We caught up with Hrishitaa Bhatt at the music release of her latest film Ishq Tera at ‘The Club’ recently. In this exclusive interview, HRISHITAA BHATT talks to JYOTHI VENKATESH about her journey for the last eighteen years since she had made her debut opposite none other than superstar Shah Rukh Khan, her marriage and why she is keen on doing more issue-based woman-oriented films now.
What is the film Ishq Tera all about?
Ishq Tera is a complicated psychological tale of a woman named Kalpana who becomes Laila as she suffers from some kind of split personality in her life. The film is basically about split personality, which some people tend to call possessed while some call a disorder. It is about how you discover her complex journey. It is based on a real-life journey, about a daughter and her mother.
What message does the film drive home?
The film sets out to drive home the subtle message in not such a subtle manner the fact that love can be obsessive as well as painful but at the same time it is the common healer to cure any kind of disorder in one’s life.
How easy was it for you to strike the right chord as an actress since the film is all about various shades of psychology?
I have studied psychology and hence understand it very well. I know there are different types of behavioural patterns. If someone who you love is going through such a complex disorder, you would not like to let go of him or her. I had to adopt a different kind of body language to get into the skin of the character of Kalpana. I understood why Kalpana is feeling like Laila.
Did your director Jojo subject you through any kind of workshop?
It is Jojo’s first film in Hindi as a director though he had earlier directed a Konkani film. Initially, I was not sure he would be able to handle it but I was happy with the way he had handled the subject. I did not go through any workshop but had to spend a lot of my own personal time with me and it took a toll on a lot of my time.
What is the USP of your film Ishq Tera?
The biggest USP of my film is that after Nargisji, no other actress has ever been a part of a film, like Raat Aur Din which was also based on the subject of split personality in Bollywood.
Why are you so choosy about the films that you accept?
I could have easily signed a lot of films but I was young and wanted to finish my studies since I was keen on becoming a graduate in order to stand on my own two legs. I did a few films because I preferred to keep the enthusiasm in me alive. If I had acted in 40 to 50 films by saying yes to each and every offer that I had received, I do not think that I’d have been able to evolve and grow as an actress.
Can you elaborate?
Honestly speaking, I have done very few films in my 18-year-old career because I get bored very fast and easily. I wish to do a lot more films because today women have more opportunities to be part of films which are issue-based and also women -oriented.
Which are your five best films as far as your career is concerned?
I really enjoyed as an actress being a part of wonderful films like Haasil, Miss Tanakpur Haazir Ho, Asoka, Dil Vil Pyar Vyar and Dharam.
As an actress, do you think you have not been given your dues till date?
I wonder what you mean when you say I have not been given my dues. I have been given a lot more than what I could have ever hoped for. Even nowadays, the kinds of offers I get are wonderful.
Do you believe a lot in destiny?
I think that it is destiny that has made me a star, because frankly I had never ever dreamt that I would end up as an actor in films. I was always a people’s person while I was studying in the school and college. I was good in kathak. Santosh Sivan the renowned cameraman saw me in a talk show in which I took part and also did a dance recital, called for me and I was selected for Asoka as Shah Rukh Khan’s heroine.The rest is history.
When did you start taking acting seriously?
As I said, though I did not want to take up acting as a career, I was in when I was signed for Asoka but till I started being part of good films like Haasil, I did not take acting seriously. I did not want to deliver as an actress out of pressure because I felt it would have killed me inside.
Can you evaluate your growth as an actor?
I cannot evaluate my growth as an actress till date. Only my audience and the critics can do that. I enjoy comedy. Unfortunately women do not get offers to play comedy roles.The growth of cinema has happened more than that of actors and that is good.
Did you ever try to take part in any reality show on TV as a judge or act in TV serials?
On TV, you will only see me in ad films, because I am averse to acting in serials because to do just one role for a long period of time is very tough for me. If you want to make loads of money, you should do TV. However as an actress, I have never thought of being a part of TV.
Is Hollywood in your wish list in future?
I underwent through a course in speech and drama in Mumbai at the Trinity College of London. If I get the right opportunity, I’d certainly like to be a part of the stage in Broadway in a musical play as I have been trained in not only jazz from Shiamak Davar but also kathak, which I have learnt from the age of 7. I am open for Hollywood too.
You have never aspired to be the No 1 actress!
What is not in my hand, I just cannot change. Who does not wish to be in the slot of the No 1 actress in Bollywood? I have always competed with only myself, not with the other actresses in the tinsel world
You have acted under the direction of quite a few first time directors like Jojo DSouza.
I have worked with both established filmmakers like Subhash Ghai who had cast me opposite Vivek Oberoi in his film Kisna as well as Gurudev Bhalla who was the first time director of Shararat, besides Tigmanshu Dhulia whose first film was Haasil, Ananth Mahadevan whose first film was Dil Vil Pyar Vyar and Santosh Sivan who had directed Asoka which was his first Hindi film for producer Shah Rukh Khan. Most of the first time directors with whom I had worked when they had started out their careers, have become very renowned directors now.
Tell me something about your marriage held recently!
I am an extremely private person and like to be in my own space and hence do not want to divulge anything about my private life. As I am in public domain as an actress, all that I can say is that my husband who is working with the U.N is a very good person, who has now started watching films because of me.
In what way has marriage changed you as a person?
I should confess frankly that after marriage, I have become calmer and more balanced than what I was earlier. It is a very good feeling to have someone in your life to complement you in your good and bad times.
