Srishti Shrivastava: Working with Big B, Ayushmann no less than dream

Srishti Shrivastava, who has become a household name, made her mark in the industry with several outings in films. She made her debut in 2018 in Dil Juunglee. Eventually, she shared screen space with Alia Bhatt in 2019 release Gully Boy. The fight scene from the movie went viral in no time. She will next be seen Shoojit Sircar's Gulabo Sitabo. In an exclusive interview with ETV Bharat Sitara, Srishti shared her experience of working alongside two superstars.

• Q. Your fight scene with Alia Bhatt in Gully Boy was a topic of discussion...

Srishti Shrivastava: Let me tell you something, my mom is watching it right now. She is absolutely obsessed with the scene.

• Q: Tell us about your role in Gulabo Sitabo...

Srishti Shrivastava: I am playing one of the tenants of the house and I am playing Baankey's sister i.e., Ayushmann's sister.

• Q: That was a dream come true, right?

Srishti Shrivastava: Yes, it actually was. It really is a dream come true. I was excited since I started working on the project.

• Q: How did the offer come to you?

Srishti Shrivastava: It was not an offer. Basically, Yogi sir who is the casting director of the film called me for an audition. I went for the audition and I was told that this was the part and "you are going to be with Ayushman and Amitabh Bachchan" and I was like I really want to do this for sure. My heartbeat was going fast during the audition.

Srishti Shrivastava: Working with Big B, Ayushmann no less than dream

• Q: What was the audition like?

Srishti Shrivastava: It was one of the scenes from the film, can't say anything about it. It was actually my favourite scene from the film. We did that and Yogi sir was in the audition. He guided me through it. After, I think, a week or two weeks I got a call saying that it's happening finally. So that how the process of the film started. Then I met Shoojit sir and that's how it happened.

• Q. You are a girl from Lucknow?

Srishti Shrivastava: My entire family is from Uttar Pradesh. My dad is from Balliya and my mom is from Lucknow and I was born in Lucknow. But I have studied in Mumbai. I used to keep juggling between Mumbai and Lucknow for a very long time.

• Q: So how does it feel coming back to your mother's place?

Srishti Shrivastava: It was nice. I keep travelling to Lucknow for a lot of my theatre shows.

Srishti Shrivastava: Working with Big B, Ayushmann no less than dream

• Q. Have you ever dreamed of shooting with Amitabh Bachchan at your mother' place?

Srishti Shrivastava: No, I have never imagined, not in my wildest dream. It happened, fortunately, so yeah...

• Q: Did anybody say that you have an unconventional look?

Srishti Shrivastava: No, no one said that at all. But many people have said that I look good in the videos.

Q: Many people think of you as a tomboy...

Srishti Shrivastava: I am not. People confuse me for the characters I have played sadly. They think I am Joe from Girls Hostel. I am not even close. I am myself, which is chill and happy.

• Q: Have you always wanted to be an actor?

Srishti Shrivastava: Yes, I have always wanted to be an actor. Actually I wanted to be a heroine since I was a child. I always wanted to act. During my college, I started a little bit of acting here and there in the theater. After college, I enrolled myself in a drama school for a better understanding of performance and then from drama school, my journey started.

Srishti Shrivastava: Working with Big B, Ayushmann no less than dream

• Q: You are also well acquainted with theatre...

Srishti Shrivastava: Yes, yes. It's where I started everything. After drama school, I'm still doing theatre for four to five years. I perform very regularly. Because of this lockdown, we can't perform, but I have been performing for a while now.

• Q: Tell us a few characters you have played...

Srishti Shrivastava: All of my characters have been very interesting. I have always loved playing Draupadi in a play called Shikhandi. In this play, Draupadi is different, she is vocal. So, that was one of my most favourite characters and another play I have done with Manav Kaul, in which I play Aarti, is also very close to me.

Srishti Shrivastava: Working with Big B, Ayushmann no less than dream

• Q: In the next five years, where do you want to see yourself?

Srishti Shrivastava: It is my dream to be a superstar. In five years I want to do the biggest film, the most amazing characters. I want to explore every single aspect of performance. Five years is a really short time actually. So maybe in 10 years, I can do all the characters. I want to be recognised for my work, not only a particular type of film, I want to dance on the screen, I want to act, I want to travel with my films...

Srishti Shrivastava: Working with Big B, Ayushmann no less than dream

• Q: Whom do you want to romance on screen?

Srishti Shrivastava: The list is too big which includes Ranbir Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Vicky Kaushal, Siddhant Chaturvedi and Nawazuddin Siddiqui.

• Q. Have you ever been to Kolkata?

Srishti Shrivastava: I have been to Kolkata but that is long ago when doing the show. I have done Shikhandi in Kolkata. I loved that place. Will visit again.