Garima Sharma (BOMBAY TIMES; May 8, 2014)

With no filmi background, 24-year-old Kriti Sanon was expectedly overwhelmed when director Sabbir Khan and producer Sajid Nadiadwala signed her for Heropanti within 10 minutes of her first screen test. “After the audition, Sabbir sir casually told me that we had to meet Sajid sir. On the way, he said, ‘Krits, you are going to sign the film’,” recalls Kriti, an electronics and communication engineer.

 The Delhi girl, who started as a model when she was 20, walked the runway before shifting to Mumbai. She did a few TV commercials and encouraged by the response, started looking at a career in films. It’s then that the Telugu project Nenokkadine came her way. “Actually, I was juggling both as they were being shot simultaneously,” she says.

 In Heropanti, Kriti plays Dimpy, debutant Tiger Shroff’s love interest. About her co-star, she says, “He is a very simple, shy and sweet boy; someone who is down-to-earth and respects people a lot. Since we were both new, we helped each other. Before the look test, Sabbir sir had told me that Tiger is an introvert, and I should try and make him open up. But I found him to be quite normal. Of the two of us, I am more talkative. We are two different individuals and that’s why we have this buddy bonding, which has become better with time. That’s also why there are no rumours about us.”

 Kriti confesses she doesn’t have too many friends in the industry. And the actress, who stays alone in the city, says her director has been a great support. “I have troubled Sabbir sir for everything — from the doctor’s number to the furniturewala’s number. Of course, I talk to my family 10 times a day. My mom keeps khabar of everything, so I don’t feel lonely,” she says. With the film nearing release, the youngster says she feels the pressure, but Tiger is facing it even more than she is since he is the star son. “People know him and can relate to him because of Jackie sir. I don’t have that connection with the audience right now. I will be more stressed when it releases, but I think only the performances will matter in the end,” she concludes.

 Heropanti, produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and presented by UTV Motion Pictures, releases May 23.