Says Chitrangada Singh who is born to an Indian Army officer and married to Indian golfer Jyoti Randhawa and is best known for her brilliant debut in Sudhir Mishra's 2003 film ‘Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi’.

Having received the rare compliment of resembling the irresistible Smita Patil during her childhood days, she was even approached to play the young Smita in a documentary on the actor. Chitrangada is now in the mood to shift genre from parallel to mainstream with ‘Desi Boyz’. The dusky haunting beauty bares it all with IG…

Excerpts

Is Desi Boys your image breaking attempt?
In ‘Hazaroon…’ people have seen me in saree and it has created an image of mine. I think this particular film will change the perception of the people definitely.

Hottest thing about desi man.
Indian men are emotional about family, mother, the whole thing is very attractive… But the unattractive part is when they don’t give you enough freedom… (Laughs)

How much desi you are?
I am from Meerut. My father was in the army. I’m very patriotic.

Why the change of genre?
I was doing similar kind of cinema for many years. I was very happy with it, started with ‘Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi’. After some time you get little bored with it means when you do too much of action, too much of comedy you want to change you want to try something different. Luckily Rohit called me for a role opposite Akshay. The part is fun but not a mindless comedy. Since childhood I have seen Amitji and Dharamji dancing. That is Bollywood for me so I’m very glad to do such a film.

What difference you find in mainstream and parallel cinema?
Both the form of cinema is not easier than the other. In commercial you need not to be realistic but have to be romantic enough to entertain and also take care that you don’t end up stupid. It was fun for me the first time like dancing around the pillar, lipsing etc…I had a great time. In parallel cinema you talk about complication in relationship and commercial cinema people want to see dreams.

Your role in the film?
I play the role of a girl who after studying in Oxford teaches there as well. She is very proper, very Britain but at time she is very random and cheap. She does salsa at night. You will actually think what the woman is all about.

Actress from realistic cinema has very strong opinion about the commercial cinema but you seem to be rebelling…
Absolutely! You have to look at both the aspects. If it’s liked by masses then its good. Even parallel cinema can go wrong.

Any examples?
I can’t name it but there are cinemas where they try to create sensationalism by getting bolder in the name of parallel cinema. I don’t think its right. When you talk about commercial cinema then you talk to masses and when you talk about parallel cinema you consider very niche audiences who have very different understanding of life or relationship.

We see you in the promotion… It’s a very new experience for you…
I have never seen such maniac. Akshay and John… People just go crazy. People wanted to grab me just because I was with them. I just froze. At one time I just turned and went back to the lift and Akshay just pulled me and said come out! It was fantastic!

Experience with Akshay Kumar
It was good. Initially I was nervous for 2-3 days but he really was a very nice person, very genuine, warm, approachable. The best thing is he never imposes himself on you. Whenever you need help, him always there. He is fantastic to work with.

On Smita Patil compliment
Wow!! Every time when I get compared with her, I feel happy and hope I should keep it up to it.

Akshay played any prank on you?
Akshay played pranks on everyone. He wasn’t that bad. He’s got little oil very concentrated….. Kind of garlic onion thing…. I don’t know what it is…. If you smell it you will be crying for next one hour for sure. So he very innocently walked in one day and he rubbed the cotton snob on my nose and then I started crying. And you can’t stop your tears coming out. I ran after him to hit him but it didn’t happen as he runs so fast.

Rohit Dhawan as a director
When I met Rohit for the first time he gave me complete narration of the film and he is very clearly stepping away from what his father does.

Working in a multi-starrer film do you have any kind of pressure?
Deepika has done many films commercially I guess 9-12 films. Very established but I m confident of my performance. Confident of my move that I wanted to take and I m very happy with the film. I m not worried.

Your miff with Deepika and the reality?
The reality is we worked together with each other for just 2 days and that to in climax, and we don’t have dialogues also. There is no such thing at all. She is very professional girl. We are not friends as we haven’t spent enough time together.

Indian cinema is dominated by men… Your take.
I think for this audience to be blamed. I think now more women should go and watch films but its changing. The director has to write good script for women. But at the end of that you cant make a movie without a women.

Do you think any actress which is breaking the barrier?
Vidya Balan.

While choosing commercial film what you consider?
I don’t know I haven’t thought that part. Definitely I will choose where I have enough to do and at the end there should be good director.

Do you regret that you slipped away Krrish 2 and Race 2?
Race 2 I was never doing. Krish 2… Yes it’s slipped out. Its kind of unfortunate as the film just getting postpone a lot and they needed bulk date of 130 days. There was lots of international crew. There too much co-ordination required and nothing was getting fixed, even now it got postponed and other film commitment was there. Both me and Mr. Roshan sat together and discussed and tried to made that work but actually its very unfortunate.

How the journey has been - tough/easy?
Well it wasn’t so tough, I mean, in Delhi work came to me luckily. My first film ‘Hazaaron…’ worked well and gave enough recognition for further work. It wasn’t very hard but I worked really very hard.

Your next releases?
Opposite John Abraham which is a romantic comedy drama. The other film is called Inkaar at the moment with Arjun Rampal. Sudhir mishra is directing the film. Its about sexual harassment at work place.

Is inkaar is based on Shiney Ahuja case?
Nooooooooo……

What if you are crowned with most sexy and hot women in the industry?
Me!!!! Why not…… Oh! Give it to me…… (Laughs)

Are you happy about your image?
I don’t really think about image as long as people say “You worked well”… Its not about changing image but about experimenting that is the only thought I had in my mind. Its never been about image for me really.