Raashi Khanna: I’m in the happiest phase of my career...

With as many as five films in her kitty, Raashi Khanna has a lot on her plate at the moment. “Trust me, I don’t even have time for myself or my family. I’ve been living out of a suitcase literally and my folks are going crazy seeing me work like this. In fact they told me, ‘Take a break’ (laughs). So I decided to take them along wherever I’m shooting,” says the actress, speaking from London where she is shooting for Varun Tej-starrer, Tholi Prema.
Talking about the film, she says, “It’s a love story and I’m really kicked about it. The best part is that my character is not unidimensional and keeps evolving through the film. The love track is like a phase in her life’s journey where she grows as a person. And that’s something everyone will relate to ’cos in real life too, people change according to the twists and turns their life takes. It is the most difficult character I’ve played till date and I have grown both as an actor and as a person during the course of playing it.”
One of the most memorable experiences of her stay in London though was watching her last release Jai Lava Kusa. “I didn’t get to promote the film much due to my other shooting commitments, but I went to theatres out here in London to catch the film and I was floored by the response. When I signed Jai Lava..., I thought it will be a Tarak show all the way, as he was playing a triple role. While I was happy with the way my character shaped up I didn’t really expect the audience to come up to me seeking autographs, appreciating my performance. In fact, many fans came to the movie halls sporting T-shirts with Tarak’s face on it,” she recalls.
Raashi will resume shooting for Ravi Teja’s Touch Chesi Chudu once she returns to India. It’s a role which is “totally opposite” to the one she is playing in Tholi Prema. “I play a dance instructor in the movie and you’ll see me doing a lot of Western fusion dance. We’ll finish shooting for it soon and it should release early next year,” says the Punjabi kudi, who is all set to share screen with Mohanlal in her Malayalam debut, Villain.
“I play an IPS officer who is his (Mohanlal) right hand. I’m really excited,” says Raashi who is acting in two Tamil films as well — Nayanthara-Atharvaa starrer Imaikkaa Nodigal, and Shaitan Ka Bachcha starring Siddharth. Acting simultaneously on so many films in different languages must be tough, but the actress seems to be enjoying the challenge. “I’m not complaining about it because this is what every actor wants and dreams about. I think I am in the happiest phase of my career,” she says, signing off.