A romantic film next, reveals Athiya Shetty

Her debut now behind her, ask Athiya Shetty about her next move and you sense there isn’t any confusion in her mind. She wants to do a romantic film next. She discusses her future plans and explains why she wants to stick to doing romantic films. At least for now.

If you look back, there’s always over a year-long gap between the first and second film of all Gen-Y stars. Should we expect the same from you?
It might be the same for me as well. I think a second film is more important because you get to prove yourself a lot more in your second film. I feel your first film always chooses you but your second film is something you have to choose, so there’s a bigger responsibility on that front. The second film is more important because it eventually determines whether you are here to stay or are just a one-film wonder.

What film would you do next?
A romantic film or in the romantic space, for sure.

Don’t you feel that after a point, it might get you typecast?
No, I don’t think it will happen because if you look at films, every film has romance in it. What makes them distinctively different from each other is what type of romance it is. There’s an Aashiqui 2 and there’s Hero, which also has action. Since there are so many types of romantic films, in terms of their treatment, I don’t fear being typecast as a romantic heroine. These are the type of films that I’ve enjoyed watching and I’ve grown up watching. I love and enjoy watching romantic films so right now, I want to stick in that space and do love stories with great music, which teenagers would love to watch. I want to do those films right now.

You are a 90s kid and that was the era of mushy romances. Does that also have an effect on the particular choices you are making?
Absolutely! The first film I ever watched in a theatre was Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. And I love romantic films. I love Dil To Pagal Hai, Kal Ho Naa Ho and I loved Aashiqui 2 as well. I think Shraddha and Aditya were so beautiful in that film. Maybe that’s why in my head, I want to do a romantic film. but it cannot be just another romantic film. It needs to have a great story and depth to it. I don’t want to do a typical love saga but right now, more than a thriller or an intense drama, I feel I will enjoy doing a romantic film more.

Aashiqui 2 was a tragic film. Are you game for a tragedy too at the moment?
Of course! Why not be a part of something you would enjoy watching as well.

Are most of them romance sagas?
Yes, they are all in the space of being a true-blue romantic film. I haven’t got any offer that’s tragic or intense now.

For your second film, is the banner important or will you be comfortable doing a film with a debutant director-producer?
Right now, my main focus is the director. No matter who it is — debutant or senior. I need to feel that I can trust my director to help me move on as an artist. They help me better myself. I am a complete director’s actor and I need to have that connect with him — to be able to ask him a lot of questions because I am never satisfied with my work. For me, my co-star doesn’t matter and neither does the banner.

Who do you usually discuss your films and projects with?
Honestly, I speak to my dad and I speak to Reshma Shetty, my manager because I think they are extremely realistic when it comes to me. They are not biased in any way and I like that. I like people being a little hard on me, who pinpoint my flaws and help me improve.

How much do you believe in the institution of love and romance?
For me, when I think of pure love, I think of my parents and both sets of my grandparents because they are the living example of true love in my house. My parents have been together 30 years now and they still have the same love and respect for each other. That trust factor is always there. So, for me, love is about being friends and also having the trust.

What kind of person would you fall in love with?
He has to be extremely honest and somebody who can make me laugh and be my best friend as well. That’s really important. You need to be friends with that person, you need to want to spend time with that person. For me, trust is most important, so I need to be able to trust the person blindly.