Disha Patani opens up about her childhood idol and the Baaghi sequel; reveals that she has signed up for a period-drama for which she will be learning sword-fighting
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 23, 2018)

Acting was never on her agenda. She was studying B.Tech when she won a competition and was called to Mumbai for a shoot. In the city she was spotted and taken on by an agency. “I started being called for auditions and though I was terrible, I was signed for a few commercials,” reminisces Disha Patani, adding that because her attendance in college was dropping, she eventually shifted to Mumbai. “I didn’t know how I was going to survive here but I did and then films happened just like that.”

She debuted in Hindi films with Neeraj Pandey’s M S Dhoni - The Untold Story as Priyanka Jha, the cricketer’s girlfriend, and confides that she accepted the biopic because she wanted to showcase her histrionics before turning glam. Last year, Disha was seen in the Jackie Chan action-adventure comedy, Kung Fu Yoga, and is far from upset that the film didn’t work in India. “I got to meet my childhood idol Jackie Chan and observe him on the sets. I’m still in touch with him but Jackie’s a busy man. He’s 63 and hasn’t taken a day off. In many ways, (Baaghi 2 co-star) Tiger (Shroff) reminds me of him. He was offered Kung Fu Yoga too but couldn’t do it because of scheduling conflicts,” the actress informs, going on to rave about good friend Tiger who is a role model for hard work, passion and martial arts skills. “He has made me more focused.”

However, she’s quick to refute rumours that she’s dating the 28-year-old actor, wondering why it’s so hard for people to accept that one can’t be friends with a guy. “Initially we’d talk about these stories, but now I’m over it,” she shrugs, all praise for the Shroffs. Buzz is, Tiger’s mother Ayesha sends her home-cooked meals to the sets? “What’s wrong with that? Come on, surely this can’t be news when so much is happening in politics,” she says.

Isn’t she worried about being overshadowed by her more established co-star in the Sajid Nadiadwala production, the Baaghi sequel, you prod, and her eyes widen in surprise, “I never think that way. In my debut film, I was there for just 10 minutes but people liked me. You’ll know why I did Baaghi 2 once you see it. We did a lot of workshops with Ahmed sir (director Ahmed Khan) and were so prepped up that we’d can shots in one or two takes.”

Interestingly, you’d expect Disha to sail through the naach-gaana but she says that having never danced in a film before, it was stressful. “Tiger and I killed it with our moves, but getting the expressions right took a while since I’m a shy girl in real life, a bit of a tomboy really. Ahmed sir saved my life, he’s very organised and chilled out,” she says about her co-star.

Would she ever go to a director asking for work? “I don’t think I can. You can’t really pressurise someone to take you and also, I have an ego since I’m a Rajput,” says Disha, going on to reveal that she has replaced Shruti Haasan as a warrior princess in Sundar C’s Sangamithra which will reportedly be released in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu simultaneously. “I will be learning sword fighting for it.”

Meanwhile, she’s still waiting for stronger roles. “But unfortunately in India, not too many strong roles are written for girls. I dream of playing Wonder Woman someday,” she says wistfully. Is she doing the Student of the Year sequel with Tiger? “No, no, we should wait a while before doing another film together,” she reasons, dismissing rumours of having signed Housefull 4 and Mohit Suri’s next and saying her recent meeting with Ashutosh Gowariker was just a “general meeting”.

When she’s not working, what does she do? “I’m always at home, in the gym or at a class. I don’t socialise at all,” she says.