This story is from June 17, 2019

Kiara Advani: When you question your abilities, you also open the door for others to do so

The actress talks about her next film, her tryst with Bollywood so far and being in a happy space with her career going the way she wants it
Kiara Advani: When you question your abilities, you also open the door for others to do so
It has been a busy year for Kiara Advani so far. While she will soon start shooting for Shershaah, Laxmmi Bomb and Indoo Ki Jawani, she has two films lined up for release this year, starting with Kabir Singh with Shahid Kapoor, which will be followed by Good News with Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Diljit Dosanjh. The actress, who finds herself in a happy space now, says that she feels like a school student awaiting exam results.
Over to Kiara, who talks about handling rejection, getting into the skin of different characters and finding a foothold in show business. Excerpts from the chat:
Though Arjun Reddy is a Telugu film, it was watched by film buffs across the country. Given that Kabir Singh is a remake of the film, what drew you to play a part whose graph is already known?

In recent times, we haven’t seen many pure, intense love stories. I am a sucker for romantic cinema. I’m glad that I’ve managed to be a part of one because I wanted this. I loved Arjun Reddy and the graph that Priti’s character has. While working with director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, I realised that he has a unique way of interpreting emotions. He was the biggest asset for this film. Only he could have told the story the way it is because it’s drawn out of his own experiences. There wasn’t a day on the set when he wasn’t meticulous. It’s also a relatable story, and one of the reasons it could be remade is that it has universal appeal.
Do you think that for a love story, which is as intense and passionate as this one, a lot depends on the chemistry and energy that the co-stars share?

As an actor, I draw a lot from my co-stars. When you are performing a scene, you have to listen to what the other person is saying. Often, we’re so caught up with what we’re doing that we don’t pay attention to the other actor in the frame. It’s important to pay attention because it helps you to emote better. Co-stars give you so many cues, which can enhance your performance. Shahid is a terrific co-star, and it’s easy to bond with him. Besides, he’s the only other person I know who gets excited to have
lauki ki sabzi
in his
dabba
(laughs!). He’s a warm, lovely family man, who also has that 'bro' vibe. He can be parental at times. What amazes me is that he doesn’t smoke or drink, and yet, he plays these vice-laden characters so well. I think the beauty of cinema is that it allows you to bring out your alter ego or an extension of your personality without the fear of being judged. My character, Priti, is so unlike me. I’m expressive, and I talk more when I’m nervous, but she holds back. Her sense of normal is very different from mine. In a way, she’s like an alter ego. This film has brought me closer to my emotions. It has taught me to internalise emotions and get that
thehrav
and intrigue without using dialogues. While trying to play Priti, somewhere, I started merging Kiara with her. I even contemplated seeking counselling because the part was emotionally draining.
After Kabir Singh, there’s Good News this year, followed by three projects in the pipeline. There was a phase after your debut in 2014 when you didn’t have much on your plate. Have you tried introspecting what is working for you now?

Most people thought that MS Dhoni: The Untold Story was my first film. Not many people have seen Fugly, in fact, they mix it up with another movie. As an outsider in this industry, when you’re starting out, you tend to think that landing the first project will open the gates for you. I realised that for the gates to open, your first film has to do well and your performance has to be noticed. I had no idea that landing project number two, three and four will be tough because my first project didn’t work. That’s the time I sat down to introspect and figure what was going on. People were not interested in meeting me. It broke my heart. I started thinking about where my career was headed and whether I should consider another line of work.
In that scenario, what kept you going?

The belief that I could act. I decided that I will not let anyone tell me that I can’t act. I decided to plunge into this with determination, even if it meant doing the gym-class and ask-for-a-meeting routine every day, till I don’t get what I want. Yes, it can be stressful, and those waiting in the wings will know what I am talking about. I kept reading scripts until I found something that I liked. I auditioned for MS Dhoni, and it took a while before I got the call for it. People noticed me in that 30-minute role. It was a mini-high and it became my identity for a while. A week or two later, all the compliments dried up, life was back to normal and I was back to looking for something exciting. I had a list of directors who I wanted to work with, and Abbas-Mustan were on it. I was happy to work in Machine (directed Abbas-Mustan). It didn’t do well, and I felt bad, but it made my resolve stronger. Also, I don’t regret doing the film because people in smaller towns still recall me from the Mast Mast music video that we did for the film.
Is that the point when you also decided to give South films a shot?

You never know who your audience is and where you might find them. I saw Baahubali, which made me realise that I could give Telugu films a shot. I bagged two big projects with Ram Charan and Mahesh Babu. I didn’t realise that working there will get me such a vast audience base. I got a dream launch and the response to it was fabulous. Now, I want to do one film a year down South, if I can, because the scripts there are quite interesting. Times are changing and it’s the content that decides everything. Language and platform are hardly a barrier anymore. I realised that sitting at home is not going to help me. The competition increases every day. We have five-six new faces in Bollywood every year, and many of them are star kids. When you don’t come from this industry, it takes you time to create a market for yourself. You can either get irritated with the competition, sit at home and wait for something to work out, or you can go out there and find a way through it. I took up Machine and my first Telugu film because of that. Finally, things are shaping up the way I want them to.
Looking back, was it difficult to handle rejection during the initial struggling phase?

It is tough to take that no on your chin, but you can survive it if you believe in yourself. If you don’t believe that you can make the cut, then who will? When you question your abilities, you also open the door for others to do that. During the toughest times, if I had questioned my ability to act, I wouldn’t have gone beyond one project. I am glad I didn’t give up. Constructive criticism is always welcome, but you should know who to take it from. You have to evolve as an artiste. Today, for me, every day is work-in-progress. I’m no longer waiting for a destination; I’m just relishing the journey.
With several new faces, including industry kids, entering the business, what do you think works to your advantage?

I was very excited to see what Janhvi (Kapoor) does in her first film because I am a huge Sridevi fan. In my heart, I know that we’re all vying for the same roles because there are only that many exciting movies being made. I made my debut a while ago, but I still have that fresh-girl-look, which works to my advantage. Also, I’ve not been stereotyped or bracketed. It’s inspiring to see peers doing great work because it helps cinema evolve, and in turn, every actor benefits from it.
With a busy date diary, do you think you have the time to be in a relationship, given that you’re a sucker for romance?

I don’t know! Look, I’m single right now. I just want to be with someone who can love me for who I am and vice versa. The relationship has to have a deep emotional connect for both of us. You can’t be in love with calculations attached to it. I’ve seen many people who have settled with their high-school sweethearts. They’re lucky because their relationships lasted, mine didn’t (smiles). I wish I had that high-school sweetheart, too. Honestly, I want to see myself settled with someone who I am head-over-heels in love with. The search is on…
author
About the Author
Rachana Dubey

When not cooking at home, she can be found on the streets of Mumbai, stalking stars or chasing stories. Beneath her loud and talkative surface lies a trustworthy friend, a reliable and deligent worker and a warm human being whose mind is where the heart is.

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