Shruti Haasan, actor-daughter of the celebrated Kamal Haasan, will be seen in a Hindi film after a two-year break. She talks about getting back into Bollywood with Ramaiya Vastavaiya , her role in the film and life as an actor.
Is it your comeback film? Your last releases in Hindi were Luck (2009) and Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji (2011).
Ramaiya Vastavaiya is not my comeback film. I wasn’t seen in Bollywood because of my prior commitments.
In the South?
Yes. I have been busy doing films in the South. I had film offers coming my way from Bollywood, but I wasn’t too keen to take them up.
So what made you accept Ramaiya Vastavaiya ?
It’s the character I play. The entire story revolves around it. I am paired with newcomer Girish Taurani (son of producer Kumar Taurani). Most important, it has been made by Prabhu Deva sir, whose success with commercial films is evident from the box-office record of Wanted and Rowdy Rathore .
How would you describe Girish?
He is one of the sweetest and most patient boys I have ever met unlike his character of a naughty boy in the film. I had great fun working with him.
Why do you think your Bollywood forays have not translated into success so far?
I try to analyse my own performances. What works for others may not work for me. I just want to do good work. One has no control over a film’s fate. One just has to keep at the job. If I were to strategise my work, I would rather become a talent manager instead of an actor.
Don’t you want a hit film to your credit?
Everyone wants a hit. But I don’t use the yardstick of success to judge myself. I see my growth as an actor onscreen.
You are the daughter of veteran actors Sarika and Kamal Haasan. What is the benefit of being a star kid?
Nowadays, people recognise me for myself. I have strived to achieve this. As a result, people look at me as not just Sarika and Kamal Haasan’s daughter but as an independent identity.
Bollywood News Service
