I’m Glad I’m being linked with Gaurav: Kriti Kharbanda

After Bipasha Basu and Kangana Rananut, Kriti Kharbanda has become the face of yet another Raaz movie. In a chat, the newcomer talks about her apprehensions about signing Raaz Reboot, her rumoured link-up with co-star Gaurav Arora and more. Excerpts:

Did you always believe Raaz Reboot would be your perfect Bollywood debut It was exciting enough. When I signed the film, I was very apprehensive because I knew what the Raaz franchise was about. So, I had my own inhibitions, and I wasn’t sure that I wanted to do it. Funnily, my parents convinced me for the role. Also, I feel that any Bollywood film would be incomplete without a kiss, but I wasn’t comfortable doing it on screen with Emraan Hashmi and Gaurav. There was so much pressure on me as a female protagonist in the film. People compared me with so many actresses that it scared me. It’s just that I never planned to debut with a horror film — it just happened.

What are your challenges as a newcomer in the industry Honestly, I feel it’s not the industry that challenges you. Every industry is making movies. It’s the people and atmosphere that challenges you. The only difference between the South and Bollywood is that people had to explain to me things multiple times in the former industry, and I grasped things in the first go in Bollywood; maybe because I know the language. It’s really fun working here, but I’ve enjoyed my career down South. I will always work there as that’s where I got recognition. I won’t let go of good films just because the names of industries are different.

You’ve also been linked with Gaurav while shooting. I don’t know where that came from! I thought I had to answer my parents about this and I was nervous about why this happened to me. They consoled me, saying that now that I’m in the industry, I should get used to such rumours. I’ve never been linked up before; I’m glad that people have linked me with someone hot. (Laughs)

Do you feel Raaz reboot will open doors for you in Bollywood I felt this way, but one can’t predict the future. The only thing I could do was to work hard and make sure that I continue delivering good films. Sometimes you do a good film, but the industry doesn’t warm up to you. You can have a dud movie, but the industry will notice your work and make you a bigger star. My career is in the hands of Bollywood now.

Has your lifestyle changed after the movie I signed and shot for the film in the blink of an eye. I didn’t get the time to think of anything. I know it takes a lot to maintain that celebrity lifestyle, and people put you under the microscope over every small thing, but at the moment, I’m not under any pressure.