“Shawn never allowed me to see myself in monitor after canning the shot” – Amruta Patki

By Bollywood Hungama News Network -

March 12, 2010 - 12:31 PM IST

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In this year's release Chance Pe Dance, Shahid Kapoor's character was shown as a struggler who doesn't have enough money to decide about his next meal. Romanticizing the entire struggle around him, this character embraces it all before success comes falling in his lap. Now that was reel life. Cut to the real world and debutant Amruta Patki may well have a similar story to tell. Despite a beauty pageant background to her and a Miss India-Earth title in her kitty, Amruta isn't willing to forget her humble middle class upbringing. For a girl who self confessedly had to take a call between picking up 'vada pav' off the street versus taking an auto back home, Amruta has come a long way to make her debut as a leading lady in Hide & Seek. In a candid conversation with Joginder Tuteja, Amruta tells all about her journey so far, the route she has decided to take in Bollywood and her conduct that doesn't allow people to exploit her.

“Shawn never allowed me to see myself in monitor after canning the shot” – Amruta Patki

Amruta, you have entered the industry with no filmy background. How has the journey been so far?

God has been really kind. Having said that, I have really worked hard to get into a position where I am today. See, I come from a middle class family and have seen the days when I used to go for auditions with Rs. 20 in my pocket.

I have seen the days when I used to go for auditions with Rs. 20 in my pocket.

This is pretty much reminiscent of Shahid Kapoor's story as well, both in real and reel life (in Chance Pe Dance)...

Oh really, I didn't know that (smiles). But really, I have seen those days and can empathise with the entire situation. This is why today I am grateful to God and also my parents to have given me so much support. See, everyone in my family is either a banker or an engineer. My parents and rest of the family may not be conservative but they are very traditional for sure. In fact for them my doing Miss India was such a big thing as well. This is why today they are very emotional about all that is happening in my Bollywood career.

They must have heard about the horror stories about Bollywood that are narrated time and again. For a newcomer like you who is starting it all on her own, weren't they apprehensive?

The biggest fact here is that they have faith in me. They have allowed me to do whatever I want because they believe in me. The kind of upbringing that they have given me, they know that I can't go wrong. As for me, for someone who has seen the worse times possible, I am prepared for anything. I am mentally quite strong so I just laugh it all away thinking how worse could it be than what I have already seen.

For someone who has seen the worse times possible, I am prepared for anything.

It appears that yours has been quite an eventful journey so far. Is there any challenge in particular that you have faced in the industry so far?

I prefer to remember the positive side of the affairs and the fact is that I have been very lucky so far. Be it the ramp shows or any other modelling assignment, I have always met nice people. Nobody has tried to exploit me or cheat me.

Shawn Arranha never allowed me to come and see myself in the monitor after canning the shot

You must indeed be lucky...

More than being lucky, I strongly believe that people treat you the way you conduct yourself. Perhaps I held myself quite strongly and didn't give anyone the kind of vibes that it would have allowed them to take advantage of me. When I say this, it may seem that I am being a little too over confident but then that's not a fact. I just have been very careful and attentive to things.

I am sure it must have been quite memorable when you must have seen yourself on the monitor for the first time.

Arrey kahan, my director (Shawn Arranha) never allowed me to come and see myself in the monitor after canning the shot. In fact I saw myself for the first time only when I had gone to the studios to dub for the film. See, whenever you are doing something for camera, you have a secret imagination around how it would all look on screen. I too had my own imaginations and this is why it was such a fantastic feeling on seeing myself for the first time on screen. Finally I felt that it was worth investing time and energy for the film.

For a newcomer like you who has just started off, there is a field wide open to explore as far as professional outing is concerned. What is it in your personal life that keeps you occupied?

I am such a workaholic and I try to learn something which is new. Even as a child I don't remember a single summer vacation when I wasted my time. I have done kick boxing; I do swimming and have won so many awards there. I know Indian classical music and do riyaz on a regular basis. Also, one thing that I have started doing now is watch movies on a regular basis. I was not a movie buff earlier but now I am doing a lot of catching up. I love being online and finding out things from Google. I love travelling and make sure that whenever I have time, I go for trekking. Also, needless to say, I spend a lot of time with my family and friends.

With so much happening in your life, haven't you found space for that special someone?

(Laughs) It is for this very reason that I don't have a special someone in my life. Life is so packed and at this moment all I am thinking of is my film career. Yes, I am single but not quite looking forward to mingle.