<p>Actor Kriti Kharbanda says she is grateful to have reached a position in her career where she can refuse work that doesn't excite her and rely on her instincts while choosing characters.</p>.<p>Kharbanda debuted in Bollywood in 2016 with <em>Raaz: Reboot</em>-- seven years after working in the Telugu and Kannada movie industries.</p>.<p>The actor has since featured in films of diverse genres: from Rajkummar Rao-starrer social drama <em>Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana, </em>multistarrer comedies <em>Housefull 4</em>,<em> Pagalpanti </em>'to Bejoy Nambiar's action-thriller <em>Taish</em>.</p>.<p>In an interview with PTI, Kharbanda said it has taken her five years and several films to finally afford the luxury of choice and she wants to consciously build her carreer hereon.</p>.<p>"My attempt is to work towards making myself so secure that I have the opportunity and the option to say no and make the right choices, which I probably didn't have a few years ago.</p>.<p>"I have that option today and I am going to make the most of it. I will only do something that truly resonates with me," Kharbanda said.</p>.<p>The actor called learning to say no her "biggest achievement" in the last few years.</p>.<p>Kharbanda said she would earlier struggle with it, unaware how to turn something down without "offending" people.</p>.<p>"But I realised, whatever decision you make, someone, somewhere won't be pleased by it. Today, I have come to accept that someone will be unhappy. But I can't compromise on my happiness to do something to please others.</p>.<p>"The pandemic has also contributed to giving me that perspective. I don't want to spend my time doing things that I don't enjoy," she said.</p>.<p>From the Akshay Kumar-headlined blockbuster <em>Housefull 4</em> to the acclaimed <em>Taish </em>in 2020, the 30-year-old actor said some of her film choices which worked, were a result of listening to her voice and not what people around her dictated.</p>.<p>"There were films I was offered, which a lot of people told me I should do but I had a feeling I should not. When I look back, it turned out in my favour.</p>.<p>"While I should be accepting of the opinions of others, it is the opinion I have of myself that matters the most because I have to live with the choices I make."</p>.<p>The actor will be next seen in romantic-comedy <em>14 Phere.</em></p>.<p>Co-starring Vikrant Massey, the film follows two lovers, Sanjay and Aditi, who lie to their parents about each other's families to get them to say yes for their marriage.</p>.<p>After the release of <em>Housefull 4 </em>and Anees Bazmee helmed <em>Pagalpanti</em>, the actor wanted to shift gears and feature in films other than comedies.</p>.<p>Which is when, Kharbanda came across 14 Phere".</p>.<p>"After 'Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aaana', I felt I hadn't been challenged enough. 'Housefull' and 'Pagalpanti' were a challenge too but I wanted to do something that also made me feel I was doing more than that...</p>.<p>"I was in a good space and thought of going back to light-hearted fun films which give me a scope to perform. But it is difficult to come across films like that."</p>.<p><em>14 Phere</em> is written by Manoj Kalwani and directed by Devanshu Singh, who also helmed the acclaimed 2020 comedy drama <em>Chintu Ka Birthday</em>.</p>.<p>Kharbanda said the film gave her the opportunity to headline a strong character like Aditi- an independent, practical young woman who breaks all stereotypes.</p>.<p>"She is not the conventional shy, girl-next-door. Aditi is relatable, inspiring. She doesn't just blindly gives into love. She understands the practicality of the situation. She has so many flaws and is a girl who uses her brains.</p>.<p>"That's what I loved about it, there was an opportunity to play a character where the brain was as important as the heart," she added.</p>.<p><em>14 Phere</em> is slated to be released on ZEE5 on July 23.</p>
<p>Actor Kriti Kharbanda says she is grateful to have reached a position in her career where she can refuse work that doesn't excite her and rely on her instincts while choosing characters.</p>.<p>Kharbanda debuted in Bollywood in 2016 with <em>Raaz: Reboot</em>-- seven years after working in the Telugu and Kannada movie industries.</p>.<p>The actor has since featured in films of diverse genres: from Rajkummar Rao-starrer social drama <em>Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana, </em>multistarrer comedies <em>Housefull 4</em>,<em> Pagalpanti </em>'to Bejoy Nambiar's action-thriller <em>Taish</em>.</p>.<p>In an interview with PTI, Kharbanda said it has taken her five years and several films to finally afford the luxury of choice and she wants to consciously build her carreer hereon.</p>.<p>"My attempt is to work towards making myself so secure that I have the opportunity and the option to say no and make the right choices, which I probably didn't have a few years ago.</p>.<p>"I have that option today and I am going to make the most of it. I will only do something that truly resonates with me," Kharbanda said.</p>.<p>The actor called learning to say no her "biggest achievement" in the last few years.</p>.<p>Kharbanda said she would earlier struggle with it, unaware how to turn something down without "offending" people.</p>.<p>"But I realised, whatever decision you make, someone, somewhere won't be pleased by it. Today, I have come to accept that someone will be unhappy. But I can't compromise on my happiness to do something to please others.</p>.<p>"The pandemic has also contributed to giving me that perspective. I don't want to spend my time doing things that I don't enjoy," she said.</p>.<p>From the Akshay Kumar-headlined blockbuster <em>Housefull 4</em> to the acclaimed <em>Taish </em>in 2020, the 30-year-old actor said some of her film choices which worked, were a result of listening to her voice and not what people around her dictated.</p>.<p>"There were films I was offered, which a lot of people told me I should do but I had a feeling I should not. When I look back, it turned out in my favour.</p>.<p>"While I should be accepting of the opinions of others, it is the opinion I have of myself that matters the most because I have to live with the choices I make."</p>.<p>The actor will be next seen in romantic-comedy <em>14 Phere.</em></p>.<p>Co-starring Vikrant Massey, the film follows two lovers, Sanjay and Aditi, who lie to their parents about each other's families to get them to say yes for their marriage.</p>.<p>After the release of <em>Housefull 4 </em>and Anees Bazmee helmed <em>Pagalpanti</em>, the actor wanted to shift gears and feature in films other than comedies.</p>.<p>Which is when, Kharbanda came across 14 Phere".</p>.<p>"After 'Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aaana', I felt I hadn't been challenged enough. 'Housefull' and 'Pagalpanti' were a challenge too but I wanted to do something that also made me feel I was doing more than that...</p>.<p>"I was in a good space and thought of going back to light-hearted fun films which give me a scope to perform. But it is difficult to come across films like that."</p>.<p><em>14 Phere</em> is written by Manoj Kalwani and directed by Devanshu Singh, who also helmed the acclaimed 2020 comedy drama <em>Chintu Ka Birthday</em>.</p>.<p>Kharbanda said the film gave her the opportunity to headline a strong character like Aditi- an independent, practical young woman who breaks all stereotypes.</p>.<p>"She is not the conventional shy, girl-next-door. Aditi is relatable, inspiring. She doesn't just blindly gives into love. She understands the practicality of the situation. She has so many flaws and is a girl who uses her brains.</p>.<p>"That's what I loved about it, there was an opportunity to play a character where the brain was as important as the heart," she added.</p>.<p><em>14 Phere</em> is slated to be released on ZEE5 on July 23.</p>