'I don't need a godfather!'

Newcomer she might be. New to the camera she certainly is not.

Hrishita has been quite a busy model, with plum assignments like Liril and Close-Up.

Her petite frame has also graced many music videos.

So it is not strictly a surprise when you hear of Hrishita making her film debut opposite Abhishek Bachchan in Shararat and opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Santosh Sivan's Ashoka, The Great.

Runima Borah Tandon spoke to the articulate 18-year-old who, incidentally, has a very eclectic taste in books -- from Zen philosophy and Indian spirituality to Ayn Rand, Graham Greene and Virginia Woolfe:

Did you ever think that you would become an actress?

Actually, I wanted to become a pilot.

But I didn't because my mother was very scared of me flying. Then, I wanted to get into architecture. So I took up science.

But then I started modelling. That's what made me move towards acting, I think.

What are the films you are working on?

I'm doing Gurudev Bhalla's Shararat, opposite Abhishek Bachchan, and Santosh Sivan's Ashoka, The Great, opposite Shah Rukh.

Shararat is almost complete. I just have some songs to do. I have completed two schedules for Ashoka, The Great. There's a little more work left to be done, though.

How did you get the offers for both these films?

I have been a model for one-and-a-half years, have done quite a few ads, including Liril and Close-Up. I worked in the music video, Ankhon mein tera hi chehra, by the Aryans. I also worked on the Rajshris' music video.

But what, I think, landed me my film role was a video called Dil sung by Sonali Bajpai. Guru (the director of Shararat), saw me in it and offered me the role.

Then, thanks to the Rajshri video, I was called on Movers And Shakers.

One day, I got a call from an associate director of Santosh Sivan. They had seen me on the show.

He said, "Sir wants to meet you."

So I said okay and gave him my pictures.

A few days later, I was working out at my gym when I got a call again. He said, "Sir wants to meet you right now."

You know, Santosh Sir lives in Madras. But I ran home, leaving my workout halfway. Everyone at the gym wondered what I was up to!

I was so jittery. I took a quick bath at home and ran.

I met him. He was happy with my work in the music videos. And that's how Ashoka, The Great happened.

Tell us a little bit about your roles...

Shararat is a today film, Ashoka, The Great is a period film, a costume drama.

In the former, I play a 19-year-old city girl who wants to study further. She's this mad, fun-loving person.

In Ashoka, The Great, I play a more subdued girl, calm and controlled. Kareena (Kapoor) and I have parallel roles in the film.

I'm excited about both roles -- they are very different from each another.

How did you relate to Abhishek as a costar?

He is very helpful, kept working with me on my scenes. He never made me feel as if I were new.

Which is why I never felt nervous around him.

Abhishek is fun on the sets. After a point, things tend to get very tedious, and you need some fun.

Abhishek was always up to some mischief all the time. That kept us happy and excited. It all depends on the rapport you share with your costars, I guess. That matters a lot.

I was not camera-conscious ever, because I have faced it before. I have also completed a course in drama from Trinity College, London. Where we had done speech and drama. So I was quite comfortable.

What was your experience with Santosh Sivan?

He is a brilliant director.

Every frame is picture perfect, every time I check it out on the monitor, I feel it's like a painting -- it is so beautifully lit. The lights are comfortable, they don't hurt.

Santosh Sir is incredibly fast. He would finish so much work in one day. That is because he knows his mind, which helps a lot.

He lets you be your normal self and believes in spontaneity. He likes you the way you are.

He just explains the scene to you, and your dialogues and lets you do it your way.

Yet, he knows exactly what he wants.

With Guru, it was very different. He is a hard taskmaster. Even if I give a good shot, he would say, "No, one more shot. You can better this," and he would really get it out of me.

You know, sometimes even Abhishek would compliment me.

But Guru would look at me and say, "One more shot." So we got into this habit.

Every time Guru would say, "Okay," I would say, "Guru let's do one more shot"!

How was it working with Shah Rukh Khan?

We would always work on our scenes together. He is a very nice person, very down to earth. So that makes you comfortable, and that is what enhances your own performance.

In fact, I had met Santosh Sir a couple of times before we started shooting so that made me very comfortable with his entire team.

When can we expect to see your films?

Shararat will be released some time in February or March 2001.

Ashoka, The Great has a few more days of shooting left. If Santosh Sir says ten days, we might just finish it in three. He really works fast!.

What kind of roles are you looking at?

Anything that excites me. I'm very instinctual. I believe that if you are excited about something, you will be able to deliver well.

Who do you look to for inspiration?

Honestly speaking, anyone walking on the road inspires me. People are my inspiration.

How do you see yourself coping in this fiercely competitive film industry?

I just need god; I don't need a godfather. I believe whatever is meant for you is meant for you.

Everyone is entitled his or her fair share.

I am not an insecure person. What I deserve I will get and I will be happy with it.