Rakul Preet Singh awaits the release of 'Dev' in Telugu and Tamil on Feb 14.  In this interview, the star heroine talks about her role in the movie, her films that are going to release this year, working with directors like Selvaraghavan, paying back an abusive troll recently in the same coin and more.  

What is your Valentine's Day special this year?

My parents are visiting me on the 13th.  We will be watching 'Dev' together on Day 1 and such a thing happening for the first time in my career.  The film is about love and friendship.  So, it's going to be special.

What kind of a film is 'Dev'?  What is your role in it?

'Dev' is a love story that I longed to do for long.  Only a few movies have equal screen time for the lead pair.  Prakash Raj garu, Ramya Krishna garu and two other characters (of friends) complete the six characters.  Meghana (Rakul) is an independent, feminist-minded woman.  I had to bring innocence to that character.  She was brought up by a single mother.  Her childhood experiences keep her away from men, etc.  She is a bit moody but doesn't anger anybody.  She is a workaholic.  The real me gives more importance to family and friends.  

Since your character in the movie is a feminst, what is your understanding of the ism?

Feminism is not about hating men.  It's about standing up for your own self.  There is a feminist in every man, as they all will stand up for their sister, mother if needed.  

What kind of a character is Karthi playing?

Karthi's character is an adventurous one.  When he is happy, he wants to go for a bike ride all alone. When he is sad, he will take out his frustration similarly.  What happens when he says 'I love you' to her is very interesting.  

How was the shooting experience?  Since 'Dev' is an adventurous movie, did you do any adventure during the making?

Work is not stressful to me.  I enjoy it.  I am never tired and never feel like going on a holiday.  Recently when I was to Dubai, I did ski-diving.  It was risky to jump from 15,000-ft.  The 50-second freefall was most beautiful in my life.  I hadn't told about the adventure to my parents before doing it.  When I told my father after doing it, he told me he would have come with me to do it.  I am adventurous.  I had done other things like scuba-diving before but ski-diving is something I did for the first time.  If the parachute doesn't open, you are finished.  That makes it quite risky.  

How do you take stock of your career?

After 'Raarandoi Veduka Chuddam' and 'Jaya Janaki Nayaka', I was on a high.  'Khakee' was even bigger.  I am now focusing on quality more than quantity.  'Dev', 'NGK' and the other movies I am doing are giving me a high.  

How has it been working on Suriya's 'NGK'?

The way Selvaraghavan sir (director of 'NGK') works is very unpredictable.  He doesn't allow his actors to blink.  The way he pushes you to go beyond the conventional, it makes his school quite different.  Working with him has made me a better performer.  His vision of a character is quite different from the actor's.  When they both complement it each other, it comes out really well.  

Do you believe in Valentine's Day?

Valentine's Day is a western concept.  I don't believe it because there can't be just one day for a relationship.  Our parents never celebrated such a day.  Every day should be a lover's day.  It's commercially very good.  But the real meaning of love is not that.

Looks like you are going to have a lot of releases this year.  Isn't it?

I have signed three movies in Tamil.  I did a film in Hindi, which is taking me a lot of dates.  It needs a lot of preparation.  Sometimes, you take time to shoot for a movie.  'NGK' has taken time.  Same goes with 'Dev'.  In all these movies, I have a lot of scenes.  This year, I will have 5-6 releases in different languages.  Last year was a very good learning experience.  Selvaraghavan sir has been great to work with.  The sci-fi film that I am doing is a completely different experience.  

Recently, your reply to a troll who character-assassinated you became a piece of big news.  What's your take?

I didn't reply as an actress.  It was replied by the woman in me.  It's the first time that I hit back at a troll.  It was a tipping point.  A person who has the guts to write like this on social media can do worse things in real life.  A normal person can't say such things.  I paid back in the same language.  I gave him a taste of his own medicine.  Many people trolled me for speaking my mind.