'No one cares who my family is'

'I expected Armaan Jain to get all the limelight. If you promote Lekar Hum Deewana Dil by saying that Keval Kishan Kumar’s granddaughter Deeksha Seth is making her debt in Hindi films, people will ask ‘Woh kaun hai’?’

Meet debutante actress Deeksha Seth.

Deeksha Seth would have become a marine archaeologist had the Femina Miss India team not spotted her during a campus beauty pageant.

The actress changed tracks, and started modelling. That got her a role in the Telugu movie Vedam.

Now, with quite a few south films to her credit, Deeksha hopes to break into Bollywood with Lekar Hum Deewana Dil, opposite Raj Kapoor’s grandson Armaan Jain.

The actress tells Sonil Dedhia that she will not be side-lined as the focus will not only be on Armaan, and why she is comfortable with kissing and intimate scenes.

How did a girl who wanted to become an marine archaeologist land up being an actor?

I never planned to become an actor. My father was often transferred to different parts of India because of his work. So I did my schooling from Mayo College Girls' School in Ajmer.

A lot of importance was given to cultural activities like debates and drama in school and I would participate. Later, I enrolled at HR College in Mumbai.

Someone spotted me and told me to participate in Miss India contest. I gave it a try and I was one of the 10 finalists.

Later on I was offered a Telugu film (Vedam) and I took it up.

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Do you regret not doing underwater archaeology?

I was keen on it, but India does not have any proper courses for that. And it’s costly to do such a niche course abroad.

I recently did a scuba diving course. I love swimming and have this curiosity about exploring the oceans and the world below the water.

Since I was good in Maths and Accounts, I graduated in Commerce.

How did Lekar Hum Deewana Dil come to you?

I got the film by sheer co-incidence.

I had already done seven films down south and was in Mumbai to hear the narration of another movie.

The person I was in touch with told me that Imtiaz Ali’s brother Arif Ali was planning to direct a film and the auditions were being held close to where my meeting was.

I made a stop at Arif sir’s office, gave my audition and was selected.

Did you get any Hindi film offers before this?

Yes, but nothing excited me. Most of the time an actress is introduced in her debut film very glamorously. It’s all about looking good and not much screen time.

I didn’t want that. What makes Lekar Hum Deewana Dil unique is that my character is real and there hasn't been a film in this space for a long time.

How do you look at the transition from being an established actress down south to being a newcomer in Bollywood?

My experience of working in the south really came in handy. Working in Bollywood films is a different experience, but I had no jitters at all because it was not the first time that I was facing the camera.

Since I have done only commercial potboilers down south, it took me a little time to readjust and relearn everything.

What was it like working with Armaan Jain?

Armaan is a live wire. The Kapoors are entertainers. It’s in their blood and he is just the same.

I remember somebody told him that I had already done six odd films down south. So initially he was a little reserved and I thought he didn't like me.

Then one day we just started talking and we hit it off like long lost friends.

He is a very fun and caring guy. There were also days when we wouldn’t talk to each other since some scenes required us to fight and not talk.

Apart from being entertainers, the Kapoors are also known for their food. Did you get good food on the sets?

We were not allowed to eat on the sets since the director felt we would become fat.

When I signed this film I was about three kilos heavier so the production house asked me to reduce the extra weight.

But Armaan has some amazing food in his house. Whenever we would go there for rehearsals or script reading, Reema aunty would feed us with some lip smacking food.

Did you interact with Armaan’s family?

Neetuji (Kapoor) and Karisma (Kapoor) came on the sets so I interacted with them.

At the music launch I met Kareena, Rishiji, Randhirji but it was for a very brief moment.

I was a little reserved because I don’t belong to this industry and for me all these people are like big stars.

I wondered if I could ask for a photograph, but I restrained myself (laughs). But they are all very warm and cordial people.

All the hype around the film is about Armaan Jain’s launch. In the process, do you feel sidelined?

I expected Armaan to get all the limelight. If you promote this film by saying that Keval Kishan Kumar’s granddaughter Deeksha Seth is making her debt in Hindi films, people will ask ‘Woh kaun hai’?’ (laughs).

No one cares who my family is. It’s very natural in this industry. Just recently everyone was curious when Jackie Shroff’s son Tiger made his debut in Heropanti.

It is good that Armaan is getting so much attention; it will bring audiences to the theatres.

I would have been worried if I was just a good looking girl doing nothing in the film. But both of us have equal screen space in the film. I don’t feel overshadowed by him.

You won’t do films where you don’t have a substantial role. But would you do such a film if it were opposite a big star?

It all depends on what sort of work I want to do. If I have already done three or four films in which I have a substantial role then I might want to break this mould and try that too.

At the end of the day, who wouldn’t want to work with a Salman Khan?

I love him and he carries a certain aura around him. I would be crazy to reject a film with him.

Are you open to wearing a bikini and doing intimate scenes?

I am comfortable kissing on screen. In fact I had a kissing scene in my first Telugu film.

If you Google my name, the first news would be Deeksh Seth’s lip lock! This is five years old and people need to get over it (laughs).

A bikini should be worn only if you have the body to carry it off gracefully. Priyanka (Chopra) looked sizzling when she wore a bikini in Dostana.

I don’t mind doing intimate scenes to a certain level. I won't do a full fledged love making scene as back of the mind I will always think that my family is going to watch it.