I don’t like to set myself up for failure: Freida Pinto

Pinto says she isn’t against the idea of working in Bollywood, but doesn’t see herself doing song-and-dance routines.

After her debut film, Slumdog Millionaire (2008), Freida Pinto worked in international projects such as You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger (2010) and Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes (2011), among others. But the Mumbai girl is yet to work in a Bollywood movie. Ask her about the same, and she says, “I have never been someone who has divided her work in this industry or that industry. I have never maintained a stance that I will only do this or I will not do that. Because of this, I work in all kinds of productions from across the globe.”

But the actor says she doesn’t feel she will be suitable for a typical song-and-dance routine in a Hindi film. “I have made it clear that I will only do something if I’m comfortable with it, and if I know that I can give my 100% to it. I don’t like to set myself up for failure. If I’m expected to do what Deepika (Padukone; actor) did in a heavy skirt [in Bajirao Mastani; 2015], and I know that people will say, ‘Yeh kya kar rahi hai (what is she doing)?’, then why would I do that? I think doing such roles requires a certain talent, which a lot of actresses have. I applaud them for that,” says Freida.

Read: Sharmila Tagore, Freida Pinto, Deepa Mehta invited to vote for Oscars

The 31-year-old is also looking at production, and already has three stories that she is considering. “I will be producing the stories that I have fallen in love with. But I follow a certain process, which is a bit unconventional. I believe in looking for investors, co-producers and actors from different parts of the world, as I love cultural exchanges. My first three films will be South Asian stories,” she says.

Watch: Freida Pinto in a song from Slumdog Millionaire

Last week, the actor travelled to Morocco with the US first lady Michelle Obama, and her daughters, Sasha and Malia, and Hollywood actor Meryl Streep, for an initiative aimed at helping girls obtain quality education. “I don’t want to be just an actor. I love doing other things that are important. I feel the need to do things for a generation, which is deprived of its dreams. There are 62 million girls in the world who don’t have the opportunity to study. I’m just using my position to empower people with the best I can offer,” says Freida.

Read: Freida Pinto is shooting in Mumbai for the first time since 2011