An Indian actress, TV host, video jockey, model and beauty pageant titleholder, she won the title of Femina Miss India World in 2007 and represented India at Miss World 2007. Since then, she has gone
on to grace the covers of fashion magazines, walk the ramp for leading designers, been the face of campaigns, and acted in a slew of Indian and international movies and TV series like ‘Zubaan’, ‘Tandav’,
‘Never Kiss Your Best Friend’, ‘Angry Indian Goddesses’, ‘Panjaa’, ‘The Freelancer’ and most recently, ‘Made In Heaven 2’. A trained singer, yoga practitioner and mental health advocate, she’ll next be seen
in a short film with Mohit Raina that comes up on web platform Sony Liv.
Here, she talks about her greatest fear, her most marked characteristic, and more.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Being always peaceful.
What is your greatest fear?
Large spiders.
What is the trait you most deplore in
yourself?
Impatience.
What is the trait you most deplore in
others?
Mediocrity.
Which living person do you most admire?
My mother.
What is your most marked characteristic?
I speak my mind. Always.
What is your current state of mind?
Calm.
What do you consider the most overrated
virtue?
Patience.
On what occasion do you lie?
When I am running late.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Humour.
What is the quality you most like in
a woman?
Confidence.
Which words or phrases do you
most overuse?
“To be honest…”
What or who is the greatest love of
your life?
Food.
When and where were you happiest?
Now. I have just moved into my own
house in Mumbai, that I have bought
with my own earnings.
Which talent would you most like
to have?
The ability to foresee the future.
What do you consider your greatest
achievement?
Overcoming depression.
If you were to die and come back as
a person or a thing, what would it
be?
A wildcat.
Where would you most like to live?
Where I am right now.
What is your most treasured
possession?
My mind.
What is your favourite
occupation?
Acting.
Who is your hero of fiction?
Wonder Woman.
What are your favourite names?
Kiki. Goose.
What is it that you most dislike?
Lies.
What is your greatest regret?
Not having had stood up for
myself more, earlier.
Which historical figure do you
identify with?
Don’t know about historical
figure, but I do identify with Nina
Simone’s ideology and music a lot.
How would you like to die?
Old, and in my sleep.
What is your motto?
Anything is possible.
Shilpi Madan for The Leela