‘Don't make me a mum so soon'

Neha Janpandit on Woh Rehene.., hottest TV actor and Ranbir Kapoor, interviewed by Gautam Hegde.

So whose daughter are you in Woh Rehenewaali Mehelon ki?
I'm Reena Kapoor aka Pari's adopted daughter. I play a medical student. My name is Rani which was Pari's mother's name.

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So your daughter will be called Pari, huh?
Hey, I've just started. Don't make me a mother so soon!

How did your family react?
My grandmother was in tears when she read my name in the papers. She said, "Babu, you are going to be on TV!" I'd always shared this dream with her.

How'll you cope with the long working hours?
I'm mentally prepared. I know hard work pays. Also, I can catnap for 10 minutes and wake up refreshed.

How was the night before the first day of shoot?
I was very nervous. I couldn't sleep for a long time.

And how was your first shot?
I had to read out verses from the Ramayana.

Read out? That's like having a cue card.
(Laughs) Yeah, day one was ‘happy happy'. But on day two they made me cry .. for a scene though.

You were supposed to do Subanallah on Sony TV, right?
Yes but that didn't materialise.

Who is the hottest TV actor?
Rohit Roy.

You play a medical student in Woh.. Any actor you'd like to play naughty nurse to?
(Giggles) Ranbir Kapoor.

Is your imagination running wild?
Yeah (Laughs) I mean nooo!

Are you already a celebrity member at your gym?
Some people recognise me from the ads I've worked in. They say, "I have seen you somewhere.."

Are you sure that's not a pick-up line?
Tell me about it! I can't tell the genuine ones from the fakes.

When was the last time you cooked something disastrous?
I over-baked a cake. My family still ate it. I think they had problems later.