'My experience in Bollywood has been an interesting one.'
'It has shaped me as a person.'
Nargis Fakhri makes a comeback to the Indian spotlight with the Telugu film Hari Hara Veera Mallu, starring Pawan Kalyan. It is directed by Krish Jagarlamudim who made the Kangana Ranaut starrer Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi.
About her earlier time in Bollywood, Nargis tells Subhash K Jha, "I enjoyed the good experiences and learned from the not-so-good experiences."
You have been missing from Bollywood for quite some time. Where have you been?
I took a little time off to focus on my health and other behind-the-scenes work in the USA.
When I was ready to come back to India in March 2020, the pandemic shut everything down.
We keep reading things about your love life. So once and for all, are you single or in a relationship?
My love life seems to always be on everyone's mind except mine (laughs).
No, I am single at the moment.
It is good to hear that you are coming back to Indian cinema. Tell us about the Telugu film that you are doing with Pawan Kalyan. Director Krish says you are playing Jahanara.
I am so excited to be working on a south film as it is something new for me.
I love challenges and new experiences.
I'm looking forward to working with Pawan and Krish!
What is stopping you from signing films in Bollywood? Would it be correct to say that your experience in the Hindi film industry so far has not been too pleasant?
The pandemic stopped me (laughs).
There is nothing stopping me from signing films in Bollywood.
My experience in Bollywood has been an interesting one.
As I look back on what I went through, I understand it was all part of the process and it has shaped me as a person.
I learned a lot.
I enjoyed the good experiences and learned from the not-so-good experiences.
How has the pandemic been treating you? I know you like to travel. That being restricted, how have you coped with staying relatively stationary?
I was at a silent meditation retreat in Portland, Oregon, when this pandemic happened, so when I got back home and went grocery shopping, I was wondering why there was no food. But I was so zen that nothing bothered me.
So since you know me, then you know I was not stationary. I did a lot of traveling during the pandemic.
I drove up and down the coast of California, did a lot of outdoor activities, like hiking, biking, swimming, boating etc.
I also flew domestically. It was an interesting experience to be at the airport and having it totally empty.
The world has changed in the last two years. How has it changed for you?
Nothing has changed for me. I continue to live my life the way I always have.
Are you going to be in India for a while now?
I am back in Mumbai with a new and fresh perspective on things. It's making me excited to see what opportunities will come my way.
The digital platform has boomed during the pandemic. Are you looking at doing anything there?
Times have changed and so adaptation is necessary. So yes, I'm definitely open to the digital platform space.
