After making waves down South, Rakul Preet Singh is all set to conquer Bollywood, one hit film at a time. Between celebrating the success of her recent film De De Pyar De and shuttling between cities to shoot her next, we caught up with the dynamic diva to talk about everything from Bollywood to fashion.
Tell us a bit about your journey into Bollywood.
My first film was Yaariyaan. I had just finished Miss India and moved to Bombay. And I think within the first two to three months I cracked the audition and got that film. While shooting for Yaariyan I signed my first Telugu film, which I started working on about two days after I finished shooting for Yaariyan. I already had a couple of films lined up when Yarriyan released. I continued working down South as I was getting some really good projects. I thought maybe I should do that and then when I am more prepared and if something good from Bollywood comes up, I’ll move to Mumbai. Then Aiyaary happened and while shooting for Aiyaary, De De Pyaar De happened. And that’s about my journey into Bollywood!
What was the experience like on set for the first film you did in Bollywood. Were you nervous/ were people supportive?
It has been beautiful and I am glad that it happened now than earlier because I feel I am more prepared as a person; the maturity as well as the craft. I am not a person in general who is nervous. I get very excited since I’ve always wanted this; it was surreal and I had happy butterflies. Everyone around me has been very supportive; from my team to my family.
What were some challenges you faced when you started off?
I don’t like the word challenges. Of course, it’s not easy. It is not the world you have grown up in and I didn’t even grow up in this Industry. So it took me a while to understand how it works. But I think that’s the beauty of it. You discover your journey all by yourself and figure things out as you move along independently.
What is your fitness secret?
I don’t think there is a shortcut to fitness. It is a way of life. I don’t believe in fad diets or when people think they can workout excessively and get into a fit shape. I think fitness has to become a lifestyle and you have to be committed to it. Whether it is eating right, which is most important and feeling good about working out, not stressing about it. For me, it has become a habit. I need to workout every day. I need to sweat otherwise my brain doesn’t work. I think it’s rejuvenating for my body. I love the sweet pain. I think it helps me keep calm and sane. The only place we live in is our body. We need to take care of it. ‘How we take care of our body now is how it is going to take care of us later’ is what I believe in.
Tell us a bit about your personal style?
My personal style is all about comfort. I think that anything you are comfortable in you’ll be able to pull off and look stylish in. My personal style is very casual. I am a person who doesn’t like to overdress. You’ll see me in shorts and tee or denim and tee most of the times.
How do you manage to keep your skin fresh on hectic shoot schedules and travel?
I think the first thing is to be really happy from within and that reflects on your skin. Everything else secondary. I make sure that I remove my makeup and follow my routine of cleansing, moisturising and toning along with using sunblock and the right kind of moisturisers. And I also do a lot of home remedies like rub whatever fruit I am eating (papaya and banana etc.) onto my skin. But I think it all starts from how you are feeling from within.
Tell us something we’ll find in your handbag that you can’t live without?
I can’t live without my ‘entire handbag’. And I always have a big bag because I end up carrying my entire world in it. But I think what I can’t specifically live without is my lip balm in general, which I always have as well as my phone, my phone charger and my wallet.
How do you stay happy and positive?
I am a spiritual person and I am very grateful that I am living my dream. I am grateful that I am aware of what I love doing and I am thankful for it. I think just the fact that I am grateful for that makes me happy. I think that neither the success has made me overexcited nor the failure has brought me down. The stability comes from the fact the I am doing what I love and that just makes me very very happy and positive I guess.
My go-to fashion labels?
Well, I mix and match. I am not someone who is stuck on to one odd label.
Upcoming projects?
For now, in Bollywood, it is Mar Jawan which is scheduled for an October release. There is something else that I will announce soon in Bollywood. There is one film in Telugu and one in Tamil which I am shooting for. And there is another one in Telugu that I will start shooting for soon!
Credits:
Photographed by House of Pixels
Styled by Shirin Salwan
Makeup and Hair by Subhash Vagal
Assisted by Ankita Agarwal
Location Courtesy: The Westin Mumbai Garden City, Mumbai