Evelyn Sharma's first film From Sidney With Love has not released yet. Still, she has already been signed up for some much-awaited forthcoming movies.
There's Issaq with Prateik Babbar, Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani with Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone, Nautanki Saala with Ayushman Khurana, and Divya Khosla's Class of 2013 with newcomers.
The half-Indian half-German actress tells us how this windfall of films happened, how comfortable she is doing 'bold' scenes and learning Hindi.
You already five films in hand. How did that happen?
I don't know. It just happened. I started with modelling, which was a good platform for me. People recognise me because of the ads, especially the Parachute advertisement. My agency started getting calls and I was offered roles.
I took acting course at Rahul Rawail's acting school which is associated with the Stella Adler Studio of Acting (in Mumbai). Then I went for auditions.
Your first film, From Sydney With Love, was supposed to release last month. Why has it been postponed?
The next date has still not been confirmed -- it may be August 24.
We all believed in the movie and wanted to promote it well. Prateek (Chakravorty, director and producer of the film) promoted the movie in a big way.
We were not getting enough shows in the theatres if we released earlier so we thought of postponing the release. Prateek thought it was best to postpone it and promote it well.
'For me, the bold scene would be censored in India anyway'
How did you get your break in From Sydney With Love?
It's a funny story. The makers called me because they saw me in the Parachute commercial. I was very sick with a bad cold, and I was in terrible shape -- I went in my pyjamas for the audition because I was so sick!
They gave me the script and asked me to enact it. Usually I ask for the script the day before since I don't know the language and need to prepare. But here I went directly without any preparations, and I was terrible.
The casting director told me to rest and come back the next day. As I left the room I bumped into Prateek. I did not recognise him, but he recognised me and called me back.
He said this is exactly the character I am looking for. I went back the next day and did it again. Prateek told me everything about the role and it worked out.
How comfortable are you doing bold scenes, exposing, wearing a bikini?
I think because I grew up in Germany, I think differently about bold scenes. For me, the bold scene would be censored in India anyway. I have a kissing scene with Prateik Babbar in Issaq.
I think if the scene is nice and the co-actor is nice I think there is no harm. I have kissed before so it's fine.
I don't really show my skin in movies except in Ayan Mukherjee's Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani with Ranbir (Kapoor) where I have showed a lot of skin.
I will be starting Class of 2013 with newcomers. I play a glamorous dream girl in the film. I wear bikinis, short skirts. It is a very beautiful and glam role, not like the ditsy girl I am playing in Ayan Mukherjee's film.
What about doing an item number?
I am open to everything. Whatever scripts come my way, whatever proposals come my way, I look at it, give it a thought and then take a decision.
If there is an item number I will look at it. Item number girls are so hot. I don't think I am that hot. It would be fun to do an item song.
'My mom always thought I was a drama queen'
When did you decide that you want to be an actor?
In high school. My mom always thought I was a drama queen and would become an actor one day. I loved acting. I went to drama class and theatre in high school in Germany.
In college my friends were working in an American production, so I did an Indie movie called Turn Left. It was so much fun.
I worked in a law firm (as a paralegal), and forgot about the dream of becoming an actor. I decided to be a model and somehow life led me that way anyway.
Are you learning Hindi now?
I started learning Hindi in the acting school. I learnt basic reading, writing, the vowels and songs and how everything sounds. I have started to read newspapers in Hindi. I watch Hindi television channels and Hindi movies.
I am still shy to talk in Hindi, but if you give me a script, I can learn it and say my dialogues. I have dubbed for From Sydney With Love. I hope people will understand me as I have an accent as I play an NRI girl.
In most of my films, I play the NRI girl.
'Most of the actresses in Bollywood were models at some point'
People are comparing you to Katrina Kaif...
I have read about that. May be because we are both from a foreign background. When you try to start out in the film industry they try to compare you with someone. Like Megan Fox was compared to Angelina Jolie. Now newcomers are compared to Megan Fox.
Likewise now they will say 'looks like she is the new Katrina' and hopefully after I am as long in the industry as Katrina, people will say, 'Look, there is a new Evelyn'.
It is flattering to be compared to such a beautiful, successful girl like Katrina. I can only take it as a compliment.
Lots of models become actresses but not very successful ones.
Most of the actresses in Bollywood were models at some point, except for Parineeti Chopra.
Everybody is coming from some beauty pageant. It doesn't really matter from where you come; what matters is if you can mould yourself.
'I wanted to come to India, but to discover my roots, to see the country'
What brought you to India?
When I was modelling around the world, I kept being told, 'you have to go to India, it's your market, you are half Indian'.
I had never ever thought about it. I wanted to come to India, but to discover my roots, to see the country. I never thought of coming here to model or act.
How long have you been here?
I have been here two years. In the first year I started acting. We shot From Sydney With Love last October
Do you have family in India?
I am sure I have family in India but I probably don't know them. In India families are so big so there must be some.
Who are the three really hot actors in India?
The actors I am acting with right now: Prateik Babbar, Ranbir Kapoor and Ayushman Khurana.
The three really hot actress in India?
The actresses with whom I am working right now: Bidita Bag, Deepika Padukone and Puja Sailee.
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