11 January,2009 07:31 AM IST | | Shradha Sukumaran
She's an uptight intellectual in The President Is Coming and a struggler in Luck By Chance. Konkana Sensharma discusses her choices and on having Ranbir Kapoor as a strange bedfellow in Wake Up Sidu00a0
Yaaaa, of course, I have met some insufferable people like that!
What was it about the character then that attracted you?
Actually, it wasn't so much the character. When I read the script as a whole, I hadn't come across anything funnier. When (producer) Rohan Sippy approached me with the film, I asked for the script or a narration, but he said, 'Come for a reading.' They just handed me the script and asked me to read. That was my first narration.
It was so funny, I had to stop and laugh. I'm so glad that these kind of experimental films are being made I've not seen too many mockumentaries being made here. I'm glad their production house does a Chandni Chowk To China as well as The President Is Coming. It's healthy to have different kinds of films.
Your character Maya is ruthless. She can verbally and literally karate chop someone. Are you anything like that?
(Laughs) No, I can never think of the right thing to say at the right time. I always sound stupid, blubber something or maybe start crying. If I'm upset, I can never sound cool. I sound like an idiot.
Maya's a published author. Ever wanted to write a book when growing up?
I would have loved to have been a novelist, but I don't think I have it in me, simple as that. I studied literature and I read a lot I guess that's more me than anything else.
Do you keep a journal?
(Firmly) No, I don't like this journal-keeping business. Most people write bad poetry when they're teenagers; luckily, I wrote only one or two.
Had you seen the play The President Is Coming before doing the film?
No, I caught a show after the filming was done. They are such a funny bunch of people and so talented! It was fun going to the set between shots, they would be singing and telling jokes.
You play a struggler in Luck By Chance. You've never struggled to get into films because of your background, but was it a struggle to get mainstream roles?
Well, commercial films were never on my agenda. I didn't ever take my career so seriously I waited for one film to happen after another.
I liked a film, I did it. Now some films offered to me are a little more mainstream than before, but none of them are typical or hardcore masala films. It's been the in-between. I do a lot of realistic stuff and that has been my niche. Mainstream in the nineties and now have changed. That's where films are reaching out to actors
like us.
How was it having a director as a hero in Luck By Chance?
I've known Farhan and Zoya (Akhtar) a little bit before I started the film. They've worked a lot and have so much experience behind the camera. You really feel like you're in safe hands.
Zoya has a clear vision; this is a film she'd written and she had lived with it for a while and knew the ins and outs. If I hadn't known about Farhan, I'd have thought he'd been acting forever. He's so natural. Also because he's been behind the camera, he knows the technical aspects he'd help the DOP (director of photography) by taking the light and adjusting it. It's easy to work with people like that.
You were unwell on the sets of the Karan Johar production Wake Up Sid?
I had a viral, it was going around and everyone was getting it. But my blood pressure fell. But that's it, then I was fine! Sometimes when you're shooting on a closed AC set and not able to recuperate and rest as much as you need, you get a relapse. I've been a little under the weather.
Everyone feels the USP of Wake Up Sid is the unusual pairing u00e2u0080u0093 you with Ranbir Kapoor.
Yeah, people have been saying this (laughs). Good, well, I hope they like the film. I'd say we're halfway through shooting it. It's Ayaan Mukherjee's first film; a coming-of-age about a boy.
You're considered as the thinking man's pin-up.
People say different thingsu00a0 I don't know what to say! Being in the public eye, people have a hundred different opinions. Some are nice, some not so nice. You can't pay attention to them a lot because you're you. You have your own assessment of yourself. As an actor, you have an image that you're not always in control of.
Your image stems from your roles, which may not necessarily be you the person. If I'm considered the thinking man's pin-up, then it's flattering, but whatever...
You were supposed to be married to Ranvir Shorey by the end of last year...
Says who?
Well, according to reports...
(Smiles) Don't believe everything you read.
