Looking pretty in a summery white dress, internationally acclaimed actress Ayesha Dharker was in the City recently for a book reading of her mother Imtiaz Dharker’s new offering at Landmark. Seated comfortably at a coffee shop, this unassuming, bubbly and yet poised young actress spoke to Metrolife about passion for her work and all about enjoying life!

You started acting at a very young age, what was it like growing up in the film industry?
It was a ‘fly on the wall’ kind of experience. This is because people forget that there are kids around. So we have an interesting view of the industry. It feels like we can peep into the behind the scenes world of the movies.

How did you get your first role?
It’s actually completely strange. The moviemakers just came in to my school when I was about eight years old and the school announced that they were scouting for an actor, but what aroused our interest was that those who went in for the auditions would be exempted from the next class. So obviously I jumped at the opportunity! (smiles)

Where are you based right now?
I’m shuttling between Mumbai, New York and London most of the time. So if I had to give a place, I would say, the airports at all these places! (laughs)

Is it difficult to be on the move all the time?
Well, it has its advantages and disadvantages. My work requires me to travel a lot and one needs to be flexible. But I love the fact that I can travel so much,  get to see so many different places.
On the flipside, there are so many simple things I can’t do, like buying shoes! I can’t buy shoes because I can’t keep lugging them around. I also can’t buy books, and that’s just heart-wrenching. So what I do is buy books wherever I go and finish reading them and leave the books with people I’ve met or friends in that city.

Bombay Dreams was completely different from the kind of work you do... how was the experience?
Yes, I’m used to independent and serious cinema, this was something completely different.
I am a trained dancer but initially it was overwhelming to be around so many professional dancers who have already been part of this production. One of my first thoughts was ‘What am I doing here?!’ However, I was allowed to work on creating the character along with them and it was a wonderful experience.

How did Star Wars (Episode II: Attack of the Clones) happen?
That is a bizarre story. At the time that Star Wars was casting, The Terrorist (In which Dharker played the lead) was being talked about a lot. John Malkovich had loved the movie and written about it in the New York Times.
The casting director of Star Wars, Robin Gurland read the article but was unable to catch the movie. It so happened that she went to chat with Samuel L Jackson who was in town. He told her that he had watched the movie and he actually made the effort of finding the movie tape and making a copy for Robin. Robin liked my performance and got in touch with Santosh Sivan, who in turn contacted my dad.
Santosh is a prankster so when I first heard his message, that Star Wars wanted to cast me, I didn’t even bother to follow up! I finally met Robin in London. When she offered me the role and said, it was Queen Jamillia, the Queen of Naboo, I nodded knowledgeably and agreed to take it up. When she left, the first question that popped up in my mind was “What on earth is Naboo??!!” I had to go to the nearest bookstore to check out those big pre-production books of the movie to see who the character was! I thought, “Thank god, I’m going to be human! Because you never know, it could be an alien role!”

You’ve worked in Hollywood, in French cinema, in the UK and in the Indian film industry..which have you liked the most?
(Laughs) That’s a tough question. As far as the Indian industry is concerned, I think it is light years ahead of the others! Especially South Indian cinematographers are brilliant, because most often thy don’t need special gadgets or effects to create a beautiful scene.
The advantage with working abroad is that I can work in multiple media: I can be in movies, on TV, radio and on stage. Here, it’s more rigid, one can’t move around too much.

What are your future projects?
I’m in two movies, ‘Outsourced’ and ‘The Loins of Punjab’. I’m also doing a UK serial, which is a murder mystery. I love working in such projects. You know, crime, carrying dead bodies...it’s exciting! (laughs)

How do you relax?
I just read a lot, I’m a big movie buff, and I think I’m a professional foodie!