‘One would think I’m on prozac’

Minissha Lamba on why she isn’t as positive in real life as the role she portrays in Bachna Ae Haseeno

Tell us a bit about your character in Bachna Ae Haseeno ?

I play the role of Maahi who’s a girl from Amritsar.

She’s a romantic by heart and believes that being in love is the ultimate thing.

She’s dying to love and be loved in return. Her demands from life are very innocent. Then she meets Raj and they fall in love and it’s the happiest time of her life. It’s a genre I’ve never done before. It’s a film that everyone will understand as love and heartbreak is a universal theme everyone can relate to.

Considering it’s Deepika Padukone and Ranbir’s Kapoor’s first film as a couple, weren’t you apprehensive about being sidelined?

When I signed the film, I knew exactly what I was getting into. I even knew how I’m going to be dressed in the film! And I lapped it up. Ultimately you have a film and what matters is that the film is a success. I signed this film with my eyes wide open. I didn’t have any apprehensions then and I don’t have any apprehensions now.

The film has a young, fresh feel to it...

Yes and people are going to love it! I love my character and the change she goes through. When Siddharth (Anand) was narrating me the character, he said Maahi is an extremely positive and extremely happy person.

I thought ‘Gosh! How am I going to play that?’ But after I played it, I realised it was not that difficult and why should it be difficult?

Being happy should come naturally to every human being. As a result of this film, I’ve become even more happier as a person and it’s helped me in my personal outlook.

So one can say Minissha’s like Maahi?

Not that happy, one would think I’m on prozac! (laughs)

You’re sporting a shorter hairstyle in the film...

Yes and the credit goes to Siddharth. When they signed me, he told me we’re cutting your hair and I was like ‘What!’ Two months later, I was still thinking about it. As a woman cutting your hair is a very emotionally traumatic time but then again, the response has been really nice.

You have been slotted in the ‘cute’ category and in this film you have sexy actresses like Deepika and Bipasha Basu for company. Don’t you want to be in the ‘sexy’ slot too?

I think one must exploit what one has been given.

If I’m perceived as cute, why should I try and be something else? Doing that will be self-defeating.

When people say I’m cute, I take that as a compliment.

Do you feel you’re getting your due in the industry?

I always believe your dues come to you at a time they’re meant to be yours.

If I just keep thinking about my dues, I would never be able to do a good job of what I’ve been given.

Success begets success.

When it has to come, it will come in leaps and bounds. Things will happen when the universe dictates it so the sooner one understands it the better.