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A matter of mind

Photo: V. Sudershan

Pretty picture Gracy Singh enjoying snacks at Lido Diners

My eating habits are associated with my state of mind. If I am happy I go on a binge and when I am sad, I give up almost everything,” says Gracy Singh, settling for a quick bite at Lido Diners in Connaught Circus. A vegetarian by choice, Gracy opts for mixed fruit juice.

In Delhi to promote Kamaal Khan’s Deshdrohi, which is making news for its anti-MNS tone, Gracy tries to play down the controversy. “A film is a work of fiction meant to entertain people. One should not attach political motives to it.”

Talking about her role, Gracy says, I am playing a firebrand Marathi girl, who falls in love with a UP ka Bhaiyya.” Kaamal hasn’t shown much promise in the past. Gracy agrees but quickly adds, “Here he fits the role of a bhaiyya. Nobody could have played it more naturally than him.”

A Delhiite, Gracy is a product of Manav Sthali School. Even before completing her graduation, she started getting offers for modelling. “I used to hang out at Dilli Haat for some delectable street food those days.

I love the simplicity of Delhi but I realised I could not fulfil my dreams in this city. So I shifted to Mumbai and started doing graduation through correspondence.

After the Ponds commercial, I was signed for Amanat and after watching the serial; Ashutosh (Gowarikar) signed me for Lagaan.”

Time for some cottage cheese shashlik and we shift the focus on life after a dream debut, when her choice of films was constantly questioned.

Taking a long sip, Gracy reasons, “See, people should realise, I could not better Lagaan. That way I should have quit the industry after Lagaan. Yes, I have made some wrong choices; at times what appears great on paper doesn’t translate on the screen.

Then I am not too ambitious. I didn’t expect what I have achieved. I do only two-three films a year and love to do films in different languages.”

This gives her an opportunity to try different cuisines.

“Of course! But I don’t like too much spicy food. So Gujarati food appeals me and so does idli.”

She has returned from a long shoot in Satara. “There we were offered very spicy food during the schedule. So I figured out a solution. There was an aunty who used to cook for college students. We decided to try her thali and it turned to be so good that for a month we survived on aunty ki thali.”

As vegetarian kabab platter arrives, Gracy shares she is in love with home-cooked food, Gracy’s favourite is rajma-chawal. “I don’t cook regularly, but whenever I get time, I prepare bhindi for it’s quite easy to prepare. Another speciality of mine is aloo ka parantha.”

While shooting for Lagaan, she developed a liking for bajra (sorghum) and jwar (oats) ki roti and still longs for them. She insists her simplicity is still intact. How?

“It is something inherent. You can retain it in the glamour world if you wish.” Her love for dance also keeps her motivated.

“I started late because I didn’t get opportunity at a young age. But when I could afford I started learning Bharatanatyam from Deepak Majumdar who has worked with Hema Malini.

Now I try to take out time to give performances. Soon I would be performing a nritya natika, based on Rabindranath Tagore’s work in Kolkata.”

Time to pack-up and we left her looking for something chocolaty.

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