‘I have to prove myself’
Sagarika Ghatge aka Preeti Sabarwal of Chak De! India is back with her second film Fox. Ritesh Sharma chats up the actor

I know, I know, I have kept everyone waiting. This is something everyone has been asking me for a while now. I really appreciate this`85the love everyone has given me and now the wait is over.

See, it was a planned decision. I took my time to take the decisions. Just because Chak De! India was a runaway hit doesn’t mean I will go on signing films. I was very conscious about that and didn’t want to make any mistakes. I could have easily been carried away but that would have been too risky. I waited for the right role and Fox is one I thought would do good to my career.

Even I thought I would be getting offers to play sportswoman but luckily that didn’t happen. I really feared getting stereotyped. Chak De! India was a great film and it has done a lot to my career but I can’t always cash on that.

Of course, it will. I know the audiences still identify me with Preeti Sabarwal and I don’t mind that. I am rather proud that I was part of such a huge film, which will even go down in history. At the same time I know I can’t keep on carrying on with that tag. The audience is intelligent enough and I don’t think they will expect another Preeti Sabarwal or another role of a hockey player.

Of course I am. There are very few who get such good debuts. In fact, all the 13 girls have
been lucky.

I don’t think it that way. We all had equal screen time and screen presence. Chitrasahi’s films have released before the others. Now my films start releasing. It’s only that others are still waiting and their films too will release some or the other time sooner or later. Moreover, all the girls didn’t want to pursue acting and those who didn’t are doing well in life.

Completely. It is no more what it used to be. I never thought I would be here one day. I was a simple college-going girl, happy with my friends. Now I am either reading scripts or shooting. It has definitely changed and I am enjoying every bit of it. At the same time I know it is now a new battle. All eyes will be on me and one mistake can actually push me back by miles. I need to prove that I am a good actor.

Not really but I am actually keeping my fingers crossed. I waited for two years and now since everyone will be expecting something good from me I want to live up to the expectations. It has been a long wait and Fox is one film I think that has an author backed role for me.

You play a lawyer?

Yes, again something unusual but it’s the story that was so appealing. I play Urvashi Sharma, a lawyer, who is very focussed and gives her best to win a lawsuit. It’s a thriller with a gripping storyline. I am paired opposite Arjun Rampal.

Actually, I can’t give out too much about the story since it’s a thriller but my role is not of a lover girl. There are songs but it’s not that I am only the hero’s love interest and keepings singing and dancing all the time.

That’s what I intended to do or else I could have done many films in these two years. Arjun Rampal is a star after Rock On!! and Sunny Deol is one of the finest actors the industry has ever seen.

It’s opposite Emraan Hashmi and a completely different film. I always wanted to do roles that had variety and so far I have got all these films. I hope I live up to the expectations of the audience.

— TWF