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'It was fun shooting for Shaitan'

Model turned actress Kirti Kulhari's debut was as the girl next door in Khichdi The Movie. Quite different from her next movie, Shaitan, where she has a rather daring kissing scene with female co-star Kalki Koechlin.

Kirti talks to Patcy N about her role in the film and the opposition she initially had to face from her family.
 
Tell us something about yourself. How did you get into films?

I belong to Pilani in Rajasthan. My dad is in the Indian Navy, a Commander, still serving. I went to school in Kendra Vidyalayas in different places because my dad was posted at different places. I did my BMS from Bhavan's College in Mumbai and a post-graduate diploma in journalism and mass communication.
 
When I was in college I got a few offers, but I was too young and immature so I thought I would complete my studies and then get into movies as a profession. I finished my studies and four years ago I got into this. I have done around 30 ads like Nivea Visage, Taj Mahal tea with Saif, Vaseline body lotion, Kaya, ICICI, Close-up, Travelguru, Videocon, to name some. Ads were just a way to get into films.
 
I also did a one-month theatre workshop with the Yatri group. I have acted in three of their plays and spent one year doing theatre. People knew me from my ads and I got a call to audition for Khichdi.
 
Likewise for Shaitan, Bejoy called me through a friend's reference. I gave two auditions, one was a solo and the other was with Kalki.

'I care about people but if they try to control me I don't care about them'

When you told them you wanted to act, what was your parents' reaction?
 
My dad has always been very supportive and pushed me towards all the opportunities. My mom, brother and sisters were not in favour of it, so none of my family members except for my dad was in favour of my acting. But I am the kind of person who does what I want to do. I care about people but if they try to control me I don't care about them. It did hurt me at times that I don't have their whole support.
 
Later everybody started supporting, appreciating and respecting me when they saw me going step by step towards what I always wanted to do. They are proud of me today.

'My character is the least shaitan in the group'

What sort of character do you play in Shaitan?
 
I am playing a girl from a lower middle-class family living in Mumbai. She aspires to be a big model some day but her problem is she has to take care of her family as well. She does not have parents, she has an elder sister and a nephew whom she supports, so she has to sacrifice and compromise on the kind of work she actually wants to do, and that frustrates her.

She is an emotional and sensitive person and in love with KC, a rich guy. She ignores all his mistakes, his frivolous nature. She fights for her place in the group of friends and to fit in, she tries to be cool and chilled out. Though she is the least shaitan in the group, there is a dark side to her.

'I cannot just blindly love someone'

Do you relate to the character?
 
I think I do. There are aspects of the character like her being sensitive and emotional, that I relate to. What I don't relate to is her being in a relationship with someone who doesn't care about her. I would never ever do that. I cannot just blindly love someone.
 
Have you ever done any shaitani in real life?
 
I may have, but normally I am a good girl. I never bunked school or college. I am not destructive, I cannot do something for my own pleasure that hurts someone else. As a teenager, unknowingly maybe I have done some shaitani and probably hurt my family and friends.

'I would like to take up singing in future'

With so many youngsters on the sets, what was the atmosphere like?
 
We all had fun, each one of us is full of fun, as individuals and as a group we had a blast. The whole unit would be on one side and five of us would be together because we had most of the scenes together so we ended up spending a lot of time with each other. Even before the shooting started we had workshops, we were pals, and there were no differences as such. We shot a few sequences in the pool, on the yacht, we played with crackers and we danced. It was fun shooting.
 
What are your forthcoming films?

I am currently shooting for a film called Jal directed by Girish Malik, with Purab Kohli. The story is set in Kutch, Gujarat. It will be released during Diwali.
 
What are your hobbies?
 
I am learning Indian classical vocals. I would like to take up singing in future.