I had to learn how to stay hungry: Kangana

Kanagana Ranaut was in Dubai on Wednesday for the premiere of Fashion organised by STAR Middle East Limited. In a candid conversation with XPRESS she talks about the movie, her boyfriend and how she enjoyed working with Hrithik Roshan in her forthcoming movie Kite.

How was it working with Madhur Bhandakar?

It was a great experience. As a person he's very chilled out, but as a director, he's very intense and puts in a lot of effort in making his shots realistic. You could call him a perfectionist if you like.

How do you compare him with some of the other directors you've worked with, like Anurag Basu for instance?

In the first place I don't think it's right to compare any two directors. I respect both. It's not easy being in their shoes. It's a tough job directing a film. They are constantly under tremendous pressure all the time.

Did you have any previous modelling experience or have you ever aspired to be one?

No, never. I grew up in Manali, (a hill station in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh) and I didn't even know what a model was until I was in my teens.

Coming from a small town how did you manage to make it to the glittering world of showbiz?

It was filmmaker Anurag Basu who spotted me in Delhi when I was learning theatre. He asked to come for an audition and selected me. And that's how my career in Bollywood took off.

How did you prepare yourself for your role in Fashion?

I was thoroughly trained by choreographers and professionals from the fashion industry. I learnt how to sashay and walk the ramp and pose.

And how did you get into the mind of the model, I mean thinking and behaving like one?

I read a lot of books on models and the fashion industry.

Did you also have to go on a special diet to get a model's physique?

Yes, of course. I had to cut down on my food intake. I had to learn how to stay hungry. In fact there were times when I had to fast the whole day.

Considering that Fashion has given you some modelling experience, would you want to walk the ramp in Paris or New York?

Surely, why not? It would be a privilege..

Is your character in Fashion inspired by Gitanjali Nagpal, the top ramp model who was found begging on the streets of Delhi?

Not at all. Just because I have a scene in the movie which has me sitting on the street and smoking doesn't mean a thing. It is no way connected to Gitanjali. Watch the movie and you'll know what I'm talking about.

Fashion depicts the dark side of the industry. Do you think it's right to expose youngsters to the ugly side of glitterati?

We're in the business of providing entertainment. We are not here to make social comments or moral statements. We leave it to the audience to decide what's best for them. It not up to us to provide solutions to various problems. I reiterate, watch the movie and you'll know what I want mean.

How did you get along with Priyanka Chopra and Mugdha Godse on the sets?

We had a fabulous time. It was so much fun working alongside them.

How difficult was it working in Fashion which has three leading ladies and no male lead?

I don't get unnerved by such things. It doesn't really matter how many leading guys or girls are working in the same movie. For me, it's all about playing your part and doing your job well.

Your next movie is Kite with Hrithik Roshan. How was he to work with?

It's such a delight to work with Hrithik. He's a great actor and a perfectionist on the sets. On the other side, he's a wonderful, warm-hearted soul. Whenever we had a problem we'd seek his advise. He had solutions for everyone.

Tell us something about your boyfriend Adhyayan Suman (Shekhar Suman's son). We heard that you are in a relationship with him.

I don't want to talk anything about Adhyayan. All I can say is that I'm working with him in my forthcoming movie Raaz – The Mystery Continues directed by Mohit Suri.

If you were given the chance which character from the past would you like to immortalise?

Definitely it would be Meena Kumari from the movie Pakeezah. You know I'm an accomplished Kathak dancer and it would be easy for me to portray the character.

Commercial cinema versus experimental. What kind of movies do you prefer to work in?

I don't see things that way. I don't have preferences based on genres. Either a movie is good or it's bad. Whether it's commercial, art or experimental, doesn't matter. I want to work in a movie which people could enjoy. If they appreciate my role, then it's good for me. Who doesn't like to be praised?