I had the finest childhood, filled with unicorns and care bears. Even though my parents divorced when I was two, I was the first grandchild and hence the most cherished one. Not just my family, but everyone — my mother and her family members raised me. I was fortunate to have wonderful grandparents and aunts. I was fortunate to be raised in two distinguished families. I always aim for something that is beyond my capabilities and strive for perfection. I believe I received this trait from my family. It also taught me the importance of having a loving household, be it with one of the, or both, parents.
Amma being the coolest
My mom is very cool, you know. She has been wearing mismatched blouses since I was in school. I would beg her to match her blouse like all the other moms, who would come with properly matched blouses. My mother used to wear any blouse with any saree, and she wears only woven sarees. She buys them from the weaver, and even now all the weavers are on her speed dial. But when I was young, I used to ask her why she does not wear matching blouses. She used to say, ‘If anybody asks you anything, tell them that your grandmother brought you up. You did not bring me. See, you are all matching’. So, my mom is very cool like that.
Nana gifted a beautiful jewel
When I turned 12, my Nana gave me a piece of jewellery that belonged to my great-grandmother. It was a really old piece with busta pearls and uncut diamonds. It is very small and pretty, and I really like it.
Star kids versus outsiders …
Everybody has their own struggles. However, the difference between a star child and an outsider is that the former will be given 10 opportunities. And we will only receive one. However, it eventually comes down to people loving you, accepting you, and directors choosing you. And if you have been relevant for a long time, it has got to be talent and that should last. That is the main point, right? I am not resentful of favouring your own people. It happens in a number of places. In my family, however, the opposite is true. If you come from a reputed family, you must work harder to establish yourself. I believe that talent should be encouraged. What one can bring to the table. It is about creative, artistic people believing in talent and then grooming it to become stars. That is especially important in any artistic industry. Some children are naturally skilled, and the camera mirrors them; therefore, they should be groomed to make incredible cinematic decisions.
People started writing roles for me after Mani Ratnam’s film…
It started with Mani Ratnam’s film, and then people just started writing roles for me. The directors I have worked with in the south, whether new or experienced, have been incredible. As an artiste, I want my director to believe in me and what I bring to the table. I feel that language, country, or region do not matter. It is about stories and how people connect with you. Today I am spending a lot of time in Mumbai, after having vanished for three years. I am doing a lot of stuff here as well, but there was a point when I felt like I was not doing anything fun or challenging.
I grew up around music
I am not a trained musician, although I have grown up around music, and my mom sings. I love singing, and I sing all the time. I take great pride in the fact that composers do not need to use autotune on me; it is a source of joy for me. I am becoming more and more confident, especially in the studio, which I find very intimate. I started with the best; I dreamt of it, and I did it. I began with a live show with Rahman Sir without any backup, and from there, I gained the confidence to sing in the studio. Again, it is important that the right person chooses you for the right thing, and I am happy to do it. I have done quite a bit in the south; in Tamil, I have sung quite a bit.
A sponge
I adore Sanjay Leela Bhansali. It is life-altering to work with him. There were three directors that I always wanted to work with when I was growing up: Mani Ratnam, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and Rituparna Ghosh. However, Rituparna Ghosh passed away in 2013. I have been very lucky to have been chosen by both to be their heroine. I am so blessed with Sanjay Sir. People talk about the beauty and the costumes and how they make women look, etc., but to me, it all comes from his heart and his passion, and he is almost like a junoon. I like the way he is on set; he lives, breathes, and eats cinema. The characters, the detail, the music, the dance—he is knowledgeable about everything, and he is a wonderful teacher without actually teaching because he lives it. So, if you are around him, you are just constantly learning. I am a sponge, and I am just like, wherever he’s going, I’ll go behind him. Even with Mani, sir, I do that. Sometimes I do that artwork. I really enjoy that, and with Sanjay Sir, I find that very inspiring about him, and he is very loving. He pushes you; he really challenges you, but his heart is so big and he loves you so fiercely that it is amazing being around him and responding to that. He is full of ideas. I feel so lucky to be on Heeramandi, and it is an amazing journey.
Self-confidence is all about love and trust
Self-confidence for me comes with trust and knowing that there is love around me. So, the moment I trust, and I feel love, I am really confident. I am very sensitive, so I feel people’s energies, and even if sometimes a room is not the most giving, I somehow find it in myself to create a little thing around me and manage. It is very important for me to have happy people around me; that is my jam. Even on a set, before I take on a film, it is so important for me to know that for the next 50 days, I am going to be inspired on this set, and I am going to learn and love the people around me, even if it is going to be challenging. If I know that I can trust their intention and they are going to make me do my best, I am on.
I was asked to wear heels, make-up, and look like a heroine
Many people lose their jobs due to a variety of factors. When they are unfamiliar with the industry, filmmakers may fail to perceive them at their finest, and so on. When I first started meeting filmmakers, I would wear shoes and no makeup. It was not acceptable, and I was instructed to wear heels and makeup and seem like a heroine. In some cases, filmmakers mislead you. These are all of the procedures you go through. But how you deal with it and what comes out of it are critical. And that is when the people around you become important. I recall what my mother told me. You must always be the finest version of yourself, find the positivity within you, and see the positivity around you.
Being authentic
It’s difficult to stay sane in an industry where appearance, who you are seen with, what projects you work on, and social media are all heavily emphasised. Being authentic worked best for me. So, if I want to post a photograph on social media that does not have a filter, I do. It is about being at ease with yourself and knowing who you are. It was unacceptable nine years ago, but the industry has now transformed. This appearance is acceptable given the number of new voices in the sector. Mani Sir sensed it in me and brought it out despite my Rudolph nose! I practically had nothing on my face for most of the film. As did Sanjay (Leela Bhansali), sir, in Padmaavat. You are aware that I formerly worked for an agency. They summoned me to a meeting, sat me down, and said they did not know how to place me. I was attractive, danced well, and was a talented actress, but there should be one thing they could market about me. Actually, I went home and cried. But I have overcome all of this.
People think I wake up in gararas and ghaghras
I think in my everyday dressing, though people think I wake up in gararas and ghaghras, I dress quite chill. I am usually in really baggy jeans and just a sweater or a sweatshirt and sneakers all the time. Even though I am very tiny, I don’t like wearing heels. It is really about my mood, possibly influenced by the weather or where I am going. It is very instinctive as a human being, and all the choices I make, I don’t regret them. I am just comfortable because I think that is how I feel, so I’ll do it.
I ‘run’, away from gym!
It mostly involves ‘running’, away from the gym! That is my fitness regimen. But what I enjoy, which I don’t get to do much, is yoga, and I love to dance. Because I was doing Heeramandi, my toes got swollen, but I wish I could do it more.
Indo-British film on the way
Apart from south Indian films, I am also doing an Indo-British film called Lioness, which is the first Indo-British production. I am excited about it because it is the story of two women, two centuries apart, in an interesting setting. Additionally, I have heard a couple of scripts that I am really excited about. There was a time when I was not finding anything that really excited me, but now I have come across some projects that I feel good about. However, just having the intention and liking something does not guarantee what will happen next; that is not in your hands.
RAPID FIRE:
YOUR FASHION FOR THE SEASON: Thin cotton
YOUR ULTIMATE STYLE ICON: Audrey Hepburn
YOUR PERSONAL FAVOURITE SANJAY LEELA BHANSALI FEMALE CHARACTER: Nandini from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam.
WHICH CELEBRITY CLOSET WOULD YOU RAID: Blake Lively
DESIGNER YOU WOULD CHOOSE FOR YOUR D-DAY: Sabyasachi or I’ll pull something from my mother’s cupboard, which she might not let me do, but I’ll do something.
BEAUTY TIP FOR WHEN YOU BREAK OUT BEFORE A MAJOR EVENT: I Am a potion maker, so I bring things from my kitchen or put sandalwood.
SUMMER SKINCARE ESSENTIALS: Aloe vera and hyaluronic acid
FASHION TREND YOU HATE: Anything that shows my navel
Which iconic look would you transport your clutch to? Audrey Hepburn, because I love the way she dresses and  the photographs of her in Dior reflect who she is. I just love that.
