'Too much beauty talk can get irritating': Urvashi Rautela

Bollywood actress and winner of numerous beauty pageants, Urvashi Rautela comes off as being surprisingly grounded as she talks about feminism, nepotism, fans, the triumph of talent, and more

There is a poster in Urvashi Rautela's room that reads, "Social media is injurious to mental health." It's a different matter that the former beauty pageant winner and actress commands a robust following on these platforms - 7.4 million on Instagram and 12 million on Facebook - to the point of being anointed "the most viral celeb of the year". As we chat with the actress, the reasons for her growing popularity become all the more obvious. For one, there's her famed beauty - she has won more number of beauty pageants than you can imagine. Feisty and chirpy, there's never a dull moment with her. Here's the 24-year-old in her own words.

You have won quite a few beauty pageants. What drew you towards them?

I wanted to be an astronaut. Then, I wanted to be an engineer. And then a gymnast. So, my ambition was always changing. But my childhood dream was to become Miss Universe India. I remember I was very young when I would put on my mum's heels and practise the catwalk. In 2012, when I participated in Miss Universe India, I was the most favourite candidate of former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen. But after I was crowned the winner, they found out that, due to American rules, I was 20-something days shorter than the age limit. According to the pageant rules, I had to be 18 by February 1, and since I was to turn 18 on February 25, I missed it. I remember I was offered Parineeti Chopra's role in Ishaqzaade (2012), but refused it because I wanted to focus on Miss India. I did films in the meantime, but in 2015, participated again in the contest. I just want to say that when a person is talented, there should not be an age bracket in the pageant. If a 17-year-old is better than a 28-year-old, the former should be rewarded.

A lot of conversation around you revolves around beauty. Do you think beauty can eclipse talent?

I have lost certain movies because the directors felt I was too beautiful for the part. Even when I was modelling before, I used to walk the ramp and, at that time, the show choreographers would keep telling me, "You're too beautiful for the ramp." I understand that this topic comes up because I have won beauty pageants, but too much beauty talk can get discouraging and irritating. It completely overshadows the talent.

What's the biggest price you had to pay as a result of this?

I was offered a role in a film starring Amitabh Bachchan. It was a hit franchise film, and Aishwarya Rai had been part of it before. I was offered a part in the latest film. I didn't do it because the girl had no role. I don't want to be a prop in the film.

This whole idea of looking good has become more important than ever. Is it overwhelming to constantly keep up with the glamour industry's standards of beauty?

I have a very different approach towards it. There are a lot of actors who say, "Oh, I really hate dressing up for the airport." It's a constant pressure to look good. But it was your choice to become an actor. Earlier, people knew you just because of the films that you acted in. Today, actors are also social media heroes. Being an actor, you have to be presentable, otherwise, what is the difference between an actor and a regular person? An actor is not just an actor anymore, s/he is a star, a celebrity, and they have chosen this life. So, how can you complain?

How easy or difficult is it to hold your own in Bollywood when you are an outsider?

My case has been different. In a short time, I became a trending topic. My work was noticed by a wider audience in India. I remember in 2014, I was in Muscat, and was fairly new. Two girls spotted me and said, 'Oh, you are Urvashi!" We all work hard. But it is a fact that nepotism exists.

As an actress, does that make you feel shortchanged?

Yes. Films are made by star kids, for star kids. I have been replaced on many projects by star kids because they obviously have an upper hand. They are raised into this; when we were growing up, we had no idea that we would be entering this industry some day. The people we meet for the first time are the ones they have been hanging out with since childhood. They know how the industry functions.

You reportedly received death threats for a dialogue in your last film Hate Story 4. Was dealing with that tough?

It came as a shock. Earlier, it happened with Deepika Padukone in Padmaavat. Our film was different. Padmaavat is an epic drama, while our film is a revenge drama. She received threats because people felt the film tampered with the image of Rani Padmavati. In our film, I had a line, "Draupadi ke to paanch paandav the, yahaan to sirf do hain" (Draupadi had five Pandavas, here, there are only two). That one line did not go down too well with some people. As an actor, you don't write your own dialogues. Whatever lines are given to you, you have to enact them in the most professional way.

Hate Story 4 was also a 'bolder' role. Were you mentally prepared to take that on?

If you ask me now, I actually feel very empowered after playing this character. Everybody advised me not to do it at the beginning of my career - you know, carrying an entire film on my shoulders, given that it was a woman-centric film - but I took the risk.

Do you read reviews of your films?

Yes, I do. For me, critics are important in the film business, but what matters the most is that the cost should be recovered. In the end, the producer should profit. Hate Story 4 did good business. We are all very creative, but we have to think financially as well. Everything has its own importance - critics are important, box office performance is important. It's very hard to get all of that. You can't be greedy. I looked at Hate Story 4 from a very performance-oriented perspective.

Was there a fear that the conversation around the film would inadvertently veer towards the 'bold' aspect, and not the performance itself?

If you ask me, this film - for me - is the story of a bond between a brother and a sister. I am very fond of my brother. He studies at Emirates Aviation University in Dubai. The reason I did this film is because I miss him so much.

What is your larger ambition as an actor?

It is to play different characters and present something new to the audiences - a different story. I was offered a Hollywood film, and I chose not to do it because I had signed up for Hate Story 4. That one was an action film.

Which film was that?

I don't like to talk about films I haven't done because that is very unfair to the person who did them in the end. I was offered two Hollywood films - one was an action film, and the other was being made by this LA-based Hollywood producer, who wanted an apsara-looking girl, basically a South Asian actress, and he found out Urvashi also means apsara (fairy). But I was already committed to Hate Story 4, and I am not one of those actresses who would ditch a filmmaker for a bigger opportunity. So, I just let it go at that point of time.

You said you turned down Ishaqzaade. Have you ever regretted that decision?

I was told there was a love scene in the train or something like that. I don't know. Miss Universe India was my priority. I have never regretted it.

What does a typical day in your life look like?

I get up early in the morning. My daily schedule is like Akshay Kumar's: I hit the gym and do a training session - mixed martial arts, functional training and all that; then, there are shoots and back-to-back meetings. I try my best to make time for social events.

Does it get difficult to fit in when you're at parties?

When you don't know a person, you don't know their background, what will you talk about? You need to have a chemistry with people. You can't just strike a conversation.

Last year was a defining moment in Hollywood with #MeToo. But Bollywood remained largely silent. What are your thoughts on the movement?

It's always a personal choice. Everybody comes from a different background, they have their own story, their own ambitions. We are always given two different paths to travel - the longer one and the shorter one. I think it's a personal decision which path you choose. The girls of the current generation are aware of what's happening.

Would you call yourself a feminist?

Yes, I am a feminist, but, for me, the successful day will be when even men support female empowerment. In Hollywood, and now even in Bollywood, gender pay gap issues have come up in a big way. Girls are paid less. I think we should find solutions internally. There is so much money already riding on Bollywood films these days; if they cannot increase the remuneration of the female actors, then male actors should sort this out by decreasing their fee structure. We need to figure it out ourselves.

What are some of your upcoming projects?

I am working on four projects at this point of time, but I've been told not to reveal anything.

What's the weirdest encounter you have had with a fan?

There was a fan of mine in Dubai who wanted to gift me this property worth INR50 crore. There are some things in life you just don't know how to deal with. You can't be that perfect. (Laughs)

"To all the readers, I want to say that Khaleej Times has been my favourite newspaper. It's one of the oldest newspapers in the UAE, which provides not only UAE news but also gives in-depth international news. I want to thank Mr Suhail Galadari. He is a gem of a person - one of the kindest souls I have ever met. We need more people like him in the media to revolutionise our world. Khaleej Times is all because of him." - Urvashi Rautela

• WKND