Diana Penty
When the audience appreciates your film, that's the happiest feeling for an actor because at the end of the day, you are making a film for them. When they like it and appreciate it, you feel your work is done.
I like travelling to different places and trying out different cuisines. I like experimenting with my food.
Travelling makes me feel free. I love Cape Town, and different parts of Europe. I love New York; I could live there in a heartbeat. I love London. Mostly, I like travelling to untouched kind of places. I love the mountains.
I prefer non-fiction to fiction. In fact, I don't read fiction at all. I read books that are based on true events.
I go to the gym four days a week, and focus on my upper body and lower body on alternate days. I also do a lot of free style exercises such as stretching and squatting.
It's very important to keep yourself fit when you are young. Many people take youth for granted and start taking care of their health only as they get older.
Even something light, such as walking, jogging, cycling or swimming, and staying away from junk food is good enough to keep you healthy.
I have memories of the time when I was younger and when I believed in Santa Claus, which was the best part of Christmas. Back then, I wrote to Santa every year, hoping that my mom would post the letter with a stamp to the North Pole!
When you grow up, life makes you so busy that you completely lose the excitement around a festival.
I am quiet and reserved.
Cocktail' happened overnight for me. I didn't have the time to think about it, I suddenly got into films without even realising what I was doing.
I am not chasing stardom.
I think most of us are far removed from what goes on in our jails and the system. When I started working on 'Lucknow Central,' it was the first time I gave it some thought.
I remember my dad bought me my first phone when I finished school. I was a fresher in college, and at that time, it was mainly to keep a track of what I was doing and where I was going.
I listen to a lot of music and since I have to travel a lot, all my music is on my phone.
I think gadgets make for good gifts.
I can't say that I wanted to be an actress, it just happened along the way. I did not even know that I would be doing modelling but that also just happened.
Acting was never on agenda.
When I started with 'Cocktail,' I was trying to figure out if this was something I wanted to do.
I did modelling for five years, then I felt I wanted to do something different and challenging.
As part of being in the industry you do watch what others are doing. I think that's something good to do.
When I see a great film I do wish I was part of it, that happens.
I am hoping good roles will come my way after the success of 'Happy.'
I have a huge appetite. I can eat enough for three people. So for me, eating small meals through the day is key. It keeps me full, at the same time it doesn't make me lethargic.
I don't believe in extreme diets. For me, staying away from sugar and processed foods, eating home-cooked meals and exercising regularly is the key.
I do mat or take floor Pilates class at home. I also take dance lessons at home.
Anyone who's worked on a film would want their work to be watched and appreciated.
I signed 'Lucknow Central' because it was a story I wanted to be part of. I still stand by the fact that it was a well written, well directed film with some great performances.
I have roots in Jabalpur and that's as Indian as it can get.
It's partly true that I am not seen that often in public. Well, I'm just socially awkward, especially around people I'm not familiar with. But once you get to know me, I'm quite a chatterbox.
I'm open to different kinds of roles, characters and genres.
I just want to act - commercial, mainstream, niche or art - my choices are not defined by labels.
Each film has taught me something new - be it about myself, my craft, my profession, people.
I used to love doing the runway shows when I was a model and I miss that sometimes now. But it's great to go back to it every now and then as 'showstopper.'
I love challenging myself; it's what keeps me going.
Working and modelling in New York was definitely a life changing experience for me.
Walking the shows at New York Fashion Week was such a great high.
I had a sense of pride for the armed forces from the time I was a child because of my grandfather. He taught me to salute. He told me that every time I see army personnel, I should salute as a mark of respect.
For me, 'Parmanu' was an awakening of sorts. The film is about a covert mission. It's sometimes unbelievable that we get to recreate a part of history and live an incident that made history and changed the way our country was perceived.
I spent a lot of my school vacations in Devlali because my grandparents lived in the cantonment there.
Box office success definitely matters. I will be lying if say it does not matter.
At the end of the day, there is a lot of money that gets put into films.
A lot of hard work goes into making a film.
There are some films that you know will do well. Then there are others which have good stories that ought to be told. But because they are slightly risky, not everybody is willing to take that up. But I think it is important to take risks because at the end of the day, you want to explore new genres and new characters.
I think modelling comes naturally to me as I have done it for a long time.
I am a loner so I prefer traveling alone.
I like to do some research and learn about the destination before I travel there. I read up on its history, culture and food, which is most important. Being informed makes the travel so much better.
I started modelling in college, but it was part time since I was kind of nerdy and wanted to finish my studies.
Since I am not from a film family, I come with a different perspective. I come from a regular world. Of course, there's not always the help and assistance you'd get if you were from a filmi family, but I really didn't miss that.