Nauheed on her films and roles

Nauheed Cyrusi wants to do 'substantial roles'

Last seen playing a dark character in Anwar, Nauheed Cyrusi finds her role in the film Life Mein Kabhie Kabhiee a little difficult. Nauheed is a huge lover of Nagesh Kuknoor movies and does not want to take roles that are more about acting and less of shedding clothes.

What is your character in the film Life Mein Kabhi Kabhie?
I am playing one of the five friends named Mona for whom fame is happiness. In order to get fame she decides to become an actress and goes to any extent to become one.

Was it difficult playing the role?
Yes it was difficult because I have always played roles in films which do not require too much of an effort. But this film really required me to sit down, read the script, read my dialogue and I really said 'My God there is lot to do here'. So I think it is great that it has given me the opportunity to work in such a substantial film.

You have done a film like Anwar. So was that not difficult?
I know it was difficult because it did not have this many dialogues. When you put dialogues and performance together then it is, what I put it as, testing. So in this film I had to learn the dialogues and at the same time I had to perform.

In this movie you are playing a very ambitious girl. So are you this ambitious in real life too?
No I'm not that ambitious at all. I'm not the kind who would go through anything and everything to become an actress. I would realize that self respect comes first; your dignity should be intact. If it happens it happens or I would rather do something else. See if I get caught up in a web then may be ten years down the line when I have my own children then I would think God what I had gone through. So I better have a clean life.

You have always got different kinds of role non-glamorous ones like in Anwar?
Maybe it is because I do not go out asking for roles. I have never done that and I don't know if I can. May be I have to do my PR a lot better. I'm fine till now but at a point of time. I'm sure I would get frustrated and say that now I need to get going.

Do you really enjoy doing Anwar kinds of role?
Yes I do but I also like doing other roles too. As an actor you get to know every kind of cinema so that is the best thing that could happen to you.

What made you go missing after Anwar?
I think that at that time, everybody was signing films and coming out and there was a sex explosion. Everything was all about sex and kissing which I think is all rubbish. I know that is something that one needs to do today but I will not do it. I did not want to get involved in all that so, it was better to stay away. Had I done these films then people would have told me bye-bye. I waited and got a film like Life Mein Kabhie Kabhiee.

What kind of roles are you looking forward to?
Any kind of role. In fact I would just make sure that the role would take me forward and not push me back. None of those where more than acting I have to shed clothes. Anything substantial is good.

Any dream role?
At this time I cannot even talk of dream roles. I have not even established myself yet properly. So, after some time I may have a list.

Gul Panag who is bubbly in real life has done a different kind of role in Dor. So is it something that you are planning to do?
I have done something like that in Anwar which was very dark. If something else comes by I would do it. I would love to do Dor. I love Nagesh Kuknoor, if I have a chance to work with him I would do Gul's role if not Ayesha Takia's role.

Now-a-days actresses are very proud of their glamour quotient. Kareena Kapoor has done both glamorous and non glamorous roles. Do you think glamorous roles are necessary for an actor?
See glamour makes you a star and not an actor. When people watched her in K3G in a glamorous role of 'Poo' they said 'wow she is hot'. No one said 'wow she has acted well' but when they saw her in Omkara, people said 'man she is really beautiful, yet she has made her mark as an actor'. That is the difference. Glamorous roles get you more work but today times have changed and actors are looking for more script oriented films as well, be it an Aamir Khan, be it a Shah Rukh Khan or a Kareena Kapoor.

How was it working with Vikram Bhatt?
He is flawless as a director. He has an ability to just tap your talent and get it out and I'm just glad and lucky that I was a part of his film.

How was the learning experience?
I really learnt everything possible from an actor's point of view. But I think it depends on director to director. Maybe if I work with some other director I might not be able to give such a performance.

What is next in the pipeline?
My next film is Raffu Chakkar which is out and out a comedy film.