'I had sleepless nights'

Shruti Seth shares her trials and tribulations about her first bold performance in Raajneeti

She has always been the girl next door. But Shruti Seth shocked critics and audiences alike with her dare-bare performance in Prakash Jha’s political drama Raajneeti. She has won rave reviews for playing an aspiring politician, who solicits herself to win a constituency ticket.

The role came at the right time for the telly actress, who was craving to break new grounds. But it had its own share of challenges. Shruti says, “It was a very difficult scene for me. I had sleepless nights for weeks together. It was a dangerous career move too. If it had gone terribly wrong, then it would have done severe damage to my career. But I’m thankful to people for applauding my performance.”

She bagged the role after the film’s associate director, who is also her close friend, suggested her to meet Jha. The actress recalls how the filmmaker professed that he wanted to rope in an actress who didn’t have a raunchy image. “Mr Jha described the character as a dangerous person who is ready to go to any extreme to get what she wants. An actress with a raunchy image would have been a stereotypical character for the role. The moment she would come on screen, people would have known what was in store. So Mr Jha wanted an unlikely person who could shock the audience,” she says.

The director also made it clear to Shruti that she should give her nod only once she is ready to give her commitment. “Mr Jha explained the scene to me (where I solicit myself to Arjun Rampal for a constituency ticket) and told me categorically that he would not do away with the scene as it’s very crucial to the film. He said that it would be shot aesthetically and if I had the slightest discomfort I should tell him and walk right away. But once I give my commitment, I should do full justice to it,” says the effervescent actress.

Apart from the opportunity to work with Jha, who is a critically-acclaimed director, what prompted Shruti to take the plunge was the challenge to step out of her comfort zone. “I have always had a girl-next-door image and played roles that are very similar to my real persona. So I wanted to do something different and challenging. Also, my character in Raajneeti is symbolic of the state of women in politics. I play a rich, well-educated girl who is subjected to different things to get into power.”

She is also quite upbeat about her next film, debutant director Raghav Dhar’s My Friend Pinto produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, where too she will be seen in a different avatar. She says, “I play a corporate bitch in the film. She is an ambitious person who is driven by her career and is proud of her achievements.”
Rather than being a difficult process, it was quite easy for the artiste. Shruti confesses that she didn’t have to try too hard to play the part as the script is well-written and the dialogues lend themselves to the character.

Apart from films, the performer is also enjoying the success of her television show Rishta.com. She’s quick to point out that her character in the show, Isha Mirchandani was the girl-next-door, albeit with different shades. “My character was loving, romantic, insecure, jealous and angry. I got an opportunity to go through various emotions and react differently to different characters.”

But she confesses that the current scenario on the small screen is not too exciting enough for her to take up any new shows. “Honestly, television has become a cloning machine. All the shows look the same. I’m not pinning hopes on TV shows. Also, I haven’t been offered any new shows.”

The actress is clear that she will do only those shows that excite her. It might be recalled that she did Rishta.com four years after Shararat. Quiz her what prompts her to take up anchoring shows and she says, “ I like anchoring shows as it keeps me connected to the audience.”

Apart from the professional front, things also seem to be looking up on the personal front. Shruti is tying the knot with Danish Aslam, who makes his directorial debut with Break Ke Baad starring Imran Khan and Deepika Padukone this year. She smiles and admits, “We met on the sets of Fanaa where he was the first assistant director. We have been together for four years. This is a big year for both of us. I got the most challenging role of my career and Danish is making his directorial debut.”

Like all love-struck girls, she is all praises for her beau. “Danish is an an extremely encouraging partner who always urges me to push the envelope.” Ask her, if he has seen her in Raajneeti and she reveals, “He has not seen the film yet. But I know it for sure that he will be watching it and give me an honest opinion. I’m waiting to hear from him,” she signs off.