She once attended Mumbai parties hoping to get a Bollywood break. Now, Mahie Gill is the toast of tinsel town

So, how has life changed after Dev.D?
My phone hasn’t stopped ringing. I’m still getting congratulatory messages and calls. It’s yet to sink in that my work is out there before the world. Suddenly, everybody wants to meet me; there are press calls and meetings with producers. I’m constantly on the move and I’m loving it.

How has the industry reacted to your Paro act?
Everyone has been very positive and encouraging. I will never forget that Vishal Bharadwaj called me after seeing Dev.D and said he loved my work. Rahul Bose too called and congratulated me. Anurag (Kashyap) tells me that Naseeruddin Shah really appreciated my performance and told him to convey it to me. It feels nice when your hard work and patience pays off.

How long did you struggle in Mumbai?
I came to Mumbai in 2005 and since then, it’s been hardcore struggle. I went through a million auditions, got my photos clicked, dropped them off at offices and then waited. I attended a lot of parties because I was told that, in Mumbai, parties are the best places where filmmakers can spot you.

But how did you get invited to all these parties?
I knew a couple of people in Mumbai’s party circuit and I’d just go with them. It was at a party only that Anurag spotted me. Just that it was a birthday party of a child, Dibyendu Bhattacharya’s (he was Chunni in Dev. D) son Shaurya. Anurag saw me dancing at the party and offered me the role on the spot.

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