"I am not desperate to reach the top"- Sheetal Menon
Features
-Staff
By Staff
Sheetal
Menon,
the
very
popular
model
is
now
knocking
at
the
doors
of
Bollywood
with
her
to-be-released
debut
project,
Bhram
–
An
Illusion,
directed
by
Pavan
Kaul.
Here
is
the
new
face
talking
about
her
experience
as
a
model
and
actress.
Sheetal
confesses
that
her
experience
as
a
super
model
has
indeed
helped
her
a
lot
as
far
as
acting
is
concerned.
"My
modelling
stint
has
made
me
more
confident
and
also
aware
of
things
around
me
as
far
as
technicalities
are
concerned.
As
a
model,
one
learns
to
deal
with
the
public,
though
as
an
actor,
one
needs
to
be
more
prepared.
My
stint
with
the
dance
form
of
Bharat
Natyam
has
also
helped
me
tremendously
as
an
actor
in
the
sense
that
I
could
get
into
the
right
mode
of
expression
as
and
when
my
director
Pavanji
asked
me
to
get
into
the
skin
of
my
character
in
Bhram,
which
stars
Milind
Soman,
Dino
Morea
and
Simone
Singh,
besides
me."
What
role
does
Sheetal
play
in
Bhram?
I
ask
her
point
blank
as
she
settles
down
on
a
sofa
on
the
sets
after
the
director
announces
the
pack
up,
way
past
midnight.
"Basically
Bhram
is
a
film
which
revolves
around
relationships
in
life
and
is
a
beautiful
film
on
emotions
in
life.
Ï
am
playing
the
once
in
a
life
time
role
of
Antara
Tyagi.
The
character
that
I
play
in
the
film
is
very
cynical,
intense
as
well
as
strong,
who
hates
men
because
she
has
been
let
down
in
the
past
by
men
and
feels
that
men
are
not
reliable.
I
have
to
state
that
it
is
quite
tough
for
me
to
play
the
character
that
I
play
in
the
film,
because
it
is
exactly
opposite
to
what
I
am
in
real
life",
opines
the
lady.
Sheetal
has
also
had
a
brief
stint
for
three
months
with
Anupam
Kher
as
her
tutor
at
his
Acting
School.
Sheetal
states,
"When
I
was
new,
I
had
absolutely
no
clue
as
to
how
the
film
industry
works.
Luckily
my
career
as
a
model
clicked
and
I
started
getting
offers
to
act
in
films,
though
before
Bhram
I
really
wasn't
serious
about
a
career
as
an
actress.
It
is
a
very
competitive
world
here
in
Bollywood
and
you
just
cannot
afford
to
go
half
prepared
as
an
actor.
I
grabbed
the
role
in
Bhram
because
it
is
the
kind
of
character
that
I
was
longing
to
do
in
films.
In
any
case,
I
do
not
think
I
could
have
asked
for
a
better
break
as
a
new
comer.
Isn't
it?"
The
actress
adds,
"It
was
the
ace
photographer
Atul
Kasbekar
who
spotted
me
at
a
party
and
asked
me
if
I
would
like
to
be
a
part
of
one
of
the
shoots
he
was
doing
for
Sahara
with
Amitabh
Bachchan
and
Aishwarya
Bachchan.
Since
then,
I
didn't
have
to
look
back.
Modelling
just
happened
when
he
suggested
that
I
try
my
hand
at
modelling
and
almost
all
my
major
campaigns
were
with
Atul
since
there
was
a
certain
comfort
level
with
him.
His
modelling
agency
Matrix
asked
me
to
go
audition
for
Bhram
since
they
needed
some
one
who
knew
acting
and
also
had
a
modelling
background.
I
went
and
they
handed
over
to
me
a
five-page
dialogue
sheet.
It
took
me
three
and
a
half
hours
to
do
the
audition.
Though
I
didn't
frankly
like
what
I
did,
Pavan
liked
the
way
I
faced
the
camera
and
I
was
signed
to
play
the
lead
opposite
Dino
in
the
film."
Sheetal
says
that
success,
as
a
model,
didn't
come
to
her
overnight.
"At
the
age
of
six,
I
lost
my
father
who
was
in
the
army.
My
mum
and
I
have
gone
through
harrowing
days.
This
has
helped
me
grow
stronger
in
life,
though
life
has
been
tough
for
us
in
the
initial
stages
after
dad
died
and
there
were
even
moments
when
I
felt
like
a
loser
and
thought
of
giving
up
everything."
When
it
comes
to
exposing
for
films,
Sheetal
is
pragmatic.
"I
know
one
thing
about
the
industry.
Nothing
can
be
forced
on
you
if
you
do
not
wish
to
go
overboard
with
desperation.
If
you
are
comfortable
with
your
body
and
know
your
comfort
level,
you
can
decide
to
what
extent
you
are
ready
to
expose
your
body.
This
is
only
the
beginning
of
my
career.
I
have
a
long
way
to
go.
Though
I
do
not
at
all
believe
in
planning
things
in
life,
I
want
to
give
my
best
shot
to
whatever
role
I
am
assigned
and
am
not
desperate
to
reach
the
top
through
hook
or
crook.
I
want
to
do
roles,
which
excite
me
as
an
actor.
In
fact,
I
am
very
keen
on
experimenting
with
all
kinds
of
roles
and
be
known
as
a
versatile
actress
instead
of
being
relegated
to
the
sidelines
as
a
sex
bomb."