: YOGEN SHAH