It cannot get bigger than this: Kriti Sannon

She’s just one film old and that turned out to be a super hit. But despite that, Kriti Sannon did not expect to land a Rohit Shetty film as her second project in Bollywood — that too one that stars the industry’s golden pair, Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol. Industry insiders are already touting her as a star in the making but Kriti has her feet firmly on ground. She’s still getting used to the fame but she has also gone through the flip side of it, with some bad press coming her way. In a candid chat, she talks about her tryst in the film industry so far. Excerpts:

We hear your height was cause for much amusement on the sets of Dilwale (Laughs) I think they made it a bigger thing than it was, because I am slightly taller than Tiger Shroff. But during Heropanti that never came up. Rohit shouldn’t be the one making fun of my height, look at him! While shooting, whoever has a scene with me and is shorter than me, will have to wear heels or stand on a platform or something. Shah Rukh was very normal about it. Referring to Kajol, he said, ‘After so many years I am working with an actress who is shorter than me. Otherwise, I have only been working with tall actresses like Deepika, Anushka and Katrina’.

Is Varun shorter than Tiger Not really. Varun thinks he is too short but he isn’t.

Did you know Varun Dhawan before this film No, I actually met him once with Sabbir sir (Heropanti’s director) and Tiger. He was rehearsing for ABCD 2 and I was rehearsing for the Puppy song in the same hall but I hadn’t interacted with him. He thought I had attitude and I thought the same about him. I guess that is always the case when you don’t know someone. But once I started working with him, it didn’t take us long to get along. He is very easy to gel with. Tiger was very shy and introverted but Varun is always talking, he’s naughty and mischievous and his energy is very infectious. But he’s also always focused.

Were you nervous to shoot with Shah Rukh I was nervous when I met him for the first time. We had started shooting in Goa when he had come to visit us. Usually, I talk a lot on the sets but when he was around, I would be very quiet. But then Shah Rukh has this quality of making you feel comfortable. By the time I had my first scene with him, I had met him so many times, chilled in his vanity van or in his room — I was no longer nervous. And I like how he’s the same with everybody on the sets. He will do rehearsals with you — in fact, he wants a rehearsal, he never goes for a take instantly. But yes, while performing a scene with him I would constantly wonder if I was saying my lines right or emoting well and so on.

How many requests have you got from friends and family to make them meet SRK Oh, don’t ask. All my cousins were really excited, and there have been multiple such requests but obviously I have not entertained them. I knew I couldn’t take them on the sets. I was working with him for the first time, so there was no way I could have done that.

What does it mean to bag a Rohit Shetty film just after your debut I think it cannot get bigger than this. To get a film of this magnitude in terms of its actors, makers and production values is something I never imagined would happen at the start of my career. It is a big deal for me and it took me a while to absorb it. It happened in just one meeting with Rohit. They gave me a brief narration of the film and that’s it, I was on board. It wasn’t like they auditioned and then told me that they would get back later. It just happened.

Signing your first Hindi film, Heropanti or signing Dilwale — which one was the bigger high for you It’s difficult to compare feelings. When I signed Heropanti, I didn’t know it was going to be a big film. With Heropanti, I was entering a new world and I was getting a break. I am not from the film world, I didn’t grow up thinking I would become an actress. There were ten things going on in my head at that time — will people accept me or will they reject me and so on. The only thing similar to both the films is that how they just happened. I auditioned and signed it the same day. I guess the best things happen just like that.

Are your parents getting used to your growing popularity Yes, they are very chilled about it. I think they do understand the flip side of fame and they sometimes panic if some bad news comes out. There are always stories like that floating around. And these days even parents are on social media. Before I get to know, they get to know about me. Mum will say to me, ‘I read this about you,’ and I will tell her, ‘No, it’s not true’. When negative things are written about me, they do get stressed. But they know that there will always be these work-related rumours.

How was the holiday with your parents After the Goa schedule, we went to Singapore and I think it was after a long time that all of us went on a holiday together. I wanted to spend time with them. I think it is very important to make time for your family at least once a year — even if it is for three to five days.