I have no qualms about doing a bold scene- Nandana Sen

Q.Tell us about your movie, 'Strangers'.
A. It is a beautiful, yet strange, movie. The story is about two strangers who meet, about two people falling in love in a strange land. The plot is complex – it has suspense, it is a thriller, although not in the true sense of the word, actually it is a combination of all genres. It is a deeply emotional film.

Q. And what about the character that you are playing?
A. I play Preity, a girl from London, who is looking for love. She is successful and passionate, and she falls deeply in love. She is a very real character, and you cannot categorise her, because she has elements of different personality traits. She is consistent, tough to handle, and beautiful. She is confident, carefree, successful, and sarcastic, and not a doll. She has a lot of warmth.

Q. We have heard that you have done one very bold scene. Were you comfortable doing it?
A. I have no qualms doing bold scenes. If the character and the script requires such a scene, and it is relevant to the story, then why should I refuse? After all, I am an actor.

Q. How original is this film?
A. It is an extraordinary script. A lot of people think it is inspired by 'Strangers on a Train'. It is different in the real sense of the word, although it is, in a way, a tribute to that great movie.

Q. What was it like, acting with Jimmy Shergill and Kay Kay Menon for the first time?
A. It was wonderful. Jimmy is a great guy. Sharing screen space with him was great, and he was very easy to work with. He has given a wonderful performance. I adore Jimmy, because he is really sweet, friendly, and generous. He is also a great singer. Kay Kay is a wonderful and disciplined actor.

Q. And what was it like, working with debutant director, Anand L Rai?
A. He is a fantastic director, as well as a great guy. He gave me the chance to improvise my character. He is talented, sensitive, emotional, and he has a generous vision of the world and human nature, as well as of cinema. Since he is a television director, he is very comfortable with actors. He was a stranger before the movie, but now he is like family.

Q. What about the music of the film?
A. Sometimes, the music in a movie can be an obstacle if it is not used in the right manner. The music in this movie, however, plays a critical part, and manages to evoke emotions.

Q. What next? Do you have a strategy for your career?
A. I don't actually. I do whatever interests me, and I enjoy myself while doing it. My only strategy is not to get typecast. It is important to do a different type of movie every time. This, I think, will help me as an actor.

Q. What are the other projects you are working on?
A. Right now, I am doing 'Colours of Passion', a film based on the love story of painter Raja Ravi Sharma. I play Shantabai in the movie. It is an historical character, and is a mix of Shakuntala, Sita, Laxmi and Draupadi. I have done my share of research on the film, and gone through books and paintings, to understand it better. I also have 'Forest' lined up. It is an international film, and I play Radha, a tough girl in a love triangle. It is the story of a one-night stand in the forest. It was great playing that role.

Q. What do you do with your free time?
A. I love to read and write poems. I listen to a lot of Rabindra music, as well as to old Hindi film music, and jazz. I also love collecting old Hindi film CDs. I make it a point to practise yoga thrice a week. I am trained in ballet, Manipuri dance, and modern dancing. I love dancing.

Q. How would you define your movie in one line?
A. I would say 'Strangers' beautifully walks in between the good and bad lines.
(SAMPURN)