Thanks to her cherry-picked anglicised roles in Indian films, Nargis Fakhri has fast climbed up the list of hottest actresses in the industry today. However, the Copenhagen beauty, who marked her Bollywood debut with Rockstar, reveals that no one was around to offer her work post the film. In a candid conversation, Nargis talks about the social media uproar over her rumoured affair with Uday Chopra, her new movie Banjo, and more. Excerpts:
How does it feel for you to choose such out-of-the-box roles I don’t choose the roles, God chooses them for me. If you don’t believe that, then I can’t help it! The universe brings them to me and after I get to see and read the roles, I accept them. I believe that whatever I think or ask for comes true. Whatever I wish for — it may not happen the very next day, but it does. You should see my dream book; you may laugh, but I’m going to publish it one day. I meditate and visualise that something’s happening. I just pray to God that I want to work with great people and with great stories.
You’ve also experimented with genres in the last five years It’s crazy for me, since I get bored. It’s nice that every project I do is different from the previous one. I’ve rejected so many projects straight away because they were so boring.
What’s your role in Banjo In Banjo, I play Christina, a music student and DJ. She’s passionate about music, but that’s not me in real life. She hears a clip by a band and goes crazy, deciding to travel to Mumbai and meet them. She’s an Indian who has never been to the country. I could relate to her since similar things happened to me with all the newness in life after seeing Mumbai.
Do you think filmmakers approach you only to play anglicised roles Obviously! I can’t play a village girl. I’m happy about the kind of roles I’ve done so far and they fit me so nicely. The most important thing is that I’ve not grown up here; I don’t even know the language, I’ve not been to an acting school. My mannerisms, attitude and personality aren’t Indian. Filmmakers want me to portray real characters. I can’t be demure because that’s not me.
Do you think it’s difficult to enter a particular Bollywood camp The only camp I know is to have fun inside tents (laughs). I don’t know any camps and I don’t want to be a part of anybody’s camp. I’m camp Nargis Fakhri. A lot of people say that I don’t associate or hang out with the people in any camp, which is why I don’t get much work, but this is the way I am — I’m a non-camper.
Is Riteish Deshmukh the funniest co-star you’ve had He cracks jokes sometimes, but those are situational. I can’t tell you a joke because you weren’t there. He’s very funny and during Housefull 3, all the three boys were known to bully, but I was too smart. I have a comfort level with Riteish, since Banjo is our second film together and that’s important for me. I hate feeling weird on the sets.
Who is your favourite co-star then Every co-star has some uniqueness to them, because I’ve loved working with every actor so far. But, Varun Dhawan is like a kid and so am I, so it was like two kids on the sets. I prefer to be a kid than an adult.
Do you think your rumoured affair being a public issue was intrusive I think everyone is intrusive. I feel that people love to know about each other’s lives and they don’t mind their own business.
How do you perceive the social media uproar that followed It’s too much to keep up with as an actress. I prefer to keep it away, but this is part of our job. I understand that wherever I go, I need the social media to promote my business; we can’t escape from it, since this is our future. I think people also get to know me better. And if you notice my accounts, I’m more than just a pretty face; I love to share things about my life. Today, people would rather know what make-up I put on or who made my bikini, instead of knowing about a drought. One has to find a balance between glamour and humanitarianism.
What’s your next project I’m doing a Hollywood project called Five Weddings, opposite Rajkummar Rao, and no, it’s not about me getting married five times (though that would be great!). We will be shooting in October-November in Leh and Chandigarh. It should be fun since it has a lovely script.
