On a serious note

We all live such challenging lives today that most of us prefer watching frothy films. But it is my humble request that people give films on such serious issues a chance too. As for myself,people on Twitter have approved of my look in the film and I am happy to have experimented.

Apart from basic training in combat,how did you prepare for your Kashmiri character?
We have not ventured into Kashmiri language since we wanted everyone to watch the film. We did earlier discuss using the language,accent or at least some Urdu expressions,but we didn’t want a film with subtitles. We recently saw that people rejected Kites,complaining that it isn’t a Hindi film. We didn’t want to repeat that.

Given your appetite for action,was it the potential danger of shooting in Kashmir that made you take up Lamhaa?
Yes. We were in the midst of danger from day one of the shoot. The very first day we were to shoot at the safest place in Kashmir — the CRPF camp. But as soon as we started,a man stood in front of the camera and started chanting “Allah Hu Akbar”. We requested him to let us shoot but instead,another 50 men joined him. I was the only woman in the entire unit and that is when I had to be whisked away. There is so much angst in the youth and no faith in any outsider.

Do you have romantic tracks with Kunal Kapoor and Sanjay Dutt running parallel in the film?
The movie is not a romantic film but a thriller. Aziza loves Kashmir though she does have a mildly romantic track with Kunal’s character Aatif. At the same time,she shares a very special bond with Vikram (Sanjay Dutt) since it is after he comes into the picture that she begins to reform.

Kashmir is called paradise. But with so much security and violence on the streets,is it really so today?
Kashmir is still very beautiful. One day,we woke up to see it snow outside. Kunal,my manager and I jumped out of the window. But then,once you’re outside,you see that it all comes at a price. You see that the tanks,the guns and the army are all for real and not just an exaggeration in the media,which can be very disturbing.

You have a mixed bag coming up — Aakrosh on honour killing and Dum Maro Dum and No Problem are comedies.
I’m excited about these films,especially Dum Maro Dum,in which I play a hippie. Every other film I do is shot in Goa. Since I love the place,I don’t mind that.