Rakul Preet, who has been shooting in Lucknow for the past month-and-a-half, says the winter there has brought back her childhood memories of Dilli ki sardi. “Sometimes it makes me wonder how could I manage to do anything as a kid during winters while in Delhi. But, it has been amazing and it reminded me of my school days, when I used to get up early and get dressed for school in the cold foggy mornings.”

She adds that she has enjoyed her time spent shooting in Lucknow. “A lot of actors have shot here in this beautiful city, but this is my first time in Lucknow and I have loved every minute of it. So far, I’ve shopped for chikan suits, gone sightseeing and of course had the most amazing food here,” she says.

The actress, who made her relationship with Jackky Bhagnani official on Instagram earlier this year, says they aren’t in a hurry to tie the knot. “I will talk about my relationship when the time is right. Right now, my focus is on my work,” she tells us.

“The last two-three years have seen a complete shift in not just roles for women but also in the kind of films being made in general and the kind of subjects that are being spoken about,” says Rakul, adding, “More and more women scriptwriters and directors are stepping in, and so, more women-centric films are coming out. I think it’s an overall change in the stories that we’re trying to tell, irrespective of the cast that is there in it, and whether it’s a hero-led, or a heroine-led film. I think each actor, even if it’s not a woman-centric film, is getting equal opportunity in the way stories are being told in our cinemas today.”

She believes the OTT space has helped in this regard too. “I feel that with the whole boom of OTT and the kind of global content that we are getting exposed to, now the onus falls on the writers and directors of our country to keep pushing their boundaries and create content that is at par with international content that’s available. It all goes hand in hand, which is why we are progressing and making some great films today.”

Though she has some exciting Bollywood projects lined up, Rakul says that she has considered venturing into the OTT space as well, but only when the right project comes along. “I will step into it only when I feel there’s something path-breaking and there is something that really challenges me as an actor. I am absolutely open to it,” she signs off.