Rakul Preet Singh is an Indian film actress and model who predominantly works in the Telugu film industry. She has also appeared in a few Tamil, Hindi and Kannada movies. Currently, she is appointed as the brand ambassador for Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao programme by Telangana State Government.

She started career as a model while in college, during which she also made her acting debut in the Kannada film Gilli (2009). In 2011 she participated in the Femina Miss India pageant in which she was placed fifth and won five pageant titles including People’s Choice Miss Indiatimes, Pantaloons Femina Miss Fresh Face, Femina Miss Talented, Femina Miss Beautiful Smile and Femina Miss Beautiful Eyes.

She subsequently opted to become a full-time actress, making her Telugu debut in Keratam the same year and her Tamil debut in Thadaiyara Thaakka, the following year. In 2014 she also made her Bollywood debut in Yaariyan in which her performance was better received. She was part of the commercially successful films like Venkatadri Express (2013), Current Theega (2014), Loukyam (2014), Kick 2(2015), Bruce Lee - The Fighter (2015), Nannaku Prematho (2016), Sarrainodu (2016), Dhruva (2016), Rarandoi Veduka Chudham (2017) and Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru (2017) and established herself as one of the leading actresses in Telugu Cinema.

Nithya Ramesh met heartthrob Rakul Preet Singh to discuss her work and plans including the new upcoming projects.

To be an established actor you need to be able to measure your success and build on this. How do you evaluate success within your roles?

There is a common saying that success means different things to different people at different levels and I am one person who doesn’t really evaluate success. I’m an actor infact that is not even something that I don’t let it seek. For me it’s a 9 to 5 job like anybody else, sometimes I don’t finish my work so I work until night. My profession is like any other job and I don’t really sit and evaluate as to what all have I achieved because I believe success shouldn’t get to your head. Of course, I’m aware of what I am doing and what I want to do next and I don’t evaluate the past and see if I had a successful film or a blockbuster film that how I am. I always think of what next because past is done and my way of looking at things is practical and you won’t grow if you start living in the past.

What have you learnt from previous roles and your past experience that would be of benefit to you in this role?

Learning is a very subconscious process, it is not a certain project that will teach you everything as you grow each day. I have been in the industry for such long and got exposed to different level of people and had let myself grow. Your personality is carved out with that and new learning happens subconsciously when you are always open to learning, which I feel I am. I’m very adaptable and I always seem that I have never achieved anything big be-cause the day that you realise or the day that you think you have achieved everything that’s when the plane is going to crash. Personally, I’m a much more mature person, I am able to handle other departments of my life as well much better because I am working and multitasking. So, it’s a very weird process of growth.

What role would you love to play as your dream role?

I as an actress don’t want to be pigeon-holed into a particular role, but you have to start somewhere. It is important to know your strengths and be willing to take on new challenging roles. I have a clear sense of who I am and what am I good at. I prefer to act in movies like ‘Saala Khadoos’ or a sports Biopic like ‘Mary Kom’.

You always look so great how do you stay in shape...what’s your secret, hardwork or genetic?

Fitness is something that many people think that going to the gym is a burden and its not that way to me. I own three gyms and I also like to stay fit all the time. The secret is my lifestyle and me working out.

Lifestyle because I’m in a show biz and getting paid to look a certain way. I don’t believe in being disproportionate and wanting to do glamorous role as a heroine but as an actress it really doesn’t matter. Recently I have lost more weight because I’m doing a film here in Bollywood which needed me to be a certain way and down South it didn’t need me to be that way so I always maintain a certain level of what is expected out of me while I’m working for Tamil or Telugu films.

Work out for me is like a stress buster. I work out when I’m happy, sad and work out even more when I’m angry [Laughs]. Working out is like a rejuvenation for each cell of my body breathing. I make sure to work out 1 hour a day and 5 times a week and If I don’t get to work out for two days simultaneously then I get very moody and I just don’t feel happy. I feel my happy hormones don’t release. Last but not the least, I follow eating healthy and eating clean. I stay away from sweets and fried food.

What drew you to make the transition from South Film Industry to Bollywood?

For me, it is really not a transition... it’s an expansion of my creativity, I mean all I want to do is to grow in life and I’m just challenging myself more than ever, so I don’t really see this as a transition. I will continue doing films as long as I get good roles and love my role irrespective of regional films or Bollywood films.

There’s a lot of buzz surrounding your upcoming role in ‘Aiyaary’. What drew you to the project?

It is Neeraj Pandey’s Film. Every-body wants to work with him. He is a great film-maker and his films have a certain credential. When I first got to hear about the movie, he asked me to think about it and let him know and I immediately said there was nothing to think about as I wanted to work with him and Siddharth Malhotra and ‘Aiyaary’ being an army film I had no second though to work for this project. So that is how it happened and it was a wonderful journey.

Do you feel there is a lot of pressure on you to portray a certain body image and appearance? How do you handle that?

I don’t believe in the word pressure as I think pressure is something that you build on yourself when you are competitive with others and my competition is always myself. Of course, I want to do well but that doesn’t mean that I will step down on other people. I don’t get pressurised if I am the way I am, I give my 100% to people who want it for a certain film. Recently I read through this line which says “few people are taking stress management techniques to handle and relieve stress” which means they are already preparing themselves for stress which they are expecting to happen to them and their mind to manage. Money, work or business needs to be managed but not stress. I believe to adapt and enjoy the process of what I am working and I am one of those people who is aware of my likes and dislikes at work, I’m lucky that I’m doing it the right way and I’m happy and proud I am doing it well so I don’t find any reason to be pressurised. Why should I add stress to something that I should enjoy, blossom and cherish.

How has stardom changed you?

Stardom has changed me as a matured person but not in the conventional way most people believe. I am the same person that I was five years ago and will always be the same no matter how big I grow. However, stardom hasn’t changed me it has changed my circumstances.

You were paired up with stars like Sidharth Malhotra, Ram Charan, Allu Arjun, Mahesh Babu. How was your experience working with them?

It was an amazing experience working with each one of them as they are humble and supportive during shoots. Sidharth Malhotra is from Delhi, so we both keep talking about Delhi. He speaks his heart and is always fun to be with.

Allu Arjun is very hardworking and a nice person too, he is one actor who always brings a change with whatever film he is doing. Ram Charan is one of my favourite co-stars with great dedication and patience. Mahesh Babu is the most grounded and dedicated at work with no attitude or arrogance in spite of being a super star.

Tell us about your experience working with director Neeraj Pandey?

It was an outstanding experience working with Neeraj sir as he is the nicest and most keen. He knows who he is so he does everything he can to make you feel comfortable. He is a pleasure to work with and one of the best at his work and style. He makes sure to get the best out of you so he needs you to be relaxed and comfortable. He helps you find your best with many actors throughout the film and you do know you are in safe hands, which really helped me concentrate on doing my best at what

I need to do while he makes you feel at ease and guides you through.

What are your upcoming releases?

I have ‘Aiyaary’ releasing this month. I’m working for another Bollywood film apposite Ajay Devgan and I play a very interesting role which is set to release in October.

Then I have got two films in Tamil, one opposite Suriya, directed by Selvaraghavan and one with Karthi which is a love story. There are talks for two films in Telugu which I will be announcing soon.

(Nithya Ramesh: Bureau Chief – Entertainment & Fashion, Opinion Express)

Rakul Preet Singh is an Indian film actress and model who predominantly works in the Telugu film industry. She has also appeared in a few Tamil, Hindi and Kannada movies. Currently, she is appointed as the brand ambassador for Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao programme by Telangana State Government.

She started career as a model while in college, during which she also made her acting debut in the Kannada film Gilli (2009). In 2011 she participated in the Femina Miss India pageant in which she was placed fifth and won five pageant titles including People’s Choice Miss Indiatimes, Pantaloons Femina Miss Fresh Face, Femina Miss Talented, Femina Miss Beautiful Smile and Femina Miss Beautiful Eyes.

She subsequently opted to become a full-time actress, making her Telugu debut in Keratam the same year and her Tamil debut in Thadaiyara Thaakka, the following year. In 2014 she also made her Bollywood debut in Yaariyan in which her performance was better received. She was part of the commercially successful films like Venkatadri Express (2013), Current Theega (2014), Loukyam (2014), Kick 2(2015), Bruce Lee - The Fighter (2015), Nannaku Prematho (2016), Sarrainodu (2016), Dhruva (2016), Rarandoi Veduka Chudham (2017) and Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru (2017) and established herself as one of the leading actresses in Telugu Cinema.

Nithya Ramesh met heartthrob Rakul Preet Singh to discuss her work and plans including the new upcoming projects.

To be an established actor you need to be able to measure your success and build on this. How do you evaluate success within your roles?

There is a common saying that success means different things to different people at different levels and I am one person who doesn’t really evaluate success. I’m an actor infact that is not even something that I don’t let it seek. For me it’s a 9 to 5 job like anybody else, sometimes I don’t finish my work so I work until night. My profession is like any other job and I don’t really sit and evaluate as to what all have I achieved because I believe success shouldn’t get to your head. Of course, I’m aware of what I am doing and what I want to do next and I don’t evaluate the past and see if I had a successful film or a blockbuster film that how I am. I always think of what next because past is done and my way of looking at things is practical and you won’t grow if you start living in the past.

What have you learnt from previous roles and your past experience that would be of benefit to you in this role?

Learning is a very subconscious process, it is not a certain project that will teach you everything as you grow each day. I have been in the industry for such long and got exposed to different level of people and had let myself grow. Your personality is carved out with that and new learning happens subconsciously when you are always open to learning, which I feel I am. I’m very adaptable and I always seem that I have never achieved anything big be-cause the day that you realise or the day that you think you have achieved everything that’s when the plane is going to crash. Personally, I’m a much more mature person, I am able to handle other departments of my life as well much better because I am working and multitasking. So, it’s a very weird process of growth.

What role would you love to play as your dream role?

I as an actress don’t want to be pigeon-holed into a particular role, but you have to start somewhere. It is important to know your strengths and be willing to take on new challenging roles. I have a clear sense of who I am and what am I good at. I prefer to act in movies like ‘Saala Khadoos’ or a sports Biopic like ‘Mary Kom’.

You always look so great how do you stay in shape...what’s your secret, hardwork or genetic?

Fitness is something that many people think that going to the gym is a burden and its not that way to me. I own three gyms and I also like to stay fit all the time. The secret is my lifestyle and me working out.

Lifestyle because I’m in a show biz and getting paid to look a certain way. I don’t believe in being disproportionate and wanting to do glamorous role as a heroine but as an actress it really doesn’t matter. Recently I have lost more weight because I’m doing a film here in Bollywood which needed me to be a certain way and down South it didn’t need me to be that way so I always maintain a certain level of what is expected out of me while I’m working for Tamil or Telugu films.

Work out for me is like a stress buster. I work out when I’m happy, sad and work out even more when I’m angry [Laughs]. Working out is like a rejuvenation for each cell of my body breathing. I make sure to work out 1 hour a day and 5 times a week and If I don’t get to work out for two days simultaneously then I get very moody and I just don’t feel happy. I feel my happy hormones don’t release. Last but not the least, I follow eating healthy and eating clean. I stay away from sweets and fried food.

What drew you to make the transition from South Film Industry to Bollywood?

For me, it is really not a transition... it’s an expansion of my creativity, I mean all I want to do is to grow in life and I’m just challenging myself more than ever, so I don’t really see this as a transition. I will continue doing films as long as I get good roles and love my role irrespective of regional films or Bollywood films.

There’s a lot of buzz surrounding your upcoming role in ‘Aiyaary’. What drew you to the project?

It is Neeraj Pandey’s Film. Every-body wants to work with him. He is a great film-maker and his films have a certain credential. When I first got to hear about the movie, he asked me to think about it and let him know and I immediately said there was nothing to think about as I wanted to work with him and Siddharth Malhotra and ‘Aiyaary’ being an army film I had no second though to work for this project. So that is how it happened and it was a wonderful journey.

Do you feel there is a lot of pressure on you to portray a certain body image and appearance? How do you handle that?

I don’t believe in the word pressure as I think pressure is something that you build on yourself when you are competitive with others and my competition is always myself. Of course, I want to do well but that doesn’t mean that I will step down on other people. I don’t get pressurised if I am the way I am, I give my 100% to people who want it for a certain film. Recently I read through this line which says “few people are taking stress management techniques to handle and relieve stress” which means they are already preparing themselves for stress which they are expecting to happen to them and their mind to manage. Money, work or business needs to be managed but not stress. I believe to adapt and enjoy the process of what I am working and I am one of those people who is aware of my likes and dislikes at work, I’m lucky that I’m doing it the right way and I’m happy and proud I am doing it well so I don’t find any reason to be pressurised. Why should I add stress to something that I should enjoy, blossom and cherish.

How has stardom changed you?

Stardom has changed me as a matured person but not in the conventional way most people believe. I am the same person that I was five years ago and will always be the same no matter how big I grow. However, stardom hasn’t changed me it has changed my circumstances.

You were paired up with stars like Sidharth Malhotra, Ram Charan, Allu Arjun, Mahesh Babu. How was your experience working with them?

It was an amazing experience working with each one of them as they are humble and supportive during shoots. Sidharth Malhotra is from Delhi, so we both keep talking about Delhi. He speaks his heart and is always fun to be with.

Allu Arjun is very hardworking and a nice person too, he is one actor who always brings a change with whatever film he is doing. Ram Charan is one of my favourite co-stars with great dedication and patience. Mahesh Babu is the most grounded and dedicated at work with no attitude or arrogance in spite of being a super star.

Tell us about your experience working with director Neeraj Pandey?

It was an outstanding experience working with Neeraj sir as he is the nicest and most keen. He knows who he is so he does everything he can to make you feel comfortable. He is a pleasure to work with and one of the best at his work and style. He makes sure to get the best out of you so he needs you to be relaxed and comfortable. He helps you find your best with many actors throughout the film and you do know you are in safe hands, which really helped me concentrate on doing my best at what

I need to do while he makes you feel at ease and guides you through.

What are your upcoming releases?

I have ‘Aiyaary’ releasing this month. I’m working for another Bollywood film apposite Ajay Devgan and I play a very interesting role which is set to release in October.

Then I have got two films in Tamil, one opposite Suriya, directed by Selvaraghavan and one with Karthi which is a love story. There are talks for two films in Telugu which I will be announcing soon.

(Nithya Ramesh: Bureau Chief – Entertainment & Fashion, Opinion Express)