Kalki Coechlin, the bright new star who caught our attention in Dev D is not too keen on developing a role in commercial cinema. “I feel settled in life and at peace with myself. Life changed after Dev D, but I am not keen on commercial cinema or any rat race of such sort,” she says, “Mumbai is a place of change right now. We are seeing some fascinating alternative cinema today.”
An Indian-born actress of French parents, she recognises she doesn’t fit the normal pattern and was getting used to being rejected for parts from mainstream producers before Dev D came along. Educated at Goldsmiths College in London, the multilingual actress has been attending the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week, in which she played a small part last year and has walked the ramp this year. “I attended the fashion week last year,” she explains, “I did a hair show, but it was very low profile. I enjoyed the experience this year walking for Preeti S Kapoor. The clothes were very bohemian, a lot like my personal style.”
Kalki’s relationship with Anurag Kashyap has raised a few eyebrows in some quarters but Kalki is perfectly happy with life. “Anurag and I are very similar individuals,” she explains, “We’re both very artistic and unconventional. And also very much like outsiders — I never completely fitted into India due to my looks and he’s a Bollywood director but never goes by the rulebook. Also, I enjoy his honesty and sincerity.”
