Amruta Patki wore the Miss India crown back in 2006 but the vivacious model was not to be forgotten. She debuts in her first film, a suspense-thriller this week. In Hide & Seek, the newbie actress becomes involved in a childhood game that haunts her for life. Although it is her first film, the actress is not new to the modeling world. She has been a part of a number of assignments in print and on the ramp. In fact, she was named as one of India’s most beautiful faces back in 2007. The list of major fashion designers who she has worked with range from Manish Malhotra to Vikram Phadnis and even Neeta Lulla. She has worked closely with a number of brands locally in India and internationally. Amruta is here to make a difference and this confident gal is ready to rock and roll with Hide & Seek. Read on as she speaks to BollySpice about all things Bollywood.
How would you explain your transition from pageant winner to now Bollywood actress?
Its been a beautiful journey. I started my career with Miss India and it becomes very easy when you have a platform to represent yourself. And it becomes much more convenient when a company like Times of India represents you; it becomes easy to get more opportunities.
How did Hide & Seek come about?
Actually Hide & Seek is a coincidence. I would say it is one of the most beautiful incidents of my life. My picture on Facebook was seen by Mr. Apoorva Lakhia, the producer, and he thought that my look was perfect for the character of Gunita Suri, that I am playing in Hide & Seek. He approached me for the film. And then Shawn Arranha, the director, auditioned me and I made it.
Tell us about your role in Hide & Seek?
I play the character of Gunita Suri. She is a socialite. She has a haunting past. As a kid, she plays a game of Hide and Seek on a chilly Christmas Eve. And a mishap follows her after twelve years along with her old childhood friends who have been kidnapped in a mall. There is someone who is trying to kill each of them. So it’s a whodunit kind of film.
Do you have a background in acting?
No, not at all! I did a small acting course during my summer vacation. Every summer vacation my mom would make me do something or the other; she never let me sit at home. So it was a part of my summer vacation course. But I think acting courses are totally different from what you actually experience in front of the camera. It’s like you have the recipe but being in front of the camera is cooking. An acting course is like knowing the recipe.
Did you always want to act?
As a child I was very confused. I didn’t know if I wanted to be model, an actress, a dancer or a singer. I know a bit of Indian classical music as well. But as I grew up, I thought that I wanted to be Miss India and a model. But even as a teenager, I always wanted to be a part of the entertainment industry.
How was Shawn as a director?
He’s fantastic! It’s his first film as a director too. So both of us have given 200 percent. What I really like about Shawn is his belief in spontaneous acting. He made me rehearse my lines and scenes several times before we actually started shooting the film. And then he told me on-set, I’m just going to give you one or two takes because I want you to be spontaneous enough to react to your co-actors. So that really helped.
How was it working with the other actors in the film? They of course have been acting and this is your first film.
All my co-actors were very supportive.
Can you tell us about your most memorable times on the set?
Everyday was an experience. Every night I would say. We were shooting throughout the night and sleeping throughout the day. The film is about what happens in one night when six friends are kidnapped in a mall. So it was a continuity of six hours in the film. So we were shooting every night from 9:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. And in the middle of the night, all of us used to sit and binge on kababs and kati rolls! It was an amazing experience since I’m a big foodie! (Laughs)
Why did you choose to debut in a suspense movie rather than perhaps a more romantic film?
I don’t think it really makes a difference what genre you debut with. I think it’s a fantastic script and what I really like about the film and the character is the character-graph. So that was what made me choose this film. It’s very different and unique. There is good scope to show my acting skills and abilities.
What’s coming up next for you?
I haven’t signed any films as such but there are a lot of offers coming in. And there are some projects in the pipeline. I’m still not able to make up my mind as to what I will do!
Be sure to check out Amruta in her debut film Hide & Seek which releases on March 12th!
