For me, 'Humshakals' is better than 'Himmatwala': Tamannaah Bhatia

"Yeah, I read those unflattering reviews of Humshakals…but then, for me, the movie was actually better than Himmatwala because that failed on a much bigger scale. Humshakals was actually fun, and I do know people who enjoyed the movie," the actress says.

 

And the star's certainly not kidding when she says work now, is a deluge.

 

"See, patience is a quality you must have when you enter the industry. I advise all newcomers to treat this quality as paramount. My success was not instantaneous by any measure. I did wait for my turn... and now it's a 15-hour-a-day schedule. The time off I get, I spend chilling with family and entertaining the newest entrant to our gang, Pebbles, the dog."

 

The 24-year-old also marks nearly a decade in the industry this year. "I started sometime around 2005 and the movie that gave me the first break, I'll always remember, was Happy Days. It really launched my career. There was always a plan by mum and dad (and almost everybody in the family) to make me enter the movies and then it all happened. I remember them really enjoying my performance in Happy Days, even though they didn't have a clue of what I was saying.

 

"What has changed? I'm now fluent in both Tamil and Telugu and because of my work, even dad and mum have picked up bits of the languages. Also, like I said before, I'm really comfortable with the kind and the quantity of work. I now get to choose projects; when I started, it was easily seven projects back-to-back. Now, I can relax."

 

In Telugu Tamannaah has already started shooting for the epic Baahubali and she says, “I will not stop working down South. And each movie gives me a certain variety and balance - both are important. Films will also flop and if you ask me about continuing down that "masala" route, as an artiste I can't say no to the commercial and the projects that need a full-on performance." 

"I'm lucky to have worked with several stars over my few years’ career. They have been the biggest names across the industries - (from Saif Ali Khan to Mahesh Babu and her next, It's Entertainment, is with Akshay Kumar) and I can tell you that it's been an absolute joy. 

 

It's Entertainment, is a slapstick comedy and it promises to be a film with a concept that has never been explored before - and the plot's hilarious!  

 

Even on the sets of Hamshakals, it didn't feel like work. And I got to meet Genelia and Riteish. I have known Genelia for the longest time because she and I started off pretty much together, even though we never worked together. Meeting her after a while was indeed a highlight of the shoot."

 

"As far as my plans are concerned, well, I got several years ahead of me and I don't really plan on quitting. There's also film editing I'm quite keen on and I might one day consider taking that up, because direction is not my kinda thing. About ‘settling down’, I very much believe in marriage and yes, one day, when I find the right person, I will take the dive. 

 

"But I'm clear... since it's me getting married, I will pick the candidate, with mum and dad's permission of course, because I'm not that adventurous yet. But there are many, many years and movies ahead. I need to focus on work.”