Q.: Coming from a non-film background what are the things you did not anticipate about being an actress ?
AP: The emotional strain, the lack of respect from everyone in the film world. I mean I come from an affluent business community with an enviable college degree from a respectable university in America, so everybody’s attitude was why does she want to become a film actress ? You see girls from good homes didn’t become actresses, they either got married or pursued a more respectable profession. After all, who’s going to marry me now ? The social stigma affiliated to being an actress is very hard to change and God forbid if I fall flat on my face, they are all going to be sitting pretty by the fence saying, "well we told you so and you didn’t listen !" The nature of the work itself . On the physical level it’s the odd hours, the heat,the cold, the hot lights, the weight gain, the bad wigs, and the most vicious of all enemies..pimples! On the mental level it's the strain of catering to the demands of the director, learning to adjust to the temperaments, moods and styles of your co-actors, cameraman, photographers, journalists, all the people around you.

Q.: But you must have seen all these things coming?
AP: Oh sure I did, but when you're sitting at home in the luxury and comfort of your surroundings it's much easier to deal with. It’s like eating today and thinking that tomorrow I’m going to go on a diet. Today is so much easier, but I’m learning as I go along.

Q.: How did you feel about fitting into Kareena’s shoes?
AP: I feel very lucky. As far as fitting into somebody else’s shoes, well every role is always open to a first choice, second choice, third choice, it’s the directors or the producer’s prerogative to see who suits the role best. It’s only natural to pick ‘y’ if one can’t get ‘x’ or to pick ‘z’ if one can’t get ‘y’. So just because I was second preference doesn’t mean that I’m going to give my second best performance. I’m always going to give my first best performance no matter what order of preference I may be.

Q.: How supportive has your family been towards your acting career?
AP: Lets just say that I won’t be half as strong or half as confident as I am right now if they weren’t on my side of the court. I depend on their support. Initially they didn’t approve either. They wanted me to put my expensive education to better use, so I tried. I started out by working with my dad and then I joined a finance company. But soon I realized that my heart just wasn’t in it. I feel like if I do something I should put my heart and soul into it. I should be able to wake up in the morning, look in the mirror and say, hey Amisha I’m really looking forward to going to work or doing this or doing that, you know whatever it is. Now of course they are tremendously supportive. Plus working for Mr. Rakesh Roshan they knew that I was with a perfectly good unit. Rakesh uncle and my dad were in school together and my family and his family are very close, so for me it’s just working on a family project.

Q.: But it’s not always going to be a family project. Ever heard of the casting couch?
AP: I’d never compromise my values and my morals just to make it here as much as it means to me. Of course I have heard stories and rumors about the casting couch, but it’s very easy for someone like me who comes from an affluent background to put a foot down and say hey, I won’t do this and I won’t do that. But when this is the only option a person has when you don’t have an education or any other skills, when your face and body or talent are your only assets have to make it, there’s a lot you are willing to do. And why just speak only on the film industry when it’s happening everywhere, if you want a job, promotion, someone else’s job! So for me even if there are people in this industry doing it for whatever reasons, I’m not here to make judgement. All I know is that for me it’s a big No! No! and I feel extremely fortunate that even if I never worked a day in my life, I won’t need to compromise my values.

Q.: So tell me what were the thoughts going on in your mind during your very first shot and now that the film is complete?
AP: Well, I feel more confident now then I did when I first out. It’s a continues growing experience almost each day. When I first gave my first shot, it wasn’t as if I was camera shy, because I had done a few add films and nor was I conscious because of all people around. But I was still nervous because I wanted to become an actress so long, I didn’t suddenly want to discover that perhaps I wasn’t good enough for this. Then I didn’t want to let Rakesh uncle down because of the faith he had entrusted upon me for this job, and then knowing what everybody was going to say if I fell flat on my face! Comparatively I feel more confident now. I have signed two other films, one opposite Sunny Deol and another Tamil film and I know I have a long way to go and lots of things to learn, but I am getting there.

Q.: Whom do you depend on most to give you a correct evaluation of yourself?
AP: Well, I look at the rushes and for see for myself that I could have done a better job there or the next time I should avoid doing certain things, or making certain gestures, but other then that Hritik. Then my mom tells me that I am good but Hritik is much better.

Q.: How do you react to criticism?
AP: The problem is that no one is critical to me on my face and I don’t have a clue as to what they are saying behind my back! On my face they are always telling me how wonderful I am, and somehow I don’t really believe them. I actually appreciate it much more when someone comes and tells me that Amisha you weren’t so great here, or you didn’t look so great there or you can improve here or you looked fat there or your make-up wasn’t right. Then I know how to make more positive steps in the right direction but when someone tells me how terrific I am, then I am a bit skeptical because you know that you cant really lie to yourself even though you would like too.

Q.: But as a new comer wouldn’t you much rather have people around you telling you how wonderful you are instead of telling you how terrible you are?
AP.: I think it’s honesty that I’d prefer. For instance when Rakesh uncle tells me that I did this well or did that well, I believe him because he is a man of few words. He never says anything unless he means it. Even while we spent days shooting outdoors on the two songs in Thailand, days would pass and he would say nothing and then one day he would say Amisha you did well today or after having watched the rushes he’d say you looked nice in this shot or something like that. And that inspires more confidence in me then ten thousand people saying ten thousand things about me, because I know it’s an honest remark. Then working with Farah, I’ve worked on three songs with her and during the shooting of the second song she said that I’ve improved, and during the shooting of the third song she said that I’ve improved since the first and second songs. So she isn’t rushing up to me to tell me I’m the best, just that I’m getting better and that boosts my confidence tremendously.

Q.: Since when have you wanted to become an actress?
AP.: Since the first time I was on stage and knew what cinema is all about. I couldn't have been more than five or six years old. I used to learn Bharatnatiam so that gave me the opportunity to perform and later on it was dramatics, elocution's and debates, and more and more it dawned upon me that this was where I was meant to be, this is what I enjoyed and felt a natural instinct towards. I knew I'd never be happy doing a nine to five job or anything else for that matter, so here I am giving it my best shot!

Q.: What was Hritik like as a co-star?
AP.: The best ! You see this industry is home for him. So even though this is his first shot in front of the camera, he knows a lot about films and making films, having assisted his dad for a few years. I mean he know exactly how to start each shot and how to end it, automatically he paid attention to his movement continuity, and all these small things that an actor should do and remember. So it wasn't as if we were two newcomers groping in the dark and trying to figure things out, it was just me and him helping me figure things out much more quickly. He always gave me sound advice. Then he set good examples for me and for anyone who will work with him in the future because he is such a perfectionist, he has to get everything

Right, right from his appearance, to his performance, to his dancing, to his personal habits and his dedication to the craft. For instance, you know he is not here for fast money and fast women, the way some people are. He takes his work and responsibilities very seriously! I couldn't have asked for better co-star to work with in my first film!

Q.: What about Rakesh Roshan, how was he as a director?
AP: Very organized, he always knew what he wanted from the character, all you had to do was follow his instructions and you were fine, at the same time he wasn't rigid, if you had a suggestion he was open to it. He hardly over lost his cool or temper and when he did you could be sure that someone really provoked him too.