I’m more confident to take risks: Kriti Sanon
Films in 2019: Luka Chuppi, Housefull 4 and Panipat 2020 lineup: Mimi and Bachchan Pandey
Personally, how would you sum up 2019, especially since this year, you’ve also completed five-year-long journey as a Bollywood actor since Heropanti (2014)?
2019 has been my best as well as the busiest year so far. What’s most heartening is the fact that my work also got me great, balanced response. For starters, we didn’t expect a small, sweet film such as Luka Chuppi to do the kind of numbers that it did. And then Housefull 4 became my highest grosser. It was exciting for me to work with the mad gang and going back to Sajid (Nadiadwala) sir after five years of getting launched by him. The year ended with Panipat and the kind of response I got — from critics as well as the audience — was overwhelming. And it all feels even better as it was my first historical part and maiden period drama that, in a way, put me out of my comfort zone.
Thanks to all the success this year, are you more confident as an actor now?
Box office is definitely the biggest barometer. But honestly, I would also like to be critically appreciated for a performance wherein I’ve put in some extra effort or hard work, and something that people don’t expect out of me. I am a little greedy that way
(laughs). The compliments that I get for my performances always touch my heart. When three such different kind of films connect with audiences, I do feel a lot more confident to take bigger risks. They make me feel a lot more confident about Mimi because that’s a film, which is going to be a lot on my shoulders.
In hindsight, for you, what was the biggest highlight of 2019?
I can’t point out any one particular thing. But I guess Luka Chuppi started the year for me in a big way and plus, it was also a commercial success. At the same time, it also got me appreciation for my performance. That way, it was a good balance and felt like a good start. Then, the reviews that I got for Panipat were really special. To be honest, when I look back, I never thought it would be appreciated so much.