I definitely was apprehensive. But there were other dynamics involved. At the end of the day, everyone has to look good onscreen. The older we made the daughter, the older her parents would have to be. And we needed the parents to be young and dashing, because they’re not just parents, the father is also the hero of the film. So, that was the dichotomy that we were caught in.

Was it hard work losing all that weight for the role?
Yes, it was very hard work! It took me a total of eight months. I lost about 5-6 kilos. But that’s about it. I mainly needed toning up.

But even though you looked stunning, you were also criticised for your excessive skin show in the movie.
That I was. But I’ve taken it constructively; I’ve learnt from it. There were certain things that I was uncomfortable doing, but when there are four-five people sitting in a room, someone can talk you out of that, and you’re convinced that it’ll be alright. But when the film comes out, and you have four-five hundred million people watching, the very same apprehensions are brought up by the audience. So, that is the lesson I’ve learnt.
So, then, do you plan to refrain from skin show from here on out?

No, that’s character driven. I will still be playing glamourous characters in films. But I won’t play a college girl who’s in love with a college guy, and be an ultra-glam girl, unless, of course, she’s Reese Witherspoon from ‘Legally Blonde’.

Tell us a bit about your future projects.
Well, I have no clue about them. My future projects will not be available right now, because I don’t know about them myself. I’m looking at projects, at things that are going to get set up. So, let’s see. I think in the next two-three months, it should be clearer.

Which genre would you like to try your hand at next?

A period film for sure. Also, definitely a full-on, situational comedy. And also a beautiful romantic story.
A decade ago, someone like Kajol, who didn’t have the perfect figure, but did some fine acting in her time, was acceptable. Today, have looks become more essential?

They have. Now, everyone expects you to look your best. Every weekend you have a new film on. A lot of stuff lacks quality. And therefore, when you are paying Rs250, a ticket, to watch a Hindi film, you want quick entertainment. You want it to grip you for every moment that you’re in a theatre. And for actors to wow you. That’s why people are more fierce about their demands. It has become a consumer society, and that has extended to demands to see something perfect on the screen.

One would like cinema to be a great medium of change. But we haven’t had any instances where a film has revolutionalised people’s lives. That hasn’t happened till now. But we’re hoping to at least keep people entertained.

Recent trends indicate that directors like to work with younger actresses. A lot of older actresses aren’t doing much these days.

It’s a phase, a part of life. When you’re fresher, people are willing to watch you experiment. With someone who’s been there, you have a particular image of them in your mind. Audiences can’t see them in very drastic roles. As an actor you yourself also realise that, and you don’t want to shock your audiences. It’s cyclical; the new always gives way to the old.

Who’s your favourite lead actor?

All of them. How boringly diplomatic! I look up to Amitabh Bachchan. Because he’s extraordinarily tall, so you have no option but to look up to him (laughs).

Someone you fancy working with, as an artist?

Hrithik Roshan and Amir Khan. Actually the list is endless. There’d so many people that I want to work with. One can only hope that one’s around for that much longer.

Favourite actress from your contemporaries?

(Lengthy pause) More than contemporaries, it’s the actresses of yesteryear that one looks up to, and that would be Madhuri. She’s the entire package. You couldn’t segregate her as an actress or a fine looker or a dancer. There was a charisma about her. She was the representative of the quintessential Indian woman in the post Nargis and Madhubala years.

What do you make of the growing fascination of the Bollywood fraternity with the property market in Dubai?

Bollywood is fascinated by anything high-end whether it be property, jewellery, fashion or lifestyle. The Dubai property market is coming up with very high-end luxurious homes. You associate that with glamour and luxury and high life, so Bollywood can’t be far behind. Dubai is an emerging market, it is a city that is home to people from all over the world, you have a beautiful combination of the desert and a beautiful beachfront. This is the most interesting development that I have seen in the world. You have developed land in the middle of the ocean. I say, why not Dubai? It is a great opportunity to buy a home away from home.

Are you going to put your money where your mouth is?

If you mean property investment, I am going to get Harry Kantaria (the developer) to give me a lovely oceanfront apartment. I am completely sold on it. It would have to be a seafront apartment. I don’t know the budget yet, I will have to sit with Harry and discuss it.

How’s your film career getting on?

The latest about my film career would be the release of Bachna Aye Haseeno with Ranbir Kapoor.

How was it working with him?

He is a lovely person to know, work with and make friends with. He is here to stay.

Give us some inside dope on a scoop or a scandal.

Ha, ha, ha. I am very boring when it comes to “inside dope”. I only get it when you guys write it.

Q: How much do you relate to you character Jia Rao?
A: Without losing audience empathy, it was a fine line and also this film is adapted from a literally classic. We are doing an adaptation of a book.

It is a classic that we are adapting to modern day sensibilities, to a modern day film so that it holds ground even today.

We will not be wondering as to what we are watching; that this is something that should have been made years ago. It is a modern day adaptation of a classic English novel Rebecca.

Q: How was the experience working with Ananth Mahadevan?
A: It was extremely good and I’ll tell you primarily why. He was a fab director because he is an expert in telling emotional stories with limited characters. He is a director who is capable of getting into the core of the matter for any kind of subject. He is knowledgeable and he knows everything about films.

We shot in one of the most beautiful places possible that was Bikaner and Gajner palace. I really do not know why people go abroad. We have so much beauty in our country, we have so many fabulous places that we can go to.

We shot in Gajner palace and this is the only place that I would like to go back to with that special someone in my life. It is a place that just won me over.

Q: Tell us about the character.
A: This girl is someone who lives in the city and when she meets Dino Morea’s character, it is a beautiful romance. She is then transported to Gajner where they live. It seems like a fairly tale, a perfect marriage until it goes back to where she is living.

There she realizes that there are many secrets, lies and undercurrents of things that are not right in that place. It becomes life threatening for her. Dino’ character is some one who has a lot of tradition behind him. His name carries a lot of heritage.

Yet he is a modern day man who is caught between carrying on his heritage vis-à-vis to one who wants to break into the 20th century. When he brings her back out there, he brings her back to an environment which bleaks with an air of emotional decay.

Q: So you will be seen as Mrs. De Winter?
A: Yes I am playing the second wife of Dino, the second Mrs. De Winter, a famous character.

Q: Why do you think people should go and watch the movie?
A: I think it is a film that deals with relationships. Ultimately we are in the job of entertaining and so here we tell you a story about two people who are torn apart by secrets, deception and lies.

Ultimately you come in there to watch a story to be transported to another land; to a world of make believe and fantasy. We are here to cater to the fantasies of the people.

Q: What led you to films?
A: It was a total fluke. I don’t know, it just happened, it wasn’t planned. I was modeling and did an advertisement for a maker who said that he wanted me to do this film. I thought and thought and they were after me for about four months.

I had a discussion with my family and they said that if it has to be this way, then I had to decide right now. So I took the plunge and still two years down the line I’m still plunging. I have no regrets; I’m happy doing what I do.

Q: What went wrong with ‘Anthony Kaun Hai’?
A: It was a good film and but the problem was that it got sandwiched between two mega film: Omkara and ‘Kabhie Na Alvida Na Kehna’. It was unfortunate that we could not release the film earlier. I had great expectations from the film but it missed the audience.

Q: What would you have been if not an actress?
A: I always wanted to be a war journalist and specialize in photo journalism. I have lived in Srinagar and there the CNN crew used to come to cover all the problems there. I used to go along with them and loved it. I loved all the risk that they went through, until one day they got hurt in a bomb blast and stopped.

Then I realized that this is what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to go to such places and do the stories taking all the risk. I might look small and timid but in reality I’m extremely tough and bold. I’m extremely strong though I do not look like that.

Q: Would you like to do a challenging role like Aishwarya Rai did in Devdas?
A: I really like Aishwarya Rai and am a great fan of hers. I don’t know if I would be able to portray the character as well as Aishwarya but it would be a great opportunity for me if I’m offered a strong character.

No one would have played the character of Paro better than Aishwarya and I can only hope to do something like that.

Q: Your take on life?
A: I love life and the little jokes they play on you and little hits that they give. I was pretty bad at Maths and I still get night mares that I have to give my Maths exams but when I wake up in the morning I realize that I’m an actress now and I have complete my grads and no longer have to give Maths exams.

The irony of the situation is that when I was in grade 8, I won a math Olympiad competition. The only reason that I won was because it was a multiple choice question and I ticked what ever I liked and stood second in a class which had six sections.

I had won an English novel and liked reading it. Cut to ten years down the line, here I’m doing a film on an English novel and when my mother reminded me about the book, I realized that it was Rebecca.

Q: What would you have done if you were a superwoman?
A: If I would have been a super woman than the first thing that I will do is to get a comfortable suit for myself. I would have also loved to fly. For my country, I would have got rid of bureaucracy and privatisation since I do not support them.

Q: How has been your journey so far?
A: The journey had been pretty good so far. The industry has accepted me with open arms. See people say that I do not have any hit films under my belt, so far but I feel that it all depends on how a person looks at things. One can say that a bottle is half empty or half filled.

Q: Tell us about your future plans.
A: I’m doing a film called Kidnapped and Shourya. The film Shourya is directed by Samar Khan and has Rahul Bose. Kidnapped has been directed by Sanjay Ghadvi.

Weight – 48 kgs
Height – 5 feet 2 inches

Breakfast
I eat seasonal fruits such as apples, pineapples, grapes or custard-apple (a favourite) along with cereals.

Lunch
Lunch consists only of subzi with daal; I avoid rotis and rice since I have conditioned my body to avoid carbs.

Mid meals
I may have a bowl of cereal but it’s something that I generally skip.

Dinner
Again it’s just subzi with daal.

Allergic to
Nothing; I can eat anything

Exercise routine
It consists of an hour of cardio to tone the body. I don’t do any stuff that will make me lose weight.

Naini’s recommendation
Cutting down on whole grains from the daily diet can lead to the deficiency of Vitamin B in the longer run and cause depression and obstruct the smooth functioning of the nervous system as well as the immunity system. It might make the skin dull. Make it a point to consume whole meals.

Dairy products are avoided completely. These products contain vitamin B12 and vitamin D. The deficiency of the same can lead to rise in cholesterol level and thyroid. Moreover, calcium is depleted from the body leading to osteoporosis. To sum it all dairy products should not be avoided.

Breakfast
Consume some dry fruits like apricots, figs and raisins as weight gain is not a problem. These are a good source of energy and helps build stamina.

Lunch
Have salads, sprouts and vegetables for complete protein, accompanied with whole grain, whether it’s rice or roti. Try to incorparate some amount of carbohydrates in your lunch. Try brown rice.

Mid meals
It’s always better to eat something in the evening, something like nuts, which are full of protein, vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids.

Dinner
Include a vegetable salad and a soup.

Exercise
Drink gallons of water during the day, practice yoga and deep breathing exercises. These will enhance your exercise regime and help you be healthy and fit.

Are you still crazy about Brad Pitt. Any efforts to meet him?
Well, Brad Pitt is no more the sexiest man for me. Yes, he was earlier. i now have better replacements in india. i think our desi actors are sexier than their Hollywood counterparts. Of late, thinks have changed wonderfully for indian entertainment industry.

So, would you tell us about your indian hot favourites?
Saif Ali Khan and Hrithik Roshan are amazing. it is the style factor of Saif that separates him from all other actors. He is getting hotter with each passing day. i must admit, i’m his greatest fan. Besides good looks and acting skills, it is his off screen persona that’s most impressive.

And what about Hrithik Roshan. What is his rating on your style-o-metre?
He is another hot guy in Bollywood. When i look at Hrithik i am totally at loss of words to describe his looks, personality and attitude. He is Bollywood’s hottest discovery.

if ever you get the chance to date any of the two, what would you wear?
i will wear something that covers me from top to bottom so that i look decent. Also i feel comfortable and sexy in a dress which i can carry off well.

Does the same thing applies to films also. Any inhibitions about exposure?
i am not game for indecent exposure, but looking glamorous for an actress is of paramount importance. Though, i wouldn’t mind doing item numbers that project me in sensuous but decent manner.

How did Honeymoon Travels… happen?
i got a call from Zoya Akhtar one day, and she told me that she had a film that she wanted me to listen to the script. When i went to her office, i saw Reema (Kagti). She introduced herself and told me about the film. i thought the concept was quite interesting, so i decided to take it up.

Tell us the story of Aspi and Zara.
in a nutshell, the story of Aspi and Zara is that they are a Parsi couple, and they have known each other for the longest time possible. They are childhood sweethearts who are married, and now they are on their honeymoon. What is the twist in their story, what exactly is their track all about, for that you will have to watch the film.

The promos show a funny cat-n-dog scene between you and Abhay. Tell us about it.
That scene just depicts the quirkiness of these two characters Aspi and Zara. They are so madly in love with each other and there are cute little funny moments between these characters.

it is said that yours is the perfect couple in the film…
Yes

Do you think a “perfect couple” can exist in real life?
Watch the film, and we have a twist for you in the film. So you can think and decide whether a perfect couple can exist or not.

Did you do anything special for your look in the film?
All the stars had to sit down with the makeup and hair team. Every look for the film was designed by the costume, hair and makeup department of the film. We had such a good team with us that we just had to sit back, relax, and let them do their job. The theme is actually quirky characters that are a part of a crazy ensemble. i was made to wear a Parsi necklace. Our dressing was very colour co-ordinated. Our clothing would match the kind of canvas we represented. My hairstyle was also done in a particular way. in keeping with my character, my hair was shorter for this film. So the dressing, their style, and the way they hold their sling bag across were very much like a modern-day young Parsi couple.

Whose is the best track in the film?
My favourite track is Kay Kay and Raima’s track. i think it is hilariously lovely. Then of course i love my track as well because we have put in a lot of hard work into it, especially as far as the rehearsals for the dance are concerned during the tango. Boman and Shabana’s track is a very unique story.

Are all the tracks interconnected somewhere?
We all are together on a honeymoon in one bus. i would use a very wonderful term to describe the characters of the film – quirky. The tracks are interconnected in the sense that everyone is living out their stories in front of the others. The tracks are not isolated and contained to every couple. When six couples are together, the stories are bound to intertwine and involve other characters as well. And that is the beauty of the script.

Tell us about the music of the film.
i love the music. i think the music is perfect for the film. it is foot-tapping, and goes very well with the visualizations of the movie. it is young, it is fun and it is romantic, and it is comedic.

Which is your favourite song from the film?
Pyaar Ki Ek Kahani Suno, which has been picturized on me and Abhay. That is the song i have heard the most. i ended up hearing the other songs only after the film was done.

Reema Kagti is a female director in this male dominated industry. How was it to work with her?
it was great working with her. i see no difference as far as working with her or any male director is concerned. She knew exactly what she wanted. She was so focused about her work! With me, there is always a male-female divide at workplace. With Reema around, i didn’t feel so. She is a director i could sit with; i could hug whenever i wanted. i could talk to her about anything under the sun. She was our buddy, yet when she was directing us, she was the one who knew everything. Her word was the final verdict in every case. We trusted her completely. She was just amazing on the sets to work with.

How was it working with other couples in the film?
it was an amazing experience. i have worked with Kay Kay before in the film Corporate. Raima has become my friend after this movie. i keep in touch with her, we hang out together, go for movies, partying and holidays. Everyone has been great. Through this film i got a chance to work with senior actors like Shabanaji and Bomanji. The first time i saw them i was scared. But they opened their arms so wide and treated us like their children. it was easy for us to warm up to each other because they were so open and loving to everyone on the sets.

it seems like you had a lot of fun on the sets…
Yes we did. All that fun you see on screen is real. it is not us acting at all. That is why i am saying that this is the easiest film i have shot till now.

Reportedly Abhay had a huge crush on you and was keen for director Reema Kagti to include a kissing scene. is it true?
i don’t want to comment on this. All i can say is that Abhay is a great guy and yes, we did get along well.

So finally is there a kiss scene between you and Abhay considering all other couples have one?
No, we don’t have any kissing scene.

in this film honeymooners have gone to Goa. What would be your ideal honeymoon destination?
My ideal honeymoon destination would be Venice.

That is one of the most romantic cities in the world…
Yes, i hope it would be, but i would know that for sure only when i go there.

So can we expect your honeymoon anytime soon?
No. But maybe i will change my mind…

Tell us about your role in Anant Mahadevan’s Anamika.
Anamika is a romantic thriller. i play the role of a young woman who has got married into a household, and suddenly she has to deal with a lot of unexpected pressures. She ends up dealing with a ghost from the past – someone who asks her who she is and what is her role in her husband’s life.

This role seems to be very different from what you are doing in Honeymoon Travels… so how easy or difficult has it been?
it is different, yes, but i won’t put a meter of easy or difficult on any role i play. A lot of team work also goes into it, with your director helping you get there. it is also about you wanting to do something different. in none of my films have i played a character that is identical to the other. Yahaan, Corporate, Anthony Kaun Hai – all of these films demanded me to play different sort of characters. in Honeymoon Travels… also i am getting a chance to play someone who has transformed from a young girl to a married woman, who realises that there are some things which she doesn’t know how to deal with at all.

Tell us about your special appearance in a song from the film Hey Baby.
Sajid (Khan) just called me one day and told me he is doing this song with a lot of female stars, and he would like me to be a part of it. Sajid is a really sweet guy, and when he told me the concept, i went ahead with it.

What kind of roles do you aspire to do in future?
i would love to do a role in a period film, yes; i am longing to do a period film.

Any role you missed out on last year?
i think it would be the role of Aspi, which i am doing in Honeymoon Travels this year!

You went missing on the first day of her outdoor shoot at Krabi, Thailand?
Yeah. The producers even launched a hunt for me. But it was only after a good three hours that I popped my head out of a nearby shack! I was lured in to take massages at the local shacks.

Why didn’t you inform before leaving?
I didn’t expect my producer, Nikhil Panchamiya, to get a panic attack. Since I didn’t have any scenes to do, I was pampering myself with some exotic massages at the beach shacks. I hadn’t gone away, giving a miss to my shooting.

Some people even thought that you had been swept away?
Rest assured, that will not happen. I’m a good swimmer. Besides, I’m an independent woman and I can take care of myself.

Tell us about the film…
It’s a thriller. So I can’t tell you the plot. Let me tell you about the characters involved. Sanjay Dutt is Master Madan, the only dangerous hitman who has seen every Bollywood film made…and remembers them better than the faces of his victims. Arshad Warsi is Champ, the only ace conman who’s changed his identity innumerable times.

And what about you?
I play Jiya, the only player who has a big secret to hide, with her homing pigeon as her only confidante. The beautiful daughter of ingenious magician Raghu, she is the heroine of the set-up.

Next will be ‘Rocky’ with Zayed Khan…
Yes. But I have been strictly told not to reveal the story. All I can say is that the film will have Zayed playing Rocky, a guy who undergoes many ups and downs and emerges a winner. And please don’t ask me the details of ‘Honeymoon Travels Private Limited’ wither.

But something very interesting happened in Goa wehen you girls were shooting for Nikhil Advanis ‘Salam-e-Ishq’?
Oh yes! Raima Sen, Dia Mirza, Sandhya Mridul and I were staying at Hotel Citadel. And whenever we packed up shooting early, we would hang out on the hotel’s private beach. On that fateful day, we were not shooting and so we planned to hit the beach for the rest of the day.

Then?
Raima and Sandhya left their rooms early and reached the beach first. They were lying on the sun beds waiting for Dia and myself. I was near the poolside restaurant, walking down the stairs that led to the beach, when I suddenly heard someone screaming. I saw Raima and Sandhya, who were just a little distance away, screaming and waving their arms at her. I thought a man was about to attack me. Suddenly, I felt