I’m a self-analysed person and an artiste, says Kajal Aggarwal

Kajal enters and adds, “And I’m quite happy about the line-up. Comali is due for a release on August 15. I’m also awaiting the release of Paris Paris. Post that I have an English film (pauses) I’d rather call it an international film coming up. I have a lot on the plate, and I have been asking him for an alternative day off from my call sheet now on.”

Kajal prefers to talk about her immediate release Comali and says, “There are certain films you’d want to be a part of. It is so cliched to say that the script is unique, but Comali really is unique. It talks about evolution of humankind. It is about how things have changed and we as people have changed. We have become so addicted to social media that we wake up and check our mobile phones first thing in the morning. It has taken over our lives. Things discussed in Comali are relevant.” The film also has a song for Kajal in which her fans build her a temple. The actress who has built a solid fanbase in the last decade, says with a smile, “The song is in a good humour. Thankfully, I don’t have a temple built for me in real life. We are all mere mortals, who do not deserve to be worshipped. However, I am glad about my fans showering their love for me. That has given me a lot of responsibility in making the right choices.”

The actress was a part of Captain Marvel promotions in India and says that she would want such films to be made in the country. “I hope someday such movies are made here as well. I definitely want to be a part of a superhero film and I would be ecstatic to play one of the superheroes as I have grown up watching such movies. But hold on! Paris Paris (the Tamil remake of Queen) is all set to hit the screens soon. I am really satisfied with the outcome of the film. I have been consciously listening to scripts like Paris Paris which helps me push my boundaries by setting new challenges,” she opens up.

We ask her about her role in Indian 2. “I can’t wait to talk to you about my role in Indian 2 which is again very different. However, for now I can only remain tight-lipped about it. What I can reveal is, I will start shooting for my portions from November and will resume training for kalarippayattu and horse riding,” she says with a great excitement in her tone. She is reportedly in talks for a Hollywood project with Vishnu Manchu. Does she keep changing her approach towards her work and the way of looking at scripts constantly as and when she signs such projects? Confirming the project to us, she says, “I’d prefer saying that it is an international film rather restricting it to the word ‘Hollywood’. The story is pretty much Indian, which is inspired by true incidents that happened a couple of years ago. It revolves around siblings. The movie will be made in English, Mandarin and Cantonese among others and will make its festival rounds ahead of its release. Working with technicians and adapting to their work culture across the globe is a huge learning process. Talking for myself, I can say that as Indian actors, we are all in our comfort zones. However, when it comes to a movie like Indian 2 or Vishnu’s project, the technicians in those films are top notch and they will ask you for several retakes. I feel like I am starting my career all over again. It is a huge challenge ahead, but I am looking forward to doing it.”

Fifteen years in the industry, the actress says that she is self-analytical and takes it one film after the other. “I don’t take my stardom or my fans for granted. I don’t ask opinion from people who are going to say ‘wow’. When my film doesn’t fare well, I want to know what went wrong. I ask my family, my manager and a few friends of mine from the industry to tell me why I shouldn’t have done that. When I analyse myself, I have made a lot of mistakes. However, I have no regrets because I learnt a lot from them. I have become mature as a person and as an artiste and I want my personal maturity to resonate with the characters I play in future,” she concludes.

-KR