“I’m not going to justify my friendship with Dhanush” – Shruti Haasan

Q. What made you choose D-Day as your comeback vehicle?
AWhen Nikhil (Advani) narrated the script to me, I asked him ‘Why do you want me to play this part?’. He had seen the emotional intensity I had brought to 3. After that he was convinced he wanted me for the role. This role didn’t require a howling kind of intensity. It’s the intensity of someone, who has seen a lot. In the beginning, it was tough playing the role since it has so many emotional layers. She is a young prostitute, who has seen so much in her life, yet she’s vulnerable enough to fall in love.
Q. What was the experience like working with Prabhudheva in Ramaiya Vastavaiya (RV)?
ARamaiya Vastavaiya was a challenging role. Because it’s so different from my sensibilities as an actor. Prabhudheva’s meter is different. To get into that meter took me a month. He is particular about what he wants from your body language. His idea of how a girl should be is different from my idea of how a girl should be. RV is not my genre of movie. It’s not the movie I would go and watch. But there are a number of permutations and combinations that lead you to sign a film. And you don’t get path-breaking characters everyday. I know RV will connect with the masses.

Q. When Luck flopped, did you think that was the end of road for you?
AI was depressed. My best friend saw the movie at a preview and said, ‘Wow you’ve messed it up even before it began’. He asked me, ‘Do you really want to do this? Take your time and figure out if you like doing this. I said I love being in front of the camera.’ He said get your act together then. It was really that simple. I was fat when I came back from LA. I was a hamburger. I lost the extra kilos. I was suddenly a different person. I think acting gives me what music doesn’t. So they balance each other out.
Q. When did you realise your dad is a superstar?
AOnly when we went for his movie premieres. Then there were psychotic loving fans who would jump on his car. And then my dad would have this completely different persona. And I would be like, oh! this is the other side of him.
Q. You are being linked to Dhanush these days?
AI know there are 10,000 rumors. For me, it’s a rare connect with someone. Dhanush is an important friend because when nobody thought I could play the part in 3, he stood by me and said I could do it. For anyone in any job, it’s important that people have faith in you. I owe him so much. Also we get along well. We have so much to talk about. He is also a comprehensive artiste. But I’m not going around justifying to people. I’m not going to tell people to put a microchip in my bum and follow me, so that they can know the truth. He is my best friend in the business. He has always helped me artistically. I won’t throw that in trash just because people are talking nonsense about us. I’ve never bothered much about what people say.
Q. Have you thought about marriage?
ANot at all. I see kids sooner than marriage, I don’t know why. I love kids. I want to have children. I just can’t see myself getting married.
Q. What about being with someone?
AI don’t know. I’ve been so independent. Also I imagine myself as being a difficult girlfriend because I’m always on my own trip. I’m an artiste, I’m always figuring out things in my head. Ultimately, it boils down to being with a good and a kind person, which is rare to find. Someone who lets you be. Everyone has this I-want-you-to-be-this-way condition, everyone has a screenplay for you in their head. From what I see, you go expecting one thing and you get nothing what you expected. That’s the scary thing about relationships. Everything else is easy to figure out.