Kriti Kharbanda is all set to make a splash in Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana opposite Rajkummar Rao
Kriti Kharbanda, the Delhi girl has dabbled in many mediums. From being spotted on the Spar billboard which in turn led her to being selected as the female lead for the Telugu film Boni, to becoming a prominent face in Kannada and Telugu films. And with her foray in romantic comedy, she is now all set to dazzle people with her film Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana.
The 27-year-old’s search for a script with a strong female character ended with this Ratnaa Sinha movie where she is pitted against the powerhouse performer, Rajkummar Rao. “There are very few films with strong female characters, so this was an opportunity that I didn’t want to lose. I really enjoyed being a part of it so much so that I am facing withdrawal symptoms now. I was telling Ratnaa that I am not sure if I really want to watch the film as it would mean that the process has come to an end.”
The story revolves around Satyendra (Rajkummar Rao) and Aarti (Kriti Kharbanda) who meet for a proposed arranged marriage and fall in love in the process. On the night of their marriage, an unexpected turn of events leaves their world upside down. Set in the backdrop of India’s civil services, the film explores the challenges that Satyendra and Aarti face as a middle-class couple in India.
“Aarti is young and vivacious but someone who is close to her traditions. Her desires are very limited — she is really excited to find a man who loves and supports her. Any girl can relate to her as she is very clear about what she wants to do with her life. To an extent I once was like Aarti,” says Kharbanda.
But there is another side to her as well. “She is extremely vulnerable — which is a beautiful attribute to have. Vulnerability to a certain degree shows the purity of your soul,” shares Kharbanda who feels that the film was an emotional ride.
“At the end of the day, I’m taking genuine and true friends. Add to it the fact that as an actor I am really satisfied with my character — something that I have been craving for.”
After Rajkummar Rao’s excellent performance in Newton — the charming Oscar pick, his co-star Kharbanda too is all praise for him. “Everyone knows how good an actor he is. And I have been really fortunate to be able to work with him, get a first hand experience of seeing him act and to understand his approach to characters. He has been one of the most helpful co-actors that I have ever worked with — someone who thinks of the larger picture and not just himself. This is something that I want to carry forward for the rest of my life,” she says.
Kharbanda does not look at anything in particular in the script to sign on a movie as there is no assurance that a good script would work out to be a great film. “There are times when an ordinary script is made into a great film, purely by performance and direction.” So, she goes with her gut feeling. “I concentrate on the person who is narrating the film, how well he/she brings forth the character. I always believe that human emotions don’t lie, so I have a talk with the script writer, the director and producer — I understand the school of thought, their expectations,” she adds.
Kharbanda has featured in a comedy film Guest Iin london, written and directed by Ashwni Dhir starring Kartik Aaryan, Paresh Rawal, and Tanvi Azmi. It was sequel to Ajay Devgn-starrer film Atithi Tum Kab JaogeIJ
Having the experience of working in different cinemas, she feels that it’s not the budget that matters, rather the emotions do. “What really attracts me to the Indian cinema is the fact that it’s so unpredictable just like my personal journey. Ten years ago when I was in college, if someone had asked me if I ever thought of becoming an actor, I would have laughed.”
“I was never ambitious, nor did I felt the need to be an actor. I was just 18 when I was offered my first film. And I hardly knew what I wanted at that time. Initially, I felt that I have films to work in and I am not bad at it and also because it was paying me well, I continued to do so. But in the past few years, I think I have grown as an actor as well as a person. Now I am more determined than ever and want to be known for my acting.”
Kharbanda feels that there is hardly any difference in the working of the regional and Hindi cinema. “It depends on the people you meet that helps you decide which industry you want to be a part of — there is no good or bad cinema, there are good and bad people. My idea is to keep working which defines my approach.”