'Doing an intimate scene is very overrated'

Sulagna Panigrahi, who has acted in television serials like Amber Dhara and Do Saheliyaan, became a household name with her character in Bidaai. She now makes the move to films with last week's release Murder 2.

She shares her journey from television to movies with Sonil Dedhia.

What kind of reactions have you been getting after the release of Murder 2?

My Facebook and mobile inbox is flooded with messages. Fans from Delhi, Orissa, Dubai, Pakistan are all sending in congratulatory messages. I am glad that my fans have liked the film and my performance. I have got a positive response. People have messaged me and called me and said they would like to see more of me.

How do you plan to take your career forward?

I want to do more films. I am reading some scripts but don't want to rush into anything. Right now, I just want to enjoy the moment.

Did you always want to act?

After completing junior college, I started modelling in Delhi. The director of Amber Dhara approached me for the film. I gave an audition and got a role. Before I knew it, I was into acting.

I was expected to become an engineer so it was a complete transition, but my parents supported me. While shooting for Murder 2, I was simultaneously giving my final year exams.

Was acting in movies the ultimate goal?  

I wanted to act in films but never struggled for it. I had no problems doing television. Only in India is there this difference between TV actors and film stars. In the west, you'll have James Cameroon making an Avatar and the TV serial General Hospital. At the end of the day, we are actors and it doesn't matter for me if it is television or movies.

How did you audition for Murder 2?

My television serial Bidaai had just got over and my producer told me to go and meet Kumkum Saigal who is the executive producer at Vishesh Films. I had no idea I was going to meet Mohit Suri for Murder 2.

When I met him, he gave me an option of looking at my past work or auditioning for the role and I chose the latter. Within a day, things were finalised and I was sitting with Mukesh Bhatt discussing dates. I felt like pinching myself to make sure this wasn't a dream.

You have done a lot of stunts in the movie.

My exposure to the Army world proved very helpful in performing the stunts. I loved doing the stunts in the film. My father is in the Army, and all my life I have attended Army school.

We had around 40 boys and four girls in our class and we did some typical school masti. I was the gang leader in school and would always be playing pranks but because of my innocent face I would never get caught (Laughs).

Murder 2 is a dark and bold film. Don't you think it was a risk to start off with such a film?

There is a lot of buzz about it because Murder was a big hit. What I love about my role in the movie is that it is not a normal debut; it is a debut with a difference. I have always been a fan of Vishesh Films; I've lost count of the number of times I've watched Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke.  I would be stupid to say no to a film like Murder 2.

How did you prepare for the role?

When Mohit Suri was narrating the film, he told me that I am the second hero in the film because of the stunts and my character in the film. There was a lot of emotional depth in my character so I had to prepare myself for that. It was a very emotionally challenging and physically draining character.

Playing the second hero of the film meant giving competition to Emraan Hashmi.

(Laughs) No, not at all. It is an Emraan Hashmi film and he has done a fabulous job. This is my first film and I don't think at this point of time I can give competition to anyone in the industry.

Vishesh Films are known for their bold movies. Would you have been comfortable doing an intimate scene in your first film?

Being my first film, I would have given it a thought. When Jism and Murder were released they were path-breaking films and it was really a big deal to kiss on screen. Today, it is very normal to do a kissing scene or an intimate scene. We see it in every other film. I don't know why people give so much importance to these scenes. Doing a kissing scene or an intimate scene in Indian films is very overrated.

A lot of newcomers are trying to make their mark in movies. How do you plan to take your career forward and stand apart?

Everyone has something special about them so it's for the audiences to see how they like my performance. I would like to do something different. There is a certain image of an actress that she should be skinny, sexy and hot. My looks are very innocent so I would like to use it to stand apart from the rest.

You say actresses today have to be skinny and sexy, which requires them to undergo a lot of treatments. Would you be open to that?

I don't think I would do it. I don't advocate the terms 'skinny' and 'anorexic'. A person should be happy how he/she looks and I believe I have one life to live and I would love to live it to the fullest. Look at Sonakshi Sinha, she looks so beautiful. You need not be skinny to look beautiful.

How do you think you have performed in the film?

I am never happy with my performance. I received a lot of positive compliments.

What is the best compliment that you have received so far?

It came from Mukesh Bhatt. I was at home when he called me and told me he loved my work. I was super excited and it was like a life-changing experience.

Will you go back to acting for television?

Right now my priority is films. I am an actor and I like to act and I am not going to keep a closed mind. If there is something exciting that comes my way, I will surely give it a try.