From the company of boys in STUDENT OF THE YEAR, Alia Bhatt now has a newer set of men in her life. As she gears up to return to the big screen after almost a year and a half with HIGHWAY, Alia gets chatting about Imtiaz Ali and Randeep Hooda.
'In the list of directors I wanted to work with, Imtiaz was right up there,' she smiles, 'You know, he doesn't look at the monitor when you are in the shot. Instead, he looks at you directly as you are performing. I knew it was an unusual part I was playing in HIGHWAY but for that, I didn't have to do any special preparation. I just sat with Imtiaz, spent a lot of time in discussions with him around the film and the characters, and voila, I was ready for the part.'
As for her co-star Randeep Hooda, she too was informed beforehand that he has this brooding image.
'I know he has this image of being brooding and all. Some have even asked me if it an unlikely pairing between us in HIGHWAY. However, that is the whole point in there. As for his serious and brooding nature then well, let me tell you that mentally and in heart, he is much younger than even me. We got along really well during the filming. We spent quite some time together, since the film has been shot so much outdoors. I would pull his leg constantly,' she smiles.
On a parting note, she adds, 'After being with him for so long, I consider Randeep as a buddy.'
'Presented by Sajid Nadiadwala and produced by Imtiaz Ali', HIGHWAY releases all over on 21st February, 2014.
