I don't have a dearth of men: Sameera

Sameera Reddy, who has been missing in action for some time, says that she is trying to strike a balance between working down South and in Bollywood

You've not been seen in too many Hindi films since "Red Alert", save the item number in "Aakrosh"...
This year I'm trying to strike a balance, as the market in the South is really good. It's very different and crazy the way things work here, and I think that's why actors like Madhavan, Asin, Genelia, all strike that balance. They all work down South as well as in Bollywood. And it's important because there's such a huge fan following down South that you cannot ignore it.

Sometimes their love for stars is crazier than that in the North.
Yeah, I'm still waiting for my temple!

"Tez", your next Hindi film, has been on hold for sometime...
I signed it a long time ago, but it's not on hold. The real reason is the weather, because we have to shoot in Scotland and I have action scenes in the water, and riding bikes and all. And there was no way I could get into the freezing water in Scotland in February. I learnt how to ride a bike for this movie, and now, I love it. We have an unbelievable stunt coordinator who has done the stunts in "The Bourne Identity". But I have to admit, it's not easy on the bike, especially when you have to look good.

You are working with an ensemble cast in "Tez"...
Besides me, the film stars Ajay Devgn, Zayed Khan, Kangna Ranaut, Boman Irani and Anil Kapoor. The only person I interact with the least is Kangna.

Worried about sharing the limelight with Kangna and the other actors?
Oh, absolutely not. She has her own story going on in the film. You've got to think about how people are going to remember you. And there are so many films today that just focus on the hero and the heroine. How much of a story can you just carry on two people? If you have more people and a stronger storyline, it makes it easier.

How is Kangna to work with?
I have shot only one scene with her as yet, she's quite a nice girl. She's very simple – actually I met her sister – and they both were quite sweet.

"Race 2" has Deepika and Sonakshi in the lead roles now. Like most sequels in India, they've retained the male leads, but not the female leads...
Yeah I spoke to my directors and I purely left it to them. I really can't comment on that. But yes, they seem to always go with a fresh set of women and that's just the Bollywood sensibility I guess. For me, "Race" was the first real comedy, I moved away from very strong and serious kind of roles to being a complete bubblehead. Even if I'm not in the sequel, I'm not going to complain because I'm happy that my directors did the first one with me.

The IPL is on. Last year, you danced for the Hyderabad team, this year, which team are you supporting?
You know, I'm having such a tough time. I'm really close to Shilpa and Raj, I'm related to Vijay Mallya so he'd want me to support his team, and it gets too much, and I think somehow I always lean back towards Chennai because maybe I do have a soft corner for them.

Will you be performing?
I don't know, because I'll be out of the country for almost all of April. I love the IPL, the fever is amazing. Last year, I went to as many cities and matches as I could. I really enjoy it, I think it's the best format of cricket.

It's also converted a lot of non-cricket people into fans, hasn't it?
I was fully non-cricket, and I got converted. Twenty overs is so cool and I love the fact that people can support their home team. And now they have two new teams, so the more, the merrier.

Two of your contemporaries – Lara Dutta and Gul Panag – recently got married...
I know, I didn't even know about Gul, she's such a chhupa rustam! But listen, if you're gonna ask me that question, I don't know what to say. I need to have a boyfriend first, I really do.

Are warning bells going off at home?
I'm not alone, I know so many young, successful, single women who are waiting for the right guy, but I don't think it's right to put that pressure on anyone. In fact, my best friend is getting married this year, we always laughed about it, and she always said, 'Oh my God, we both are single, what's going on?' And it's amazing, she met somebody in November and she's getting married this summer. And we always thought we'd do it this way, when we meet the guy we'll just make it happen. I know that's exactly what's gonna happen to me. And I'm sure I'll do what Gul did, so quietly that no one will know.
But the beauty is not to put pressure even on yourself, because if you go around looking for a guy with just that in mind, you are going to attract the wrong guys. If you let it be, if you don't chase something, it comes to you. See, I don't have a dearth of men, I meet a lot of guys, the problem is I'm never in one place. I sleep by 9pm, wake up at 5am, I have dinner at 7.30pm, that's how exciting my life is.

So, how about settling down with a fellow actor?
No thank you!

Then...
More like, a businessman. I come from a business family and it's what I'm comfortable with.

Is it also because you know the industry from the inside, so you don't want to marry in it?
I will never point a finger at Bollywood or at our fraternity and say that it's more debauched. I think it's in every profession. Whether it is journalism or the corporate world, or anything. People are exchanging favours for anything, and when I say favours, you know what I mean. The film world is not just all about that, it happens everywhere. It's just that unfortunately, we always have the press upon us. I mean, look at the politicians. It happens everywhere, we just glamourise ours!

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