So far so good! That pretty much sums up Amrita Rao's career in the Hindi film industry. The actress talks to Senior Associate Editor Syed Firdaus Ashraf about her role in Deewaar -- Let's Bring Our Heroes Home, which releases today.
I am very lucky and fortunate that my first three films [Ishq Vishk, Masti, Main Hoon Na] have become hits at the box office [the actress, though, made her debut in Rajkumar Santoshi's The Legend Of Bhagat Singh].
I hope Deewaar -- Let's Bring Our Heroes Home is another feather in my cap.
This film's title is Deewaar -- Let's Bring Our Heroes Home. It means that the heroine doesn't have a big role. Please don't be disappointed if you don't see any romantic angle. [Though] I [do] have a very important role in the film.
If you see my careergraph, I have done very well. I am getting a lot of offers but I have consciously decided to be slow and steady in the [film] industry. I want to be selective. How far it will pay? I really don't know.
I don't want to do 10 films in [the] lead [role], [but] which have no substance. I don't mind a small part in a good film. Actors have to keep a lot of things in mind before they sign a film.
I was very impressed by the promos of Deewaar. They were shot even the film's shooting began. [Director] Milan Luthria signed me for even before the release of Ishq Vishk. I had seen Milan's interview. I was impressed with the way he was talking about Deewaar. At that time, I thought, I wish I could do a film with him. It [working in Deewaar] was like a wish come true.
I play Radhika, a Hindu girl based in Pakistan. My character is besotted with Akshaye Khanna. It is not a romantic film. I cannot reveal more about my role. It was fun to work with Akshaye. He is a fantastic actor. I also got an opportunity to act with Sanjay Dutt.
I am happy to be a part of Deewaar. I have seen the film in bits and pieces while dubbing. It has great interest level. It will click with the audience.
Only one song has been picturised on me. It is not a romantic film. It is a sweet song. It is a classical number, Piya bawri. I hope in this age of remixes, it will stand out.
I don't interact with the prisoner of war in the film. Most of my scenes are emotional. I hope I have done some justice to my role. The emotional scenes were difficult because it involved crying and shouting.
Deewaar is not like previous war films. It is an escape story. It has suspense and thrills. The whole look of the film is very rich. They [filmmakers] have put in a lot of effort to go into meticulous details while shooting. Even the rickshaw looks like it is from Pakistan. The team did a lot of research before shooting commenced. A lot of detailing went into every character.
I sport an ethnic look in the film. I am not playing anti-Pakistani role. Don't worry, I am not the villain!
I don't like to be pampered on sets. All that matters is good work. Nobody treats you like a goddess on sets. I don't like that kind of attitude. Everyone appreciates your work and commitment.
