My debut film, 'Madras Cafe,' is a political thriller in which John Abraham plays an army officer. My character's name is Ruby Singh, and I play John's wife, with all the strappings of an army man's wife.
Radha Krishna Sir, the director of 'Jil,' had seen 'Madras Cafe' and liked my acting in it. He wanted a performer and so got me on board.
'Madras Cafe' is set against the backdrop of the civil war in Sri Lanka in the 1990s.
In Queen Mary's, which was an all-girls' college, I learned discipline, hard work and to be competitive. But at Madras Film Institute, I learned about the world, being free and knowledgeable, and thinking beyond oneself.
I have seen many festival films and I will be blunt, I don't think 'Madras Cafe' was ready for festivals.
It is very difficult to make films like 'Madras Cafe' in India, given the diverse nature of the country.
I learned acting while doing my shows. I never joined any course or anything. I just jumped into acting. I learn from experience.
Sohan Singh Bhakna, Gurdit Singh, Teja Singh Sutantar, Banta Singh Sanghwal... they are my fathers. Those who gave their lives for freedom are my fathers.
If I had used real names, I don't think 'Madras Cafe' would have ever seen the light of day because it was a political film, an adaptation of a true incident.
It is easier to make a film but difficult to make it on your own terms. In that sense 'Madras Cafe' was a very satisfying experience.
It was a surprise for my family when I told them that I was offered 'Madras Cafe.' My family was initially worried because I have got no film background.
In Shoojit's films, there is no hero and villain. Every character has its own space and there is a social message in all of his films whether it is 'Vicky Donor' or 'Madras Cafe.'
Our classes were relatively small. Those small classes can feel like family. After a class in French or chemistry or whatever, we'd be talking in the halls about what we just learned.
I explored the arts in general; I took painting classes and sketching classes and acting classes and all sorts of different things.
I've never taken any classes or had formal training in writing novels. At its most basic, I learned how to structure a novel.
I went to the Chicago Art Institute, which was the best painting school in the area at that time. And I took painting classes - basic elementary painting classes and drawing classes of all sorts.