Bollywood’s busy bee

Kriti Sanon, who will be seen in Arjun Patiala, talks about her chock-a-block schedule and helping her sister tread carefully in the film industry 
A still from Arjun Patiala
A still from Arjun Patiala

For a tall and lanky girl who quit engineering for acting, Kriti Sanon has grown leaps and bounds in the Hindi film industry. The actor, who started with Heropanti in 2014, has found stupendous success with  Bareilly Ki Barfi and Luka Chuppi recently. Kriti has three films in succession for release this year. “The more work you do the more you feel you are a part of the industry. I don’t feel awkward at parties anymore though I don’t socialise much for work.  I love hanging out and chatting with people whom I know well. But then at the end of the day everyone has their own journey,” says the actor.

On having her plate full at the moment, Kriti says, “I was busy shooting for the four films last year and I will be busy promoting them this year. It’s been a very busy time for me. Luka Chuppi has released, then there’s Ashutosh Gowarikar’s Panipat for which I have just completed shooting.

 There’s also Farad Samji’s Housefull 4 lined up. But on the anvil is Arjun Patiala where I will be seen opposite Diljit Dosanj for the first time. The film is set to release on July 26.  Luka Chuppi, Arjun Patiala and Housefull 4 are comedies yet they are very different from each other. Luka Chuppi was a romantic comedy whereas Arjun Patiala is a spoof film. It has never been attempted in Bollywood before.  Housefull 4 is a massy family entertainer, which has a reincarnation angle in its plot. Panipat is, of course, a period drama. All of these roles are very different from each other. Honestly, there’s a lot of pressure maintaining the number of films I do every year.” 

The genre of spoofs is still an alien concept in Bollywood. While Hollywood has done many such films that have gone on to become blockbuster hits such as Meet the Spartans and Scary Movie series, Arjun Patiala is perhaps one of the first mainstream attempts in this category. “That’s the fun that no one has ever tried doing such a film. But someone had to do it. Films like Deadpool have been hits all over the world. As an audience you will enjoy Arjun Patiala. So far people are reacting well to the trailer,” says Kriti.

The actor’s younger sister Nupur is all set to follow the 28-year-old’s footsteps. “Nupur is taking her own time to choose her path. The only advice I give her is be patient and tell her that the first film is the most important film. If she gets a great opportunity she will certainly take it. There have been offers but she is waiting for the first big opportunity. When I read the script of my first film Heropanti I felt it was the right one. I want her to have something similar, ” says Kriti about guiding her sibling. 

Asked about working in OTT platform she adds, “I have not got many offers but it’s a great medium. I have not got many opportunities that excited me enough but I think the rise of streaming content  is encouraging us actors to choose better films. If I get something exciting, the platform wouldn’t matter. I’ll choose it based on the content.”

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The New Indian Express
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