Divya Bharti was not my real sister: Kainaat Arora

She made her silver screen debut with an item song in the film Khatta Meetha (2010). Since then, Kainaat Arora has maintained a low profile in Bollywood. Now, three years later, she is going to make her acting debut with Grand Masti

She made her silver screen debut with an item song in the film Khatta Meetha (2010). Since then, Kainaat Arora has maintained a low profile in Bollywood. Now, three years later, she is going to make her acting debut with Grand Masti.

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Revealing why she took this break, she says, “The offers weren’t exciting. I was clear — either the director should be intelligent or famous, or the hero should be big, or the script should be exciting. I didn’t want to do anything just for the heck of it.”

Although Kainaat is still better known as late actor Divya Bharti’s cousin, she believes that, today, only “hard work” can help you make it in the industry. “She was my second cousin; not my real sister. I wish she (Divya) was alive. Maybe things would have been a bit better, but I don’t think it would have made much of a difference,” she says. In this interview, Kainaat talks about the changing face of the industry from the point of view of a starlet and why having a famous relative doesn’t mean much anymore.

You are Divya Bharti’s cousin. Do you consider it an advantage or a disadvantage?
Being someone’s sister, brother or cousin doesn’t make a difference. At the end of the day, your hard work matters. If you are worth it and deserve it, you will get it. I don’t tell people that I’m related to her because she is not here. I am here because of my own choice. In fact, it can be a disadvantage because people always compare you.

Did you watch Divya Bharti’s films a lot while growing up?
Absolutely; I have grown up watching Deewana (1992), Shola Aur Shabnam (1992) and even the song ‘Saat samundar paar’ (Vishwatma, 1992). She was a beautiful woman.

So, what kept you busy all this while?
I was looking at scripts and doing shows. Also, I was working on my diction and speech. I took acting classes too. I was preparing myself for the right debut.

How did Grand Masti happen?
I met Milap (Zaveri; writer) who told me that he was working on the screenplay and dialogues of Grand Masti. He also told me that out of the 200 girls the makers had auditioned, they hadn’t liked anyone. So he said, ‘Why don’t you go and test, and see how it goes.’ I went for it and the next day, I was told I was selected.

It’s an adult comedy. Did you have any inhibitions about doing such a film?
The day I was called, I knew what they were making. Doing an adult comedy with Indra Kumar is completely different. He is a reputed filmmaker. So, he is not going to make films that he would regret later.

What’s next for you?
I am doing a song in Hate Story 2. I have signed another film, which the makers will announce in 10 days.