Disha Patani is headstrong and super-confident. That’s the first thing you’ll notice about the newcomer. Although the world is busy tagging her as Tiger Shroff’s girlfriend, Disha tells us she’s too ‘selfish to think about anything else’. From talking about her background to her life in Mumbai, Disha candidly talks about who she is as a person. Excerpts:
Shy girl
“I never had Bollywood aspirations. I never danced in front of the mirror even as a child. I was so shy that I didn’t even have friends till I was 16. I just could not talk at all. The only friend I had was my elder sister. I was too shy to go and approach someone to talk. I was a total tomboy, used to have short hair and wear boys’ stuff. I was never into girlie things. People looked at me as if I was an alien from another planet. Everyone used to ignore me.”
Too lucky?
“I never knew that this would happen so suddenly. I just filled a form like anyone else and went for this one beauty contest. We had different rounds — regional and national. I don’t even know how I won. I am actually so messy, I never did modelling and we had to walk on the ramp. I did it just because I was getting to come and see Mumbai. I wanted to travel. I was just too lucky. Ever since then, there’s been no looking back. I believe it’s destiny.”
Nothing has changed
“I started modelling and now I am acting, but I am still the same. I haven’t changed. I am still a tomboy. I still indulge in sports, but yes, maybe I changed more physically. I wear more girlie clothes and make-up now. I am still that shy girl who’s an introvert and is in her own closet, happy.”
‘I have too much ego’
“When I work in a film, I don’t care about who the other person is or what their role is. I only care about my part. I am very selfish that way. So whoever be the actor opposite me, I will concentrate only on my work and role. That’s how I am. A guy would never care about the girl’s role, right? And it’s nothing wrong if we do the same, too. Plus, I have too much ego to think about all that.”
‘More anti-social now’
“You won’t believe me if I say this. I think ever since I started working, I have become more anti-social. I don’t know why. I don’t like social gatherings much any more. Sometimes, somebody uploads a video on YouTube. A song or a film is coming out. Sometimes people just write mean things and comment on how you look, dress up, about your parents, etc. It really hurts sometimes. When I saw these, I felt I would not be able to stay here because it’s difficult for me to deal with all alone because I am staying here all by myself. Because there are no people around me who keep motivating me, I avoid thinking about people or what they are thinking about me.”
