I’m not the consummate Bollywood heroine: Nargis Fakhri

Nargis Fakhri on her Hollywood projects and how she reacts to criticism

Nargis Fakhri has returned from the US after shooting her first international film, Spy, directed by Paul Feig.

“I don’t know why some sections of the Indian media have written that I’ve shot with Jude Law... I haven’t shot with him yet.”

“There are also Jason Statham and Melissa MacCarthy in the film. The producers are planning a global campaign with actors from various parts of the world,” added the actress.

Nargis says Bollywood and Hollywood are completely different. “I am not saying one is better than the other. I enjoy both. But Hollywood is far more organised than Bollywood.”

Nargis returned from Hollywood to the heartening news that Main Tera Hero is a hit though she is cautious in her reaction to it. “I’m a little weird that way. I don’t really know how to express my happiness. I am happy people liked the film. But I’m more happy for Varun Dhawan than for myself. He has been very supportive. And it’s his film. From first frame to last.

“As for me, I got a nice feedback on Twitter. But I got mixed signals about my own performance. Some critics have been very harsh. That’s okay. I like honest criticism. I know I’m not the consummate Bollywood heroine. But I’m working hard on it.”

Nargis’ recent comment on Koffee With Karan about her name has got Twitter abuzz. “I said Nargis in Spanish means ‘butt cheeks’. So my name has become a butt of many jokes. I am used to it. Let me tell you it’s not easy growing up in the ghetto area of New York with a name like ‘Fakhri’. I didn’t grow up with Asians who could perhaps know what a beautiful surname I had. All my friends were non-Asians and they had a whale of a time with my name.”

Nargis feels it’s very important to not take oneself seriously. “It’s important to be able to laugh at oneself. I don’t think too many do that around here. I am still taken aback by how much people comment on others. And though I may say I don’t care there’s always that tiny percentage of self-doubt within me created by people’s perception of me. At the end of the day I do care about what people think of me. I am human.” IANS