Rakul: There are strong emotions in Winner

Rakul Preet Singh, who awaits the release of 'Winner' on Feb 24, in this interview she talks about her character, working with Sai Dharam Tej, why the film was shot in Turkey, how she thinks about missing out on big-ticket films, whether she will turn a producer, the Bhavana molestation incident, and more.

What is your character like in the movie?

I was excited about playing Sitara because of the scope an athlete's character offers you. That said, 'Winner' is not a Mary Kom-type movie which is female-centric. I am playing an ambitious, independent girl who has no time for love. I keep chiding Siddhu (Dharam Tej's character), asking him if he has no other goal but for love!

Honestly, I didn't have to put in much efforts. I regularly do workouts and gymming. Had that not been my lifestyle, may be I would have needed greater efforts to be put in.

It seems to be a special outing for Sai Dharam Tej as well.

'Winner' is a commercial film with strong emotions. When Teju (Sai Dharam Tej) watched the movie, he said he started crying. I think no hero has ever got to play a horse jockey. Yes, you have seen them riding a horse, but in this case, Teju had to actually train to play a jockey.

These portions were shot in Turkey to ensure the treatment is lavish. In India, you don't always get well-bred, competition-ready horses. And even if you find, you don't have the permissions. And even if you get permissions, you may not get adequate number of horses for the shoot!

And Teju is yet another Mega hero with whom you have worked!

Luckily, I got to work with them. With Charan, I have acted twice. That said, I see a film as a film. I just enjoy every film, regardless of who is the hero.

You savour your friendship with him. What is he like?

Teju, Regina, Rashi, Sundeep and I have been good friends. On the sets of 'Winner', we both were like two kids left in a candy shop. We used to chat all kinds of bullshit! (Laughs). Everybody is good, but Teju is incredibly good. He talks with his mother on phone for one hour! Even I don't do that.

How do you take it when big films slip through your fingers in the last minute?

I did miss 'Brahmotsavam'. I also had to do 'Autonagar Surya', but I was dropped by the makers. I missed a big Tamil movie. I don't want to list the films because it won't look good. Whatever films I didn't do for whatever reason, they didn't work. I think God's hand has been there with me.

You are going to make it big in Kollywood!

I have a film lined up with Karthi. It will go on the floors in March. I am in talks with a couple of other Tamil projects. The movie with Suriya is yet to be signed.

Tell us about the Murugadoss-Mahesh Babu movie...

It's a high-concept thriller, an intelligent movie. I play a studious, funny character who wears glasses. It's a fun character. Mahesh Babu is very professional and punctual. Since it's a bilingual, it's that much more difficult. If you have one page of dialogues, you are done for that day because you have to get them right in two languages. In spite of being a superstar, he gets involved so much. I am done with 50 per cent of the shoot.

Nayanthara is doing female-centric movies. Why not you?

Heroine-oriented movies needn't be just about horror films or thrillers. Angelina Jolie, for example, can play an action-oriented role as well as a girl-next-door one. When they don't bracket, why do we do that? For that matter, I am playing one of the most interesting characters in Naga Chaitanya's film. It's an innocent, family entertainer.

Nayanthara is doing female-centric films after being here for so many years. She can get openings and that's why she is being offered such films. I am just 4-year-old in the industry.

Now that you are a businesswomen who owns the F45 franchise, are you thinking of turning into a producer?

Since I do have a business bent of mind, I do entertain such ideas. But people ask me to never venture into film production. Don't ever think about it, they tell me. I like experimenting and learning. So, I don't know if I will become a producer in future.

How do you react to the molestation of Malayalam actress Bhavana?

The incident has taken me aback. I have always thought that nobody will dare touch an actor because it will become a big issue. I feel there is no point in celebrating Women's Day and the like when we don't respect women at the ground level. If someone does that to me, I will kill that person on the spot.