Kriti Sanon: I was told it’s too soon to turn producer

Kriti Sanon

What happens when a guy and a humanoid robot fall in love? Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya's one-line idea held the promise of a breezy romantic comedy - just the kind of subject that Kriti Sanon, a self-confessed sucker for love stories, was looking for. "People aren't writing love stories well. Yet, here was one with a unique conflict. I wanted to know what happens when a human being falls in love with a robot, and when you put this love story in the middle of an Indian family. I was entertained during the narration. I was feeling the romance, the laughs and the aww moments," she smiles.

A still from Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya

Those who gauge films by box-office numbers may argue that heavy-duty action movies are dominating the scene. But who doesn't want a dose of love once in a while, the actor counters. "Time and again, I revisit Friends because sometimes you want to watch something light and refreshing. This is an entertainer, which you can watch with your family, friends or your valentine." What further added to the charm of Amit Joshi and Aradhana Sah's directorial venture is the actor's easy chemistry with leading man Shahid Kapoor. "Chemistry is a two-way [affair]. It shouldn't be that only I am giving to the scene. In this film, Shahid gave so much because I was playing a robot, so I had to be restrained," she laughs.

After the romantic comedy, Sanon has The Crew with Tabu and Kareena Kapoor Khan, and the thriller, Do Patti, with Kajol. The latter also marks her production debut, as she joins an increasing list of female actors, including Anushka Sharma, Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt, who juggle their successful acting careers with production. Yet, she reveals that the decision was initially met with skepticism. "I was told, ‘It's too soon for you to turn producer.' What's the logic? My reason to turn producer was more about supporting scripts and being more involved than I am as an actor. I got into production because I enjoy the creative side of it. It's also something new. Every now and then, you have to shift gears and do something that you don't know. I like being a newcomer in some ways and learning everything from scratch. Acting is something I learnt on the job. So, production felt like the next step."