On September 15, Mumbai’s iconic non-AC, diesel-run red double-decker BEST bus plied on the streets of the city one last time. “Mumbai ki apni double-decker buski aakhri savari pe humare saath chaliye,” announced the bus conductor, as the double-decker bus rolled out of the bus depot at Seepz (Andheri East). Commuters, including Pagalpanti actress Kriti Kharbanda, were surprised when they were handed over vintage tickets that looked nothing like the printed ones.

It was an emotional day for the staff as well as Mumbaikars who travelled from various parts of the city for one last ride on the bus.

Kriti Kharbanda joined us on this unforgettable ride with a lot of enthusiasm. While being handed over the ticket from conductor Gopal Sukte, she said, “I can’t believe this is my last ride on this bus. For me, Mumbai is synonymous with these red double-decker buses.”

About her memories attached to these buses, she shared, “When I told my mother about this, she fondly shared one story with me. I remember I came to Mumbai from Bengaluru when I was 11-years-old to shoot an ad. My mom told me, ‘Yaad hai tune kitna halla kiya tha at the bus stop in Andheri? You insisted that mujhe issi bus mein travel karna hai,upar wale floor pe baithke’. Later, I travelled on these buses when I first came to Mumbai to pursue my career in showbiz. It was a joy ride that I took with my friends. I am sure the commuters that are on the bus with us today have such lovely memories too – phir woh chahe romantic yaadein ho ya college ki mastiyaan.”

The Housefull 4 actress says that the bus ticket she bought for this last ride will find a special place in her home. She said, “I have a box which is full of my ‘many first’ memories, like the boarding pass of my first international trip, my first business class ticket, and now this one, which will go right on top as I will never get to ride this bus again!”

Marking the last journey of the bus, the staff including the driver and the conductor got emotional and interacted with commuters. Conductor Sachin Waghmare shared some memories and encouraged commuters to share their memories. A diary was also circulated among commuters to pen their thoughts about their last ride.

“There are many unforgettable memories attached to these buses. Kuch aise pal bhi hai jisme chhutte paison ke liye hamari aur commuters ke beech mein ann-bann ho jaati thi, lekin doosre din sab bhool kar wapas hum issi bus mein milte the aur safar shuru karte the. I hope hamara yeh safar buss chalta rahe,” Waghmare signed off on an emotional note.

- The iconic red buses have a history that dates back to 1937 when they were introduced to tackle the city’s growing traffic.

- Modelled after the motorized double-decker buses of London, Mumbai’s BEST-operated double-deckers became an integral part of the city.

- The first Limited Bus service in Mumbai started between Colaba and Mahim in 1940.

- In the 1960s around 900 of these buses plied in the city, but eventually, the number dwindled to 48.

Kriti Kharbanda has done her fair share of work in the film industry, including films in Hindi, Telugu and Kannada languages. However, the actress’ perspective is clear. “I don’t look at it as different, regional parts of an industry. For me, it is the Indian film industry, and I am proud to be associated with it,” she says.

The perception of films, too, has changed with pan-India projects taking the spotlight. Ask her how she thinks this has changed the dynamics of the film industry and the Housefull 4 actress replies, “I think people have finally realised that unity is strength. We may speak different languages, but we are all Indian. Every moviegoer, irrespective of the language they speak or understand, wants to be entertained when they go to a cinema hall. When you put your heart and soul into making a good project, it’s also important to make sure that it reaches every part of the country. Dub it into all languages and make sure everyone watches it and talks about it with pride. I am grateful that producers understand the importance of reaching a wider audience and are making sure they enjoy the product.”

Having been part of OTT projects, and being a viewer too, Kriti feels that the space has changed a lot for everyone involved in showbiz. Has it also opened more avenues, giving actors increasing opportunities to showcase their work? To this, she says, “I think every opportunity, irrespective of the platform, is great, and one should treat it as such. Personally, I believe in doing my best on each project. I can’t control the results or feedback, but I can surely give it my 100 per cent. Having said that, every actor looks for an opportunity to showcase what they are good at. The fact that people have become more accepting of watching films and shows on OTT platforms has changed things for us. Because of that, we are getting more opportunities. The industry will adapt to changes, but in the meantime, as an actor, all I wish for is that the viewers keep watching us on whatever platform they like to.”

Talking about her style fundas, she says that while she prefers comfort over glamour, and fashion can be a cool amalgamation of both. She says, “I am a ‘sneakers over heels’ kind of girl. But I feel fashion can be a mix of glamour and comfort. I also feel that sustainable fashion is the need of the hour. Repeating outfits should be normalised. I often wear the same outfits by just reinventing the way I style them. Among friends, we also time-share dresses. Ye karna chahiye. Outfit hai, OTP thodi hai jo ek baar use kiya to phir nahi karoge!”

As she spent family time with her folks in Bengaluru last year, Kriti Kharbanda enjoyed doing what the family loves to do the most, which is watch movies together. And it is during this time that Kriti realised how much she wants to work with the Khans in the industry! It is the Khandaan of Bollywood who she grew up watching and now that she is an actor she is itching to work with them.

Talking about her love for cinema and her family, Kriti said, “We are a family that would dedicate alternate Sundays to watching movies in cinema halls. So, my dad got a projector and a huge screen during the lockdown to enjoy a theatrical experience at home. He has done this set up in the terrace of our house. We had fun movie nights. I recently spent some quality time with my parents and siblings and did not worry about the world.”

During her college days, Kriti remembers how she would bunk classes to watch her favourite stars on the big screen. A fan ofthe three Khans of Bollywood — Shah Rukh, Salman and Aamir — Kriti hopes that one day she gets to act opposite SRK who she used to crush on the most. “Working with the Khans is definitely on my bucket list. I will achieve this one day and I have no doubts on that. While growing up, Shah Rukh Khan is the one who I admired the most. I remember I was in school when Kuch Kuch Hota Hai released. I bought that famous friendship band shown in the film, from outside my school and I wore it for a whole year. I really want to feature in a film with Shah Rukh sir.”

While many Bollywood actresses, including Malaika Arora, Jacqueline Fernandez and Deepika Padukone have showed off some hot pole dancing moves on the big screen, this dance form is also a favourite fitness regime for many of them. Kriti Kharbanda, too, is a huge fan of pole dancing and had earlier flaunted some neat moves on social media. For more than a year, she took a break from it, but is now back to her favourite fitness regime.

She says, “I went back to pole dancing after a gap of almost a year-and-a-half. Through the pandemic, I didn’t have access to a pole, though I wish I did. And when I went back to pole dancing, I felt like I had to go back to the basics. But the sense of release and happiness that I felt, was unbelievable. I remember my trainer looking at me and saying, ‘That is probably the most genuine smile I have seen on someone who has returned to pole.’ That’s how much I missed it, and that’s how happy I was to revisit something that I love doing.”

As a fitness regimen, Kriti swears by pole dancing. “It’s absolutely amazing; it’s the kind of workout that makes you feel so empowered. It’s a great stress buster. It requires so much concentration that you have no choice, but to throw out every other emotion and thought, because one step wrong can lead to injury. I think what pole dancing does is — it helps you get in shape physically, and also helps your mental fitness. After doing a pole workout session after so long, I felt like I had meditated for an hour. It was amazing,” says the Housefull 4 actress.

Kriti points out that it has more benefits apart from fitness. “My workout has helped me transform my body language more than anything else,” she says, adding, “I know I have become far more confident than I used to be, I know I feel fitter than I used to feel. I guess it’s something that gives you this energy. It makes you feel like you can conquer the world because what you are doing is working against gravity. It makes me feel extremely empowered, and I believe it’s for everyone. Anyone who wants to, should try their hand at pole dancing and take it up.”

The Pagalpanti actress is back at work now, but she did face a difficult phase. Speaking about it, she shares, “The last couple of months have been challenging for everyone around me. I know that it was difficult for my family and me, wherein many tested positive for Coronavirus. It gave us a reality check that while the heart may want many things, it’s very important to be practical and safe for yourself and others.”

The year 2020 was tough for most actors, especially for those who were stuck alone and away from family through most parts of the lockdown. Actress Kriti Kharbanda went through an ordeal, because she was diagnosed with malaria in November last year, and she had to cope with it while gathering strength to get back to work.

Talking about that phase, the Housefull 4 actress recalls, “I was detected with malaria in November, and was advised complete bed rest for three weeks. However, I didn’t want the schedule of 14 Phere to go helter-skelter because of me, so I insisted that we start the shoot as per schedule. I was barely 10 days into malaria when I started shooting. Moreover, we were in Lucknow, shooting for nearly 18 hours a day.”

The actress, who would spend about three hours a day getting ready as a bride to face the camera, adds, “I lost six kilos, and the stress was showing on my skin and body. I am just happy that I was able to finish the schedule. It wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the entire team.”

What also helped is a friendly costar like Vikrant Massey, who she was working with for the first time. She says, “If you have a lot of things in common with your co-star, then it helps to build a rapport and work becomes easier despite all odds. Vikrant is not just a fantastic actor, but a great co-star as well. We bonded over our love for food, comedy and cinema. I am a bit of a moofat, but he gets that, and he doesn’t take offence, so that helped us get along. We spent a lot of time together on set, we even played cricket and cards in our free time.”

This isn’t the first time Kriti is playing a bride on screen. In films like Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana (2017) and Veerey Ki Wedding (2018), she had posed as a bride, and while her onscreen weddings might have looked grand, in real life, the actress says that she is glad that people are taking to hosting intimate wedding affairs, something that she personally prefers.

She shares, “Meri maano toh bas bhaag kar shaadi karlo. I think woh sabse best hota hai (laughs!). I feel that due to Coronavirus restrictions, people have benefited with hosting intimate marriage ceremonies. I think most people want to do small functions with limited people, but they fall prey to the pressure of hosting big fat weddings. Aap hi socho…ki stage pe sabko namaste namaste karte baithna throughout, the entire time goes in that.”

The actress further fondly opens up about her parents’ wedding. “My mom tells me that she spent so many hours greeting guests during her wedding, when she actually had zero idea who they were. Sabke per chhoote chhoote unki kamar dard karne lagi and post that day, she hasn’t even met half the people. One exciting thing that happened during their wedding is that there was a power outage. So, their pheras happened with five cars surrounding them with their headlights on!”

With most of the project being wrapped, Kriti is now planning to visit her folks in Bengaluru. She says, “It’s been a year since I met my parents. The last time I visited them was in January 2020. I am dying to have some maa ke haath ka khaana.”

While she missed the presence of her parents during the lockdown, she had the company of boyfriend Pulkit Samrat throughout the tough phase. “Honestly, before Pulkit came into my life, I would live by myself. I am just somebody who doesn’t feel lonely very easily,” she says, adding, “I still like the idea of spending time by myself, because I started working from a very young age, and I used to travel on my own and take care of myself. I have been very independent all my life. Having said that, I must say that it was quite a long and tough phase and I did feel blessed that I had people around me to love me and so I didn’t have to go through the mental trauma of being by myself.”

Ask Kriti if there are any plans of taking the relationship with Pulkit to the next level and she says, “We have been together for two years and I will just say that this is probably the best phase of my life.”

She had a single direct-to-digital release in 2020, but Kriti Kharbanda says she is extremely happy with the pace of her career. The actor, who also started shooting 14 Phere amid the Coronavirus pandemic, says, “I am hoping for better and better work. Fortunately, I think I have been very privileged over the last few years, as I’ve had the option to make choices for myself.”

Kharbanda, 30, who started her acting career with Telugu film Boni (2009) and made her Bollywood debut with Raaz: Reboot in (2016), adds, “When I started my career, I was very young and extremely naive... Obviously, I don’t have any formal training in acting, and it took many years of practice for me to understand the process of choosing a script, and what’s right and wrong for me.”

The actor says her experiences so far have been vital to help her understand the profession better. “What I have learnt in the past few years is to not beat around the bush, learn when to say no — when you think you can’t do something or when you don’t want to do something. I think that is what has got me where I am today, because I have said no to things which a lot of people told me will backfire. Learning to say no is the biggest achievement for me in my career,” explains Kharbanda.

Looking forward to see how her career shapes up in the coming years, she shares, “It has only helped me grow from strength to strength. I am hoping that in the years to come, I am to be part of a film and a cast like Housefull 4 (2019), which is an out-and-out commercial film, and also simultaneously be part of a Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana (2017) and Taish (2020). I want to continue on that path, where I am both a bankable star and good actor.”

I shot my first ad at the age of five and loved being in front of the camera. I went on to act in my college’s dramatic society but since I come from a conservative family, I was focused on completing my studies and getting married. But a billboard of a supermarket chain I was promoting, caught the eye of filmmaker Raj Pippalla who was in Chennai to find a heroine for his next, the Telugu film Boni. I got a call, went for the audition and was selected. My parents were behind me and I signed up. I was thrilled I was being paid money in advance, was getting to play another girl, learn a new language and best of all, did not have to go to college.

In the film, I plan my own kidnapping. My first shot was in a stationary van with green screens. It felt strange. More so because during the shot, people were shaking the van till my director explained things to me. I had just turned 18 and was wearing a branded pink top with blue jeans and a scarf. I couldn’t afford such costly clothes in real life so it felt great to be wearing that. I took that top home with me as a keepsake. I still have it.

My entry in Hindi films also happened by accident. I was in Mumbai for an ad shoot when my talent agency told me that Mukesh Bhatt wanted to meet me. He had seen my work down South and wanted to cast me in Raaz: Reboot. He didn’t want an audition, just wanted to give me a narration. I was humbled by the respect he showed. We had a reading the same day while Vikram (Bhatt, director) sir was in the next room. When he came in, I asked him if he wanted to take my audition and he said he could already see his Shaina in me, now, it was for me to decide. I asked for some time and flew back home that night. I spoke to my parents and two days later, signed the contract.

We started out with Emraan (Hashmi) and me shooting the song “Yaad Hai Na” in a haunted castle. It was minus 4 degrees. There was a dialogue leading to the song and while saying it, the language felt alien because till then I had been memorising my lines in Telugu or Kannada and suddenly Hindi was so effortless. I missed all the preparation.

But I quickly realised that here, I could improvise, and was focusing more on what to eat rather than my lines. After the first take, Vikram sir walked up to me, put his hand on my head and said I had done it really well. And that wasn’t all, after a scene, which had me standing in front of a fogged-up mirror in a towel, which I clean up to look at myself, he came all the way to my vanity van and said that he had been directing for a long time and that shot was one of the best he had ever seen. “I am proud to say that I have found you,” his words still resonate. South taught me dedication to my craft, in Hindi films, I found my passion.

Kriti Kharbanda with Emraan Hashmi in Raaz: Reboot; The actress in Boni (left)

Actors Kriti Kharbanda and Pulkit Samrat have been painting the world red on social media with their loved-up pictures. And Kharbanda seems to be quite content with their relationship as she says that they both have learned immensely from each other both in their personal and professional lives.

“He has always been a very good actor and I love that he is a team player. For him, everybody is equal. What I have learnt from him is how to be secure in your own place. I sometimes wonder how he does it. That part of my life where I feel more secure as an actor comes from him because I have seen him do it. He holds his own in all his films, in ensembles,” shares the actor.

Further dolling out praises on Samrat, she adds, “I love how he is evolving as an actor. I am proud as a friend, girlfriend and a co-star.”

The 30-year-old, who has worked with Samrat in films such as Veerey Ki Wedding (2018) and Pagalpanti (2019) and the recent web project, Taish, says she appreciates the energy that he brings to the set.

“It is great having him on set. Not just because we are in a personal relationship. I have worked with Pulkit even before we started dating each other. In fact, that is how we first met and that is how we became good friends. If he wasn’t a good co-actor to me, we would not be where we are today personally,” she explains.

But even though the couple has worked together in films together, Kharbanda admits that they never pre-decide what projects they are going to take up.

“We keep our personal and professional life separate. When he signed Taish and when I signed the film, we didn’t know we were both doing it. We discussed it only after both of us got on board, and we happened to discuss our schedules and that is how we found out,” she says.

Kriti Kharbanda may be just two films old in Bollywood, but she has been a leading lady in Kannada and Telegu films since 2009. Ahead of her Hindi romantic drama Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana hitting screens this Friday, the actress spoke to BT about how women still don't have decision-making rights post marriage, why auditioning for a role is not the norm in B-Town and why more than pay parity, actresses need to fight for the same respect that's shown to male actors. Excerpts...

While your Bollywood debut was a horror flick, the second outing was a comedy. And now, your upcoming release is a romantic drama. Are you making deliberate efforts to avoid getting stereotyped?
It's plain luck that I've been offered films from various genres. When I did Raaz Reboot, many people warned me that I would be typecast as an actress who does horror and serious films. Though the fear of being typecast was there, I had faith in myself and I knew that I had a funny face (laughs). Fortunately, my second film (Guest Iin London) was a comedy, which gave me the chance to be seen as a typical Hindi film heroine. I was asked to test for Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana even before that film released. I was a little taken aback because I hadn't auditioned for my earlier films, but then, I realised that we'll be tested at every stage in our lives. That experience also made me realize that one could be a fabulous actor, but until and unless you fit the director's vision, you will not be finalized for a role.

Given the competitive environment that you inhabit, was there any other incident that made you realise that you have to bring your A-game with you all the time?
Three years ago, I delivered a huge hit in Kannada, titled Googly. Soon after, I attended an awards function where they were giving away two awards — one critics’ choice and the other, popular choice. I was confident about receiving an award, as I felt that I deserved it. However, there was some politics involved and I didn’t win anything. That’s when I realized that being talented and having a beautiful face is not enough. That incident made me work harder and the following year, I got that award. But it still hurts me that one of my best performances went unappreciated. I know actors say that awards don’t matter but I love being appreciated and I want awards. In fact, I want both rewards and awards. If another actor has performed better than me, I will genuinely appreciate him or her. But at the end of the day, I am very competitive.

While you come across as someone who is frank, many stars prefer being politically correct, fearing backlash on social media. Have you ever felt the pressure to be more diplomatic?
I will speak my mind. I feel strongly for people who aren't able to speak out because I was that person at one point. I couldn't speak my mind, I used to have panic attacks and feel anxious. It was and it still is a part of my life. For me, stardom is also the ability to influence people. So, when I see Deepika Padukone speak about her battle with depression, I feel inspired. She is making the right use of her stardom. I want to help people who have been abused both men and women. I want to make it big so that when I address the issue, it will make an impact.

Coming back to Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana, there is a dialogue in the film, (“Beti ko padhana chahiye beton ke tarah, padha diya use, aage kya karegi, sasural kya karvaega usse, kahan us beti ke haath main hota hai”) which seems to echo a patriarchal mindset. Do you think that even with so much progress, women still don’t have a voice after marriage?
It’s sad, but true. In fact, I have seen it happening to people I know. Our definition of marriage is still the age-old one. If our thinking about rapes hasn’t changed, how can we evolve as far as our attitude towards marriage is concerned? Eighty per cent men still consider women as their ‘paaon ki jooti’. Harsher punishments have to be meted out to rapists and similar punishments should be given to people who abuse their partners in a marriage as well.

Since you addressed abuse, do you think a campaign like #metoo (women speaking out against sexual harassment and abuse) is important to unite women to stand up against abuse? Will it eventually lead women and men to take legal recourse and ensure that the perpetrators are punished?
The women who were part of the #MeToo campaign had the guts to speak up, but they are not the women we need to reach out to. I don’t undermine the power of social media, but that campaign didn’t do justice to the women who actually need help. I remember how, when I was in class eight, a guy on a bike slapped my behind when I was walking down the street, but I never spoke about it. We need to help such women — the ones who face harassment and then go back to do chulha-chauka as if nothing has happened.

What are the challenges that you encounter as an actress in the Hindi film industry? Many leading ladies have spoken about pay disparity and discrimination between the hero and the heroine when it comes to assignment of hotel rooms and logistics like that...
I think an actress can ask for a remuneration that is directly proportional to the opening her film can fetch at the box office. Since even an average Salman Khan-starrer will earn close to Rs 150 or Rs 200 crore, he can demand a fee that is way higher than anyone else. As an actor, I cannot guarantee that business. today. It’s an industry and everyone wants to make money, people are not here just for the love of cinema. Actually, I feel it’s even more important to be respected. If a director tells me that I am perfect for a role and this is how much he can offer me, I’ll do that film. On the contrary, I’ll walk away if I am told, ‘arre itne main karlona bade hero ki picture hai aapko break de rahe hain hum’.