Titas Chowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 23, 2019)

Urvashi Rautela, who started her career with Singh Saab The Great (2013), believes that her histrionic skills are still untapped. Her upcoming movie, Pagalpanti, she believes, is a stepping stone to the bigger picture. “With Pagalpanti, you’ll see me in a new avatar. I hope things keep getting better from here on out,” she says.

The comic caper has been a learning curve for Urvashi. She shares, “I saw Pagalpanti as a learning opportunity without thinking about what I’m doing in the film. With time, I’ve learnt that life is short and it’s important to maintain friendships with everybody. I developed a good bond with all my co-stars in the film.”

When asked about speculations surrounding director Anees Bazmee recreating a yesteryear track for her in the film, she says, “It’s great if you heard that,” adding, “In the past as well, directors and producers have incorporated songs only for me. It feels great to know that they believe in me. When Anees ji told me he would be remaking an iconic song from ChaalBaaz (1989), which featured Sridevi ma’am, I was overjoyed. Not many people know that I’m a big fan of hers. It’s a tribute to her from me.”

Talking about working with Anil Kapoor, she says excitedly, “He fills up the entire set with so much positivity. Every actor should work with him at least once in their lifetime. You get to learn so many things from him. He’s an amazing human being who supports upcoming talent. My younger brother is a pilot and lives in Portugal. He was overjoyed when he found out that I had signed a film with Anil sir.”

Urvashi says she wants to be known as an established comic actor as humour comes naturally to her. “Apart from gymnastics and action sequences, they’ll see me doing comedy for the first time. I want to be like Sridevi ma’am, Madhuri (Dixit Nene) and Juhi Chawla. I believe I’m a comedienne in real life. I love making fun of myself. And making others laugh makes me happy. I love bringing joy to people’s lives,” she says.

So, what’s next for this actor? “I want to break Anil sir’s record of doing 13 films with Anees ji,” Urvashi signs off with a hearty laugh.

Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; November 16, 2019)

Multi-starrers are not new for Urvashi Rautela. Back in 2016, she was seen in the adult comedy, Great Grand Masti. And now, she is part of the upcoming film, Pagalpanti, which too, features an ensemble cast. However, the actress says that this time around, her outing is on a bigger and grander scale.

Ask her if it was intimidating to share screen space with an actor like Anil Kapoor, and she replies, “Anil sir made me feel totally at home. He also he gave me a lot of tips and guided me throughout the film.” She adds, “He is a legendary actor. I have been a big fan of his. While growing up, I enjoyed watching his movies like Mr. India (1987), Ram Lakhan (1989) and Beta (1992). I also loved his performance in Slumdog Millionaire (2008).”

Urvashi bonded well with John Abraham, too. “I connected with John. I could relate to him as he has a modelling background. Also, like me, he, too, started off with a pageant. John, Anil sir and I are fitness enthusiasts. So, we all used to work out together at the same gym, during the shoot of the film.”

The comic caper also features Pulkit Samrat and Arshad Warsi, and Urvashi says that the boys were quite a riot on the sets. “They used to play pranks. Arshad was extremely funny and used to pull my leg a lot. He used to make fun of me in front of everyone. By the end of the shoot, I was used to it,” she recalls.

The actress, who is known for her dance moves and has been a part of songs like Daddy Mummy (Bhaag Johnny, 2015) and Haseeno Ka Deewana (Kaabil, 2017), is happy that she got a chance to groove to Bimar Dil in Pagalpanti. The song is the recreated version of the Sridevi-starrer, Tera Bemar Mera Dil from Chaalbaaz (1989). Urvashi says, “Sridevi ma’am has always been my idol. I am extremely thankful to director Anees Bazmee for making the song with me. I was already a part of the cast when he told me one day that he wants to do that song with me. It is a recreated version and the steps are different from the original. I hope that the viewers don’t compare me with Sridevi ma’am.”

While she is known for her moves, doesn’t Urvashi crave to be known as an ‘actress’? “I am sure things will change once people see Pagalpanti. I have some good comic scenes in the film. Today, acting is definitely my main focus. I am happy that with this film, I am getting a chance to prove my acting abilities,” she signs off.

Lasyapriya Sundaram (BOMBAY TIMES; March 11, 2018)

Urvashi Rautela has made inroads into Bollywood with films like Singh Saab The Great, Sanam Re and Great Grand Masti. This Friday’s release Hate Story IV saw her slipping into the role of a strip club dancer, who goes on to become a successful supermodel. In a candid chat with BT, the actress talks about how she doesn’t want to limit herself as an actress when it comes to choosing varied roles, how she has turned down roles opposite big stars in the past because she had little to do in those films and why she has no time for love. Excerpts...

What intrigued you to do an erotic thriller like Hate Story IV?
My character, Tasha is the hero of the film. I play a strip club dancer who becomes a supermodel. As an actor, I want to keep evolving and doing challenging roles. This is the fourth installment. I liked my character in the film and I didn’t see the earlier films in the franchise so that this one wouldn’t get affected. Hate Story IV gave me the opportunity to prove my talent. The film also has a social message about women taking a stance for the crimes committed against them.

Didn’t you fear that playing the protagonist in an erotic thriller would lead to you being stereotyped?
It takes a few films to understand what one is good at and what one needs to work on. I don’t like limiting myself and I am open to doing every kind of role. I was also offered a film from a leading production house when I was preparing for Miss Diva pageant. Even though it was a leading role, I don’t regret my decision of turning it down because at that time, the pageant was my focus. In my first film, Singh Saab The Great (2013), I played a village belle. After that I kept getting similar roles, but I didn’t want to get stereotyped. Hence, I opted for the glamorous role of a socialite in Sanam Re (2016). In Great Grand Masti (2016), I played a ghost and in Hate Story IV, I am playing a completely different character. The tags given to an actor are not permanent. In fact, I have let go of many films opposite big actors because I had nothing to do in them. I didn’t want to be a prop in a film. Also, every actress is not offered a female-centric film. The actresses who are cast in such films have screen presence and the ability to carry the film on their own shoulders. Actors like Priyanka Chopra, Kangana Ranaut, Vidya Balan and Rani Mukerji have that ability. Hate Story IV is the first film that focusses completely on my character. In earlier films, there were many senior actors with whom I shared screen space. But for the first time, I am carrying a film on my own shoulders. I am nervous. Initially, I thought doing a film like this was a little too early in my career, but then I made up my mind to take it on as a challenge.

Being fairly new to this industry, what are the challenges you have faced as an actor?
In the past, I have been told that I was too pretty to play a certain role. Many directors think that a pretty face cannot act. It’s unfortunate that beauty becomes a deterrent in getting good roles. Hrithik Roshan is good-looking, but he also embraces the characters that he essays completely.

Even though we live in a post #MeToo world, the casting couch is a reality in the industry. Have you faced it?
Thankfully, I have not faced it. I have heard about it happening to other people and have tried to learn from their experiences. The Harvey Weinstein scandal was a clear indicator of the situation in Hollywood and I cannot say that it doesn’t happen in Bollywood. But I am a strong girl and nobody has ever dared to misbehave with me. When you become a pageant winner, you become a known face. So, winning a pageant helps us in making inroads into the industry. Women should not let anybody take them for a ride. If they face such things, they should talk about it.

What kinds of films excite you as an actor?
I want to do a no-holds-barred action movie next. I want to be able to use the skills I have learnt, like mixed martial arts, gymnastics, taekwondo and kick-boxing. In fact, I would love to do a sports film since I am also a national-level basketball champion. My parents have always encouraged me to play sports. I am first an athlete and then an actor.

Are you dating?
I have no time for love as work takes up all my time. A lot of men show interest in me and they try hard, but I don’t have the time. I can either focus on doing my job to perfection or concentrate on other aspects of life. I am a romantic person, but I would opt for an arranged marriage.

Manishaa R (DNA; May 16, 2017)

Five days after the Justin Bieber concert, which drew a number of celebrities, Urvashi Rautela continues to be trolled on social media for expressing her admiration for the international pop sensation. The actress began receiving hate messages and was trolled on social media for supporting Bieber, “I am an ardent fan of Justin Bieber and his songs whether it is Sorry, Baby or Right. He has been a huge influence on me from my childhood days and growing up years. He is also close to my heart. I find his life story really inspiring. Incidentally, we both share our birthday, too,” she said.

Urvashi feels she was censured on social media for booking a VVIP table worth Rs 5 lakh close to the stage where Justin performed, “A number of people condemned me for spending that kind of money. They felt it would have been a better idea to donate it to the needy, but why are the two things being mixed up. Going to a concert of a celebrated performer, whom you adore and whose work inspires you and donating to the needy, are two different things. As for working for the needy, I also have a foundation where I do my bit for charity,” she added.

Urvashi says she missed out on the Bieber concert in Dubai, “That’s the reason I kept myself free for his Mumbai concert. I kept in touch with his team,” she concluded.

Nona Walia (TIMES LIFE; April 9, 2017)

Lakshmi V (BOMBAY TIMES; July 11, 2016)

Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; July 9, 2016)

She was barely 19 when she romanced a 50-plus Sunny Deol in her Bollywood debut, Singh Saab The Great (2013). Uttarakhand girl, Urvashi Rautela followed it up by shaking her booty in Honey Singh’s music video, Love Dose (2014), and flaunting her curves in an item number in Bhaag Johnny (2014). Last seen in Sanam Re earlier this year, the former beauty pageant winner feels she has now landed a role she will be best remembered for — a virgin ghost in the upcoming adult comedy, Great Grand Masti starring Riteish Deshmukh, Aftab Shivdasani and Vivek Oberoi. She tells us why.

Horror films have had ghosts galore, but a virgin ghost!
The audience has seen ghosts in Hollywood and Bollywood films over the years, but never a virgin ghost. I have the honour of playing such a character. A virgin ghost is a ghost alright, but she is a virgin. She is strong, yet vulnerable. She can frighten you, but at the same time, every guy wants to be with her. It is like being in a horror comedy.

A mix of being both scary as well as beautiful?
Yes. Director Indra Kumar and writer Tushar Hiranandani had this vision of an ethereal beauty. She bathes in milk and has guys falling like nine pins when they see her. She loves their attention — deep down, every woman wants guys to have a crush on her. It is a character not seen before in Bollywood and will make me known.

Something you will be remembered for?
Any actor could have got a chance to play this character after doing 10-15 films, but I am fortunate to have got it so early in my career. Every actor is remembered for a film, like Riteish in Ek Villain (2014) and Kajol in Gupt (1997). Great Grand Masti will be that film for me.

Were you apprehensive about doing the film?
A bit, when I first met the director. I did not want to be part of an adult comedy. Then, he began reworking the script for over three months. About 13 changes were made to my character. Around that time, I bumped into David Dhawan at a film awards gala. It was Davidji who asked me to do the film, saying that my character was the heart and crux of the film. Indra Kumar and he had discussed the script. My dates were blocked by a Kumar Taurani project, but I am grateful to him for allowing me to take up another project.

Which of your co-stars was most scared by you — Riteish, Aftab or Vivek?
Far from being scared, they all want to woo me. They all desire a virgin ghost to haunt them in their dreams and life. She is scaringly beautiful.

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Noyon Jyoti Parasara (BOMBAY TIMES; June 3, 2016)

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