Public adulation is the ultimate high.
I have always tried to make life interesting for myself by doing different roles that connect mainstream cinema with its offbeat counterpart.
I come from a well-educated and cultured, middle-class Maharashtrian family and have been brought up with social awareness.
Dancing is never excruciating as preparing for it is. For instance, the song 'Chamma Chamma' had heavy outfits and even more heavy jewellery. 'Kambakht Ishq' was shot in extreme heat during the day and a rain sequence in the night, so we were literally drenched throughout the night.
Some people say heroines just have to look good and provide the glamour. Some say, from dance-n-song routines, heroines have come a long way. Today, the heroine's name adds weight to the film, though maybe they can't carry the whole film on their names. I believe, yes, we do contribute a lot to films.
I don't think about how many times how many heroines have said 'I love you' to how many heroes on screen and that I am also doing the same. It is how differently I can say the same thing in my own style or how I can bring a new element into it.
I like Meryl Streep and Jodie Foster. Among Indian actress, I prefer Madhubala and Nutan.
Though I am associated in the public mind with glamorous songs and dances, my appearance in 'Company' is in no way glamorous. Rather than rely on my body language, the number zooms in on my facial expressions.
Few people know much about me. I've been so quiet that I'm known as a recluse.
I am not fond of red meat.
To me, sex appeal means that when an actress is on the screen, she just engulfs the whole screen.
My mother's brother is a very good singer. My grandfather took up classical singing lessons and learnt to play the harmonium.