‘I don’t want to feel like I have achieved a lot’

Actor Bhumi Pednekar made her debut with the hit Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015), and she has already tasted back-to-back success with Toilet: Ek Prem Katha and Shubh Mangal Saavdhan. What’s interesting is that Bhumi says she was always “very secure”. Excerpts from an interview:

Do you feel you’re in a secure position now in your career? I was always very secure, because after Dum Laga Ke Haisha, I felt really protected, and maybe it was due to the character or because of the film. After that, only love and respect came my way. Three months after the film, I signed Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, and then three months later again, I signed Shubh Mangal Saavdhan. At that time, I was getting a lot of other offers, too. So I had [a lot of] choices, which is rare for an actor.

But do you still get nervous? I don’t know if I’m past it (being nervous) or not. But today, what really scares me is that I’d wake up one day and feel that I haven’t done enough hard work. That’s why I don’t want to feel like I’ve achieved a lot.

Do you judge your own work? Of course. I was happy after I got [great] reactions for my performance in Toilet..., but I kept asking myself what I did right, or wrong.

You got to work with a star like Akshay Kumar quite early in your career. Have you always looked up to him or similar people? Success stories are very inspirational. So, I’ve always been inspired by Akshay sir. That’s why it was a big deal for me to work with him. I also adore Priyanka Chopra.

PHOTO: YOGEN SHAH