Interview | Kriti Sanon: ‘I have no regrets about doing Raabta’

Four years in the industry and four films old, Kriti Sanon isn’t doing badly for herself. Her first film in 2017 (Raabta) may not have worked but the second one (Bareilly Ki Barfi) got her a lot of love. The actress surprised the audiences by accepting a role no one expected her to take up. Kriti says she doesn’t want to do the expected. “It’s more fun to explore different stuff,” she smiles as we begin our conversation.

Bareilly Ki Barfi has got a thumbs up from the audiences. You’ve always maintained that you are critical of your performances, has that changed now?

I am never completely happy with what I do on screen. When I watch my films, I always feel there are scenes I could have done differently. But for Bareilly Ki Barfi, that has been a little less. Also, director Ashwini Iyer Tiwary’s cousin from UP told her that she could completely relate to Bitti. That is a compliment I will take with me from this film. Shah Rukh sir had told me that there’s no one way of looking at scenes, you can always look at things differently.  But when some time passes, you think more about the scenes and you get ideas to do them differently. It might or might not be for the better — that you will know.

Most actors feel that way...

Yes, every actor goes through that wringer I think. It’s not about being sure about your films, but it’s about being satisfied. There are obviously certain scenes where I feel ki isse accha main nahi kar sakti thi. When I watch the interval scene in Heropanti, I don’t think I could have done better than that. Likewise, there are so many such scenes in Raabta.

Dealing with a film’s failure, is it tough?

Raabta was the first film that I actually did a workshop for, before the shoot. I had put in a lot of effort for the film. It was panned but whoever watched it, liked the performances. That’s one of the reasons why its failure didn’t harm me in any way. I felt I grew as an actor through the film. There was so much thought process for the character. Before that, I don’t think I have done that ever. I would always do scenes in the moment. I was obviously very attached to the film — I lived the film for over a year. I still am. I have no regrets about doing it.

But its failure must have hit you hard at the time...

Of course, I was low; the whole weekend, we were trying to distract ourselves. Sushant, Dinesh Vijan and I sat and spoke at length about the mistakes. It’s always about figuring out why and what could have been made better. We spoke candidly and openly about it and then, we moved on.

The success of Bareilly Ki Barfi must have come as a relief...

I’m so thrilled. I was not believing them first. I was anxious about it, like I’m for every film. From Thursday evening till Saturday morning, you are a little scared. What people will feel about the film, whether it will connect and then, the numbers coming in on Saturday morning. You are only on the phone and my phone was constantly on charge. I was checking reviews, taking feedback from people who have seen the film. I’m happy that it’s a film with good reviews and commercial success. That’s a first for me. For me, it has always been either or, except Raabta. Either it has got great reviews or done commercially well. BKB was both, which is overwhelming.

Once actresses take up content oriented films like BKB, their choices change. Has that happened with you?

It’s got a lot to do with you evolving as an actor. When you get to perform a good role, you become greedy as an actor. Then, you don’t want to settle for anything less. Being part of a good film where your part is also relevant to the story, is the only way to look at films. I don’t want to take up something where I’ve nothing to do even if the film is a big project. I am ready to do just five scenes in a great film, but it has to move the story. You need to be memorable. I am not saying I’m averse to an out-and-out commercial film. I really want to do one but there needs to be a balance.

What’s next then?

There’s one script which I have said yes to, which I would only want the producers to announce. It’s a thriller. There are two other scripts that I have liked. There are other things to be put together — as to how and when it happens — which needs to be figured out. So it’s all up in the air for now.

What space are those films in?

One of them is a light-hearted drama. It’s a slice-of-life comedy film. Another one is again in the thriller space. Actually, there’s also one more which I’m thinking about, which is slightly in the love story space. I’m considering all genres. Out of which, whatever I love the most, I will say yes to, first.