Ankita Shorey: I’ve said no to more than 40 films

Ankita Shorey, who was in Lucknow for the inauguration of her friend’s makeup studio, was quite upbeat at getting a taste of the culinary delights the city has to offer. “Do not go by my body, I’m a big foodie, albeit vegetarian,” she laughed. “I want to have paani puri, chaat, tikki, all the street food that Lucknow has to offer. The North street food is so much better than the South.It took me a lot of time to adjust to the food in Mumbai, after I moved there from Delhi. So, whenever I come to the North, I just look forward to the food,” says Ankita, who was on her second visit to the city.
ALSO READ: Ankita Shorey inaugurates JMA make-up and fashion studio in Lucknow
BOLLYWOOD CAN WAIT
In spite of being in the glamour industry for over five years, Ankita is not taking a shortcut to Bollywood. “After I’d won Miss India, people used to tell me that I’m not going to get any brand endorsements since I wasn’t an actress. I wanted to break that myth and I have done that. A couple of brands I endorse have even decided against Bollywood actresses and chosen me for creative reasons. I’m not desperate to make it into films. I’d rather be at the top of my modelling career than at the bottom of my film career. When people don’t want a Bollywoood actor, they want a top model, so at least, I fall in some bracket right now,” she says, adding, “I’ll take up something I believe in and I do not believe in trash movies. I’m from theatre and I have utmost respect for art and cinema. I’ve said no to about 40 films by now and ironically, the films I chose not to do have not done well at the box office. I go and watch every film I haven’t showed interest in, and said ‘Thank God’. Except Fukrey, which was a fantastic film. I didn’t do it because I felt it was only a launch for Pulkit (Samrat). The girl’s role did not have potential enough to leave an impact on the audience.”
Ankita recently signed a three-film deal with a production house, but there’s still time before she makes her big screen debut. “Bhushan (Kumar) has bounced off a few scripts to me, but I haven’t really come across something that I would want to do. Just last week, he sent me a script with Yami Gautam and Pulkit, but I wasn’t very convinced about playing the part which he was offering,” she avers.
No to TV
Ankita is a familiar face on the ramp, having walked as a showstopper for A-list designers at fashion weeks. “The ramp gives me a high. No matter what age bracket I am in, I would want always to be on the ramp.The showstopper role gives you the leverage to experiment, which is the best part,” says Ankita.
In spite of being an avid television watcher, Ankita does not wish to be part of that industry. “I have all the respect for TV and I love watching Comedy Nights, Jhalak... and Bigg Boss whenever I get the time. But if you ask me, I would never personally want to be a part of a TV show. My heart doesn’t lie there right now. I’ve turned down a lot of reality shows and am very happy being a supermodel and a brand endorser,” she says, adding, “It’s a transition – you need to know that if you step into TV, your modelling work is going to be affected since you’re not an exclusive face anymore. When a high-end brand is looking out for a face, they don’t want something that has been too exposed on TV. And I certainly love modelling more than TV, so if the transition has to happen, it’ll be to Bollywood and not television.”
PERSONALLY SPEAKING
Ankita’s professional assignments take up most of her time. “My professional life has become my personal life. I live alone in Mumbai, while my family is in Delhi. I’m not even seeing anyone, but please find me a good guy,” she laughs, adding, “My friends wonder that in spite of being quite a sought-after girl, I still don’t have a single guy in my life. I believe in giving 200% to a relationship and I would go beyond limits for the guy I would be with. But maybe I haven’t met the right man yet. Where are the right men?"
WATCH: Ankita Shorey sizzling hot avatar