In an exclusive interview with the IndianExpress.com, Patralekhaa talks about her journey to Bollywood, her relationship with Rajkummar Rao and why is it difficult from people of Northeast India to get job in Bollywood.
Actress Patralekhaa, who turns 25 today, made a hard-hitting debut in Bollywood with Hansal Mehta’s Citylights opposite her boyfriend Rajkummar Rao. After playing a role of a small town girl in Citylights, the actress will be next seen in Vikram Bhatt’s Love Games which is a twisted thriller with love, lust and erotic story.
In an exclusive interview with the IndianExpress.com, Patralekhaa talks about her journey to Bollywood, her relationship with Rajkummar Rao and why is it difficult from people of Northeast India to get job in Bollywood.
Here are the excerpts from her interview.
A very happy birthday Patralekhaa. Did you ever dream that on your 25th birthday, you would be a popular Bollywood actress?
Patralekhaa: Never. Never. Actually yes, I dreamt that I would be an actor but I didn’t see that I would be a Bollywood actor. So it’s like things coming true.
How has your journey been from Meghalaya to Mumbai?
Patralekhaa: It is tough. Very tough. Not in terms of family support. My family has always been very supportive about my aspirations that I had, but I am talking in terms of getting films in Bollywood. That’s tough.
Why don’t we see a lot of Northeast Indian actors in Bollywood. Is it difficult for actors from Northeast India to break into Hindi films?
Patralekhaa: Yeah, it is difficult. Because the roles are not written enough for them. The writer already has in mind a particular look he wants. So, they will go and cast a girl in Chandigarh, Delhi and Punjab. If they want a South Indian girl, they will cast somebody from that area or somebody who looks close to that. But with Northeasterners what happens, their appearance is different and we don’t have many writers from that area. So the characters are not at all written about them. I think it is not because people are not given an opportunity but characters are not written for them.
Not many in Bollywood are open about their relationships. What made you and Rajkummar accept the same in public?
Patralekhaa: We are comfortable because neither of us have someone from the industry. Raj is a successful actor today and I am trying to get as much work as I can. So we don’t have any baggage you know. We don’t know the rules, the norms, the regulations in Bollywood. What should be done and what shouldn’t be done. We are very new to Bollywood. So, we are trying and testing things are own ways and going forward in life.
Any plans of settling down soon?
Patralekhaa: No. Not yet. I am very new to the industry and very young also. So marraige is not on our minds and we are following just our careers and that’s what we are doing.
Do you discuss scripts with him?
Patralekhaa: We don’t discuss scripts. We just read it and if there is any doubt like whether I should do it or not, I just go to him and ask him Hey! this is the idea, what do you think? and it’s always good to ask somebody else because your mind is just one sack and then you lose perspective.
Did you discuss Love Games with him before signing the movie?
Patralekhaa: No. I didn’t have to discuss it with him because Bhatt saab is someone I really look up to. So I didn’t find it necessary to discuss it with him. We both are very different individuals and we don’t come from this filmy background. So we are trying new things and figuring out what’s working in our favour and what’s not. So I think we are in different times, different things are happening, different kinds of people are doing different kinds of films. So there is space for everything and everyone right now
Is there any special birthday plan?
Patralekhaa: Yes in the morning I have a celebration plan, calling my friends and family over as I do every year and I want to celebrate it with them and it’s always special to be around. And yes, Raj is the first one who is invited. And talking about surprises, he is too good in giving surprises. You will not make what he’s doing. He is a very good actor you know. And I am not very fond of gifts at all. I just want to have a good time and I think that’s the most important gift that I can get. It’s not materialistic thing.
