‘I’ll protect my personal life’

Actor Kalki Koechlin, who has been quite vocal about her personal life so far, now feels the need to guard her space. “Talking about my personal life has backfired. So, I have taken a backseat now, and I’m not going to put it out there. If it was only me being affected, it would be fine, but even my partner or family get harassed and questioned in the process,” says the 31-year-old actor.

Kalki reveals that these days, even neighbours ask her parents personal questions, which is painful for her. “I’d like to be candid about my choices, the way I am, my political beliefs, and how I live my life. But my work is what I want to focus on. I’m working very hard, so enjoy it and feel free to praise or criticise it, but my personal life needs to be protected,” she says.

Apart from films, theatre has been taking up a lot of Kalki’s time. “I got exposed to it when I went to study drama and theatre in London. I saw how grand and beautiful it can be,” she says, adding, “I love the process of being an actor and being on stage. It has to be something that allows me to use my imagination. For me, theatre is less realistic than cinema. It’s an imaginary world where you can explore philosophy and conceptual ideas very well.”

Talking about my personal life has backfired. So, I’m not going to put it out there

Kalki Koechlin, actor