Exclusive: This one is ‘Basanti’ with a twist: Shraddha Kapoor

Shraddha Kapoor beams with contentment when you meet her these days. Her beauty & performance in ‘Haider’ has been appreciated, and she’s had a great run this year with different roles and star studded films. She turns into a dancing, sexy young thing for an item number in ‘Ungli’ called ‘Dance Basanti’. Here she speaks about her love for dance, ABCD 2, and her film aspirations in future.

Your avatar in ‘Dance Basanti’, is sexier, and quite distinct from your roles so far…

It’s a new avatar of mine, I am very happy that I could be part of this song! Karan made me hear the song, I really liked it, its very catchy from the moment you hear it. Actually I also wanted to work with Emraan Hashmi, right from the start. The song portrays me differently from what I have done so far.

You’ve mentioned that you wanted to work with Emraan Hashmi, it’s not a common aspiration that I get to hear from upcoming stars. Why did you want to work with him?

I have liked his films, like say, ‘Awarapan’. From his work, it is evident that he is one of the most talented actors that we have currently. He is actually one of those few actors who has a distinct style, and a strong image as a star. People say, “Wo Emraan Hashmi ki film dekhne jayenge’, he has a lot of mass appeal.

You’ve played an innocent, likeable, good girl in most roles. In this one, you are somewhat bad, right?

This one is ‘basanti’ with a twist. Earlier roles have been more on the non-glamorous side. None of it has been glamorous. This is the first one which is glam.

So you will be seen in this item number in ‘Ungli’ this November, followed by ABCD 2. Do we see a new, dancing side to you onscreen from now on then?

This is a side that has been waiting to appear for the right opportunity. Every film that I was offered, I would ask, ‘Isme dancing ka gaana hoga?’ and they would say, ‘No’ (laughs). Nahi, ye uss type ki film nahi hain.
And then I get ABCD 2, which is an out and out dance films, it’s not moderate at all,it’s a very challenging level of dancing. I love to dance, I don’t know if I am good or bad at it, but I love it. So to get ABCD 2 is a great opportunity for me.

Tell us something about the film, brings together a good team.

So, matching steps with Varun, has been tough and will be tough. Everybody knows he is a phenomenal dancer. I have done my best. I also had a muscle tear injury, which took away a lot of rehearsal time. The moment I felt better, I had to catch up on a lot, and had to make up for lost time. I honestly wish I had more time to rehearse, for this film. But we have to make do with what you have. I just shot for my first song. As you can see, there is a lot of excitement about it, it was liberating! I went home and cried, there were tears of happiness as this was my first solo dancing song.

With your last film, ‘Haider’ , you’ve done well as a performer in a cast of stalwarts. So was that satisfying, the laurels that came your way?

(Brightens up) This is a very good question! It’s quite natural that if you are in a group of such amazing actors, it’s but natural that a thought comes in your mind, that, I wish I don’t mess up. So just don’t mess up, but I would feel all the time, before a take. Just do everything you can, to Not mess up.
So it was nice and encouraging to get this positive feedback. To gain appreciation amongst these amazing actors, makes me feel really good. Also Vishal sir casting me in this group of actors, he showed great faith.
But I also felt that I deserved that opportunity and I’ve worked hard for it. But yes, I kept saying, don’t mess up.

Wild thought, but do we ever see a reuniting of the ‘Aashiqui 2’ team, or rather another love story with Aditya Roy Kapoor? Have you ever spoken about making another film together, Mohit, you and Aditya?

I would love to reunite with Aditya, and Mohit. I actually tell Mohit that we should come together. But he is quite busy with his current film, ‘Hamari Adhuri Kahani’, and has a couple more planned, so I don’t think we will be working together soon.

To conclude is there any one role that you aspire to?

You know, more than roles, I hope this run of working with good directors continues. When you work with good directors, it becomes a good role, for they do the imagining and thinking for you. And a good director’s vision is unsurpassed. So basically, I would want to work with really good directors.