I am Ayushmann’s guy buddy: Bhumi Pednekar

Dressed in a white tee and dark blue jeans, Bhumi Pednekar has a wide grin on her face as she greets me. And why not, she has swept all the Best Newcomer Female awards this year. That’s not all, the actress who played the overweight Sandhya in Dum Laga Ke Haisha has lost all the extra kilos and is looking slim and trim. “I took a year to gain 23 kilos and the same amount of time to reach my natural size with gymming and diet,” reveals the actress who is all set to step into the role of a Punjabi girl for her next film Manmarziyan. Hectic workshops are on and in Bhumi’s words, “It’s madness starting from 6 am to 11 pm”. But the actress is enjoying every bit of it and has also started learning bike riding — though she confesses she doesn’t even know how to ride a bicycle.  Over to the chirpy Bhumi... 

You swept all the debut awards this year. Happy?
Yes, mainly because the competition was really good. Everyone who debuted last year came with their own positive and negatives, and all of us are different. There is no similarity between me and Akshara (Haasan), Athiya (Shetty) or even that little girl Harshali (Malhotra). We all did well in our own space. I remember as a child when I was watching award shows on TV, the thought uppermost in my mind was ‘mujhe awards mile more than what film I am going to do’! So, for me awards are a big source of motivation. It started off with the positive response from audience, critics, media, family and friends to awards. It is humbling and I have a lot of gratitude. So many people are responsible for where I am in life today. Most importantly, I had the right instinct (of doing Dum Laga Ke Haisha) and I know hard work pays off. 

Did you always want to be an actress?
Yes. The first time I realised I wanted to take up acting as a career was when I was 12 or 13. Even in school, I would always lean towards performing arts, elocution, drama — I was the front-runner for everything. I always had that streak in me. When I was a lot younger, I would always dress up with my cousins and take pictures. I have one where I am pouting and I was just three! I love every aspect of performance from getting dressed to acting.

What was your parents’ reaction when you told them you wanted to act?
My family is full of engineers and doctors, and the first time I told them I want to be an actress, they didn’t take me seriously. Also, they wanted to shelter me, not because they thought it was a bad profession, but because of the things they had heard. Eventually, they became very supportive and my mother has lived the dream with me. They always instilled a sense of ambition in us (she and her sister Samiksha) and were a source of motivation. 

Is your sister also interested in acting?
No, she is studying to be a lawyer. 

How did you end up being a casting agent if you wanted to be an actress?
There came a point in my life when I realised that if I don’t start working, my parents would send me abroad to study. So, I decided to take up a job when I was 18. One of my friends told me about a job as a casting assistant in YRF and I took it up. My parents weren’t happy and told me I have to complete my education. So, I  did open schooling and got my degree even as I was working. I have been working with YRF for six years now — first as an assistant to Abhimanyu Ray and then as an associate with Shanoo.

But acting was always at the back of your mind?
I didn’t have an agenda. Actually, I started thinking may be I should direct because when you are younger you don’t know where and how things will happen. Shanoo was the first few people along with my mother to tell me that if I wanted to direct, I would have already done it. ‘Don’t fool yourself’ Shanoo told me.

Is it true that you didn’t know that you were auditioning for the role in Dum Laga Ke Haisha?
Yes, and that’s because I was always doing mock auditions. A lot of actors outside of Mumbai and abroad don’t know how to give an audition and this helps them. Shanoo told me to do it. As for me, I would always be ready saying ‘Mujhse acting kara lo’. I would be nervous conducting or doing auditions in front of Shanoo because we are very close — she is like my elder sister — and close people are your biggest critics. That was an interesting phase in my life. In the mornings, I would give the audition and from afternoon to evening, I would conduct auditions with other girls for the same part!

What was your reaction when you landed the role?
Forget being cast, when I realised I was being considered for the role, I was really happy because I had already read the script since I was casting! 

You had no apprehensions of being an overweight heroine?
At that point, the fact that I was getting a film which had a brilliant script and was being made by YRF was more than enough. I did think about the fact I would have to gain and then lose 23 kilos, but the role was so good, any girl would have done it. 

Which scene from the film is your favourite?
Since it’s my first film, every scene is equally important. Actually, I cringe a lot when I see my performance and think I could have been better. But yes, the scene that stands out for me is the one where Sandhya is sitting on the stairs crying and Prem (Ayushmann Khurrana) is walking away. It comes in the second half and it sums up the film. We shot it pretty early in the schedule and that kind of broke the ice between Sandhya and Bhumi. I tapped into a lot of personal memories to feel and emote that scene. 

You shared a cute chemistry with Ayushmann Khurrana in the film. What is your equation with him?
Ayushmann is my fist hero and now, the only hero as he is my co-star in my second film Manmarziyan along with Vicky Kaushal. I have known Ayushmann from before (the film). He is one of the finest talents — a musician, actor, and a VJ. He is a true artiste. He is a great guy and we are thick friends. We understand each other well, he is my chick buddy and I am his guy buddy. That chemistry transformed on screen. 

What is Manmarziyan all about?
It’s a classic love story set in Punjab. It is relevant to today’s time and is in a real space. I can’t tell you more at this stage but the workshops are on. I believe that whatever character I play I want to give my mind, body and soul to it.

Your first film was applauded for dealing with the subject of a girl being overweight. But in your second film you will be presented as a slim beauty. Will that be more challenging? 
I believe talent and vanity go hand-in-hand. Beauty is subjective, it’s a state of mind. Yes, it is important in the line of entertainment, but at the same time you can’t define beauty.  Even as the overweight Sandhya I think I was stunning. I don’t propagate obesity only because it is unhealthy. I know that because I lived both the phases in my life. As Bhumi, I don’t think in terms of main patli hoon ya moti hoon. There is a lot more to me — what I think, what I am trying to be. As an actor I do not want to be confined to doing one thing. I don’t want people to look at me in a certain way. I want to become the character. I wish people stop defining a person by their weight. Also, Dum Laga Ke Haisha was not just about an obese girl. I look at it as a film that deal with characters with a complex whether it was  Prem or Sandhya.

Both your films are with Ayushmann, which other heroes are on your wishlist?
Growing up and even now, I am a huge fan of Salman Khan. Who wouldn’t want to work with him? Among today’s generation of heroes, I want to work with all of them, I can’t pick and choose. There are different kinds of talent and amazing films are being made. 

What would you say about the way women are being portrayed in films?
Look at 2015 — Piku, Tanu Weds Manu Retuns, NH- 10, Hunterr (Radhika Apte is fantastic in that). Even Bajirao Mastani — Priyanka (Chopra) and Deepika (Padukone) are brilliant. The distinction between male and female actors has been erased. For me, Priyanka, Deepika and Anushka are heroes.

Any favourite films growing up?
Rang De Basanti is all my all-time favourite. I was 14 when the film released and it had a big impact in my life. For my  generation, it’s the first cult film. I remember I fought with my mother when we went to watch the film because we were late. I refused to enter the theatre and waited two-and-half-hours to catch the next show! I would love to play one character if the film is ever remade. 

RAPIDFIRE

Beyonce or Rihanna?  Beyonce any day.
Love is... Intense.
Flirty or intense romance? Flirty, initially. I hope it goes into intense romance.
A quality that draws you to a man... His personality
A quality in a man that puts you off... Bad breath or body odour.
Bhumi, the girlfriend is... Very caring
Is there a Mr Perfect? I don’t know, I hope so.
Live in relationships are...  Cool. I am all for it.
One mantra you live by… Always be happy. Nobody’s opinion matters except yours and your family’s.
Describe yourself in five words… Passionate, super emotional, happy, impulsive and instinctive.
One professional mistake that you will never make… I would never make myself more important than the script.
Three things you would want to change about yourself… Nothing. I am perfect.
Three things you wish you had… I am content with what I have.
Three people you rely on... My mother, my sister Samiksha and my best friend Sharmin.
Three moments you want to relive... The day my film released, my first trip abroad with my sister when we were grown up, and the first time my friends, family saw the film. That was overwhelming.
Three times you felt let down… There haven’t hasn’t been any.
Three qualities you wish you had… Only one. That I could sing.
Are you single? Yes.