Did you find India or did some Indian film person find you?
I found India.

So the stories of Kaizad Gustad discovering you...
I met Kaizad Gustad in London. He encouraged me. He said, “You must come to India.” At that time I was focusing on modelling. He gave me a lot of contacts, including that of Farooq.

Tell us who you are. Why is there so much mystery? I’ll not go by whatever I have read in film magazines. Tell us about yourself, pre-stardom.
I was born in Hong Kong. My mom was a Harvard graduate, a very successful lawyer who gave it up to join a charitable organisation. She was working with the organisation as a non-profit lawyer and because of that, we travelled a lot. From Hong Kong, we went to Japan, China, France, Hawaii and then to London.

The Indian in you comes from your father.
Yes. My parents separated when we were very young. We were raised by my mother who did a wonderful job. She raised us with the belief and inspiration to find yourself in the world. Live your dreams and find what is going to make you live life freely. She made us tough and she wasn’t the kind of mother who told us to go to college and get a degree and become a doctor or a lawyer. She herself had found her fulfillment in things that were off-beat. I have one brother. He is a professional skier and a rock climber.

What about your father?
We have grown up without a father. I missed it a great deal. I do feel that sense of loss.

... contd.