Unlike many other star kids, Shraddha Kapoor didn't enjoy a big launch in Bollywood. Though she made her debut in 2010 (Teen Patti), it was only with Aashiqui 2 (2013) that she tasted success. However, since then, the actress has been slowly and steadi ly making inroads into the industry. With her first ever attempt at a biopic, Haseena Parkar, all set to hit screens and another one on Saina Nehwal in the pipeline, Shraddha is living her childhood dream of being a Bollywood heroine. Excerpts from her conversation with BT...

You are playing the title role in Haseena Parkar, a biopic on the mafia queen, who was Dawood Ibrahim's sister. What intrigued you about her character?
When Apoorva Lakhia (director) narrated the story of Haseena Parkar, I was amazed that it was a true story. I couldn't even imagine dealing with the kind of losses she has experienced in her life. Essaying a complex character like her has been an emotionally-draining experience. After the trailer released, many people told me that they were not expecting me to play a character like this. So, if the film is appreciated, it would mean a lot to me because it is different from what I have done so far.

The gangster saga in Bollywood has essentially been about male underworld figures. When it comes to leading ladies playing a female don, the examples are few and far between. Where did you draw your references from?
To understand the quiet confidence that Haseena gains on becoming Aapa, I borrowed some inspiration from The Godfather. However, the main driving force was her own experience and how it all shaped her.

As an actor, do you submit to the director's vision or do you also bring a lot to the table in terms of fleshing out a character?
As an actor, you are living out the director's vision. He tells you how he sees the character and how he expects you to breathe life into it. Though I give my inputs too, every film and director is different, and I adapt myself to the way each filmmaker works. Talking about this film, Apoorva was like a bank of information; he had researched on the film for close to two years and had even interacted with Haseena before her death in 2014. During our interactions, I would listen intently and absorb everything that he was saying. I met her family as well. I tried to empathize with her character because in a way, her story is heartbreaking. I prepped a lot for the role, including putting on weight.

You have clearly come a long way since your first film. How much do you think you have grown as an actor since then?
I have changed a lot as an actor since my first film. Earlier, I used to think that I couldn't do many things; I had immense self-doubt. Though I have made a conscious effort to change that, I think I will always be a little doubtful about my performances because that is who I am.

It's an exciting time for actresses. Though there have been films which were shouldered by female protagonists in the past as well, their numbers have gone up significantly now. What is your view?
It doesn't matter whether films are male or female-centric, people want to watch content-driven movies. Queen, Mary Kom and Neerja received the appreciation they did because of their stories. Also, these films were inspiring.

You're the quintessential Bollywood insider. However, success didn't come easily to you. Your debut didn't do anything for your career and you had to wait till Aashiqui 2 for the tide to turn in your favour. Do you consider your journey to be a struggle despite being an industry kid?
I am proud that I am Shakti Kapoor's daughter. My father has done more than 700 films and the love and adulation that he has received is humbling. I have a long way to go before I achieve even a small percentage of that. Today, there are heated debates about star kids and outsiders, but a lot of people didn't even know that I had two releases before Aashiqui 2. There were also those who were unaware that I am Shakti Kapoor's daughter. Between my first film and Aashiqui 2, I have lost count of the screen tests and auditions that I appeared for. I have also lost count of the number of rejections that I faced. Even after Aashiqui 2, I had to audition for Haider. The point is, one has to work hard to get a film. There is no success formula that one can follow in the industry. Everyone's journey is different; they have had their struggles to overcome and I have had mine. However, when it's your childhood dream to be an actress, you somehow find the strength to fulfill it.

Your upcoming films include Saaho with Prabhas and the Saina Nehwal biopic. Did you choose these films because they let you to tap into unexplored aspects of yourself? Or were the stories irresistible?
When a film scares and excites me at the same time, I want to be a part of it; I get a kick out of it. When Saaho was offered to me, I was thrilled because I will be playing a cop for the first time. What was also challenging was the fact that I would be speaking in two languages, Telugu and Hindi. Talking about the Saina Nehwal biopic, preparations are on in full swing; I have already completed 33 sessions of training in badminton, with each session lasting two hours. For me, it's a huge responsibility to portray Saina on the big screen.

While your films are talked about, there is a lot of scrutiny on your personal life as well. How do you deal with it?
The scrutiny on my personal life doesn't affect me anymore. I don't read the papers or watch TV. I watch movies, documentaries and interesting videos on my laptop. I'm very clear about where my focus lies. I get involved with whatever I do and if something doesn't interest me, I won't even look in that direction.