Not banking on luck

Shruti Hassan wants to create her own identityu00a0-- as a music director or as an actor. And after the debacle of her debut Luck, the young lady is ever more determined to slog it out. Shruti talks to CS about her next project and what being Kamal Hassan's daughter means:


WHO: Shruti Hasan
WHAT: On her plans of making it big
WHERE: Grand Hyatt

On a fantasy trip
I am currently working on a Telugu flick, Yodhaa, which is a fantasy film. Since fantasy is a somewhat unexplored genre in Indian cinema, I am thrilled to be a part of this project. The film is a visual treat and I had a blast working on it. I play the role of Priya, a very free-spirited young girl. The movie is set in another era and has a very interesting concept. My co-star is Siddharth, and it's a joy to work with him. He is immensely talented and very helpful.u00a0

Choosy actor
After Luck, I realised the kind of expectations people have from me in terms of films and roles. So, I want to be very careful in selecting Bollywood projects. I won't pick up any role unless I feel truly challenged. In fact, I am planning to shift base to Mumbai. I have been busy hunting for a house in Bandra as I love that locality.

Juggling roles
Besides acting, music is my passion. I am composing music for a Tamil and Telugu film, and a few more projects are in the pipeline. In fact, I did the music for my dad's film Unnai Pol Oruuvan, which was well-received. I have also sung in some of these films. It's very difficult for me to choose between acting, composing and singing. I enjoy all of them for different reasons.

Crazy over cinema
I am a genuine lover of cinema. As a kid, films were discussed at home, but we weren't a filmy family in the truest sense of the term. But as I grew up with creative parents, I got exposed to various art forms at a very early age.

Daddy dearest
My dad has never imposed his ideas on me and my sister. He brought us up to be independent and individualistic. Contrary to what people might think, my father never advises me on my choice of films. He feels that every individual has to make a personal journey in life; figure out things on her own. But we always heard him saying "no pain no gain", which means we have to work really hard to get somewhere in life.