Can’t always look perfect: Rakul Preet

Fashion and physicality is a key part of an actor’s success as the success of their films, and Bollywood newbie Rakul Preet has come to learn it early into her Hindi cinema career.

“I started working in Hindi cinema in 2014. And with time, your style keeps evolving as you start understanding your body more and as you keep working more. You then become conscious. I didn’t know anything about style before, but now it’s become an everyday thing. Now you can’t step out without styling yourself. But I look more at being comfortable,” says the actress who is basking in the success of her latest film Marjaavaan.

Rakul adds that she doesn’t take on the pressure of looking glam at all times. “There’s no end to that stress, and it’s okay not to look perfect all the time. What you look like on-screen is not what you look all the time,” she asserts.

With the increasing popularity of airport and gym looks, the De De Pyaar De actress is amazed at how good other celebs look after working out. “I don’t know how people look good after coming out of the gym? Luckily, my gym does not allow any paps, I sweat a lot and my hair is out of place, so I run to my car. But there are paps at yoga classes. I don’t know how other actresses manage to look pretty,” she laughs.

As for the airport looks, Rakul finds that comfort is the key to confidence. “Be comfortable in your skin’ is my mantra. I don’t know how early in the morning one can dress up or deck up. You can’t take so much pressure. I keep shuttling between Hyderabad and Mumbai, so I just wear my shades and say ‘Hi’. I don’t bother so much; I don’t make efforts to dress up or be perfect. I usually take early flights,” she reveals.

Actresses in particular face a lot of pressure to look slim and fit at all times, and Rakul has had to bear the brunt of it as well. “It’s a lot of stress. I lost weight for De De Pyaar De and my body has gone through that shock. It’s a very difficult job to put on weight. It has to be an international or an award-winning film, so you can take time off a year to do it. Otherwise, it’s very difficult,” she shares, adding that this trend has moved to the south industry as well.

“All past heroines like Madhubala, Meena Kumari, Sridevi, and Madhuri Dixit were not skinny. All of them are fitness conscious now; they take care of their physique. It’s the same in the South as well,” she concludes.