There’s more to ‘Fugly’

The director wanted me to do an intimate scene and I wasn’t very comfortable. He asked me if my real husband would do the scene with me. To my surprise Nikhil seemed pretty excited about the idea

Aisha’, ‘No One Killed Jessica’ and ‘Saat Khoon Maaf’, young actress Vidushi chose to act in character roles, but only if she felt it was meaningful cinema. Originally a theatre actor, she maintains that acting on stage remains her first preference as an artiste as it allows her to travel along with the story and perform live for the audience. Her big break came as a significant role in Kabir Sadanand’s film ‘Fugly’ and what more, her designer husband Nikhil Mehra (of Shantanu Nikhil fame) is all set to make his acting debut with the film. Vidushi shares the details:

Tell us about your role in the upcoming movie ‘Fugly’?

In ‘Fugly’, I play a journalist who takes a stand and fights for justice. But she is also manipulative when it comes to getting her stories done. Her shade is grey because she wants to stand for the truth, whatever she does is for truth. She is a game changer and brings a twist to the story. All the characters in this film give out a message including mine.

How different do you find films when compared to theatre?

Theatre is a beautiful medium which instantly connects you with the audience, gives you live feedback and prompts you to improvise. The medium so different; films are captured through lenses or camera, are watched by thousands and millions of people where as a stage is flat where only 100 odd people watch you. It is very fascinating to compare the two. Films will not get the result instantly. However, the way you approach your character is the same in both (movies and theatre); you bring out the character with the same passion.

Are you satisfied with where you have reached in your career?

I don’t think you can ever be satisfied! Because you are always looking for the role that can fully justify you as an actor, which hasn’t come on my way. So, I am not satisfied. But I am happy from the point of view of being an actor, being an outsider to the film industry. I am grateful for kind of work that I got. Of course one wants to reach greater heights. Acting is something I have been doing from the age of 4. I did plays in school before acting on a bigger stage. It was only after getting married to designer Nikhil Mehra that I started acting in films. I worked for 10 years in the corporate world and after I had children, I decided to go back to theatre which is my passion and I got into films accidentally.

How come Nikhil is also acting in ‘Fugly’?

It happened rather spontaneously. The director wanted me to do an intimate scene and I wasn’t very comfortable. He asked me if my real husband would do the scene with me. I didn't think Nikhil would be ready. But when I called him, to my surprise Nikhil seemed pretty excited about the idea. We had never done anything like this on screen. I hope people will love to watch the real couple on screen, one is from fashion fraternity and the other is from the Bollywood industry.

Have you signed any more movies?

Yes. I am looking forward to ‘A Trip to Bhanghar’ and the Yash Raj production, ‘Dum Lagake Haisa’.

Nikhil Says

There’s a crucial scene where she comes home to her husband who is in a romantic mood even though she's not interested. I basically play the husband who gets rejected by his wife. I enjoyed the shoot as it was an opportunity to work with my wife on screen. Kabir shot it very quickly and I didn't realise when it finished.

In our business of fashion we work from back stage or behind the camera; this was first time when I was facing the camera and it was a great experience. If I get a chance then I will act again.