'I can't wait for 'Googly' to happen to me again'

Actor Kriti Kharbanda might be working on the Ashwin Dhir directorial ‘Atithi in London’ but she says she’s proud to be able to speak Kannada with anyone on the street. It's a language she learnt to read and write in school and speak after she forayed into the world of films. And the skill has won her favour of her fellow Bengalureans. She takes some time to chat with Chetana Divya Vasudev on the sidelines of a recent art event in the city.

You’ve been doing Kannada and Telugu films for quite a long time now. Is there a particular language you’re more comfortable in?

 My mother tongue is Hindi. So I think in English or Hindi. But Kannada has become very easy. I learnt it in school, so I know the basics. I could read and write very well but I couldn’t make conversation. Films bridged that gap. Today, when I walk on the street, I feel very proud that I can communicate in Kannada with anybody. If I have to choose anything other than my mother tongue, it would be Kannada.

Any interesting conversations you’ve had, people you’ve met because you spoke in Kannada?

Yes! There was this traffic police... I was in front of Garuda Mall. I asked him, “Sir, naan munde hogbeku. Illinda hogoda athwa right togobeka? (Sir, I need to go in front. Do I go straight or should I take a right?)” So he looked at me, amazed, and said, “You're speaking in Kannada?” and I replied, “Howdu (yes).” And I’m not kidding when I say he stopped the traffic for me and said, “You go right past them.” I felt great that day, like I’d been accepted.

Your personal favourite among all the films you’ve worked in.

It has to be ‘Googly’. That was with Yash and Pawan Wadeyar was the director. The film changed my career overnight. That’s not why it’s my favourite. It’s my favourite because I enjoyed working on that film. After a long time, I thought I got a film I deserved. I felt I could do justice to the character and the character did justice to me. I think it's really important that you enjoy your work and it shows. That happened to me with ‘Googly’; I can’t wait for ‘Googly’ to happen to me again.

What are you working on presently?

Right now, I’m working on my second Hindi project, ‘Atithi in London’. It’s a sequel to the 2010 release ‘Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge’, starring Ajay Devgn, Konkona Sen Sharma and Paresh Rawal. This one also has Ajay Devgn and Paresh Rawal, in addition to Kartik Aryan, Tanvi Azmi and me.

The most challenging moment on the sets.

For an actor, the most challenging moment is when you have to pretend to be okay even when you’re not. When you’re doing a regular 9 to 5 job, you can call in sick maybe. You can look however you want to and continue working. But we have a mask that we have to wear everyday and it’s not easy.

How often does this happen?

Very often. As actors we do have our off days -- days when you just don’t want to get out of bed, days when you’re going through something personal, traumatic. We can take a backseat from our work and deal with our issues. But sometimes we can’t afford to do that because someone will get ahead of you in the race. And you have to prioritise your commitments when you've signed a film.

So what helps in such cases?

Nothing. It's a myth that something could help. At best, it distracts you for that moment.

When you’re free...

I watch a lot of television.