It’s great to be a man: Shraddha Das

Was journalism a hard subject to graduate in, Shraddha?

You know, I always thought that I wanted to be a chemical engineer since school. I scored 99 per cent in math and science, becoming a Maharashtra state topper. So, I studied science at Ruia College, but due to a big accident in my class 12th, I had to quit science and take up Mass Media and discovered that at some level that’s where my heart was. BMM was much easier for me, coming from a serious science background. I always had a flair for language because I loved reading a lot of books. Also, by then I had sung and anchored for about 100 shows which made it even easier. Broadcast and news anchoring is still my plan C!

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Having worked in Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Bengali films, which one interests you the most?

It’s not the language that interests me, it is the role that does... but, South feels like my home since I have done 20-25 films down there. Bengali is my mother tongue and it makes my father very proud when I work there. Hindi is the language which I speak most fluently since I have been born and brought up in Mumbai. So each language and atmosphere evokes a different kind of excitement and interest in me. Having said that, I always sum up my experience based on the camaraderie I have shared with my cast and crew and how my roles shape up eventually.

How did you manage to grab Great Grand Masti?

I met director Indra Kumar few months before the shoot of GGM, but by then they had already cast someone else. Some time later, when they had already started shooting, I suddenly got a call from them while I was shooting for a special role in another film, Sanam Teri Kasam. I was called urgently to the location, and given a scene on the spot. I was asked to enact it there itself, which I did it in one take and got selected the same day. I think they were looking for actresses who could do the scenes and shots in lesser takes and match up to Riteish, Vivek and Aftab. So, in spite of being just three films old in Bollywood, my experience of 25 films in Telugu, Bengali, Kannada and Malayalam helped!

What are you doing in the movie?

Although I play the role of a naïve and innocent wife in the film, my look and character is very chic, contemporary and sophisticated. I think it’s the most balanced character because neither does it bend too much on the raunchy side nor excessively towards a complete sati-savitri. Also, this film is similar to Masti with three wives playing important leads and a vamp coming in later. My costumes were somewhat inspired by Gauri Khan’s look in the earlier days.

Are adult comedies your cup of tea?

I think if you are a good actor any kind of genre should be your cup of tea. You are just playing the character, and are not so in reality! The best part for me is that, in a 100-crore sex comedy franchise, I play a neat and clean role, yet contemporary and not clichéd.

Do you think India has accepted adult comedy?

Yes, for sure! But I can’t speak for the interiors and rural areas that constitute a major chunk of the population. However, at the end of the day, every kind of audience, from a teenager to a person in his 80s, enjoy an adult joke or film secretly.

Let’s talk about you now. Tell us more about yourself…

I don’t think I can define myself. If I were to say that this is how I am, it would change in a week or month because I keep evolving. Every time my definition of me changes! Things that are constant in my life are my parents and four pugs whom I love to death.

Also, my desire to go to the next level at work and my love for watching films will, I guess, stay with me forever. The desire to explore certain places in the world and the need to independently secure myself for this lifetime...

So, any plans of going to your favourite holiday spot anytime soon? We won’t follow you!

It has been very long since I have taken a vacation or a holiday. The last I went to was Scotland and it was beautiful... My work does take me to a lot of places and it’s very convenient for me to explore the place when I get a day off. I have a yearning to go to Japan, since I follow Buddhism; Las Vegas, as I love gambling; and Turkey, because I love middle-eastern architecture. And yes, maybe a solo trip to Bhutan. I’ve heard that Bhutan is number one on the Gross National Happiness index.

Are you a shopaholic? What’s your favourite shopping destination?

I am a crazy shopaholic. Apart from my dogs and work, this is one thing that brings me alive! There has to be someone around to stop me... It is like I want to buy the world (haha)! I think I can shop anywhere, whether it’s a local market in Russia, London or Dhaka or a high end mall, Bangkok or Poland or any street in Mumbai. I just have to have money in my hand and then I am all set. But one thing that I really liked was that Dubai has shopping festivals which go on till midnight. Once I remember starting in the morning and going on till the mall was shut! But yes, I am the type who would like to buy 20 things in a certain amount of money rather than just come back with one super expensive thing.

Which brands fill your wardrobe?

Zara, BCBG, Forever 21, Gucci, Elie Saab, Diesel, Armani Exchange, Forever New, Charles & Keith, Burberry and Louis Vuitton are my favourite brands. Oh, I love Steve Madden as well. I can go on and on…

Have you ever missed out on an opportunity and regret it now?

NO! But I do regret being fooled on a number of occasions about the importance and presentation of my roles in certain films and eventually regret having done them out of professionalism.

Ok. So, now we are gonna get personal. Are you dating someone?

No. Romance and dating doesn’t even come to my mind right now. I don’t have the time to think about any guy. I have had enough heartbreaks and I don’t intend to invest emotionally right now since I want to focus on me and my life! But if there is someone who takes my breath away, maybe...

Where would want your date to begin?

Since I really have to answer this question, I think if the guy can hold a conversation with me, a hut or a palace might seem to be a beautiful place to begin with!

And where should it end up?

It should end up with a kiss on the cheek and a goodbye. And maybe we can meet next time, depending on whether he was interesting or not!

What qualities should a man possess if he wants to ask you out?

Number one for me is that he should be able to hold a conversation; I will run away in a few minutes if he can’t! He should be a gentleman, sensitive towards me and everyone around and genuinely well mannered (not pretentious). I think that’s enough to go out the first time, for later the list of demands will certainly increase (haha).

What are the chances of a stranger asking you out and you saying yes for a romantic dinner?

I’m really adventurous that way! If I’m in my adventurous zone I might just go out. I sometimes can be up for some things that hold mysterious value to me.

What is the most scandalous thing you have ever done?

I don’t think it’s scandalous, but something I have never done before. I was in a small European town and went to a local market there that had people from every country put up their food stalls. I went there with a German girlfriend and we decided to play a game, where we decided to kiss a random stranger and run away and never turn back and see him again. I kissed a Polish guy and ran away and he was super shocked, happily though! Although I still do feel like turning back and finding him but that would be breaking the rule and I think that was the mystery and beauty of it.

Have you ever had so many drinks that you don’t remember what happened the previous night?

No! Firstly, I have a very low capacity to drink and I get high in just two glasses of wine! Secondly, I keep drinking water in between so I never lose control. It has never happened that I don’t remember things from the previous night.

Are we in for some surprise if we visit your home uninvited?

Yes. Just be ready to be smothered with too much love with 4 of my pugs pouncing and jumping all over you. There won’t be anything else as I’m really boring otherwise! You might just catch me roaming around without a bra though (winks).

If you had to be one half of a lesbian romance and had a pick in your female co-star, who would it be?

Sunny Leone! Even we women think that she is smoking hot!

Where was the craziest place you ever made love?

How crazy do you think are a parking lot of a crowded airport and a spa (winks)?

What is the biggest turn on for you?

An intelligent, witty man, in a white shirt and blue jeans or formals, who smells good!

If you get the power to turn into anyone you want, living or dead, for one day, which person will you choose and why?

Princess Diana! There isn’t a single word or a video that I haven’t read or seen about her. I would just go into her life and not let her get into that fatal accident and be the queen of people’s hearts for a longer time.

When do we see you next onscreen?

I have two releases soon. One is Great Grand Masti and the other one is an Indo- Bangladeshi film.