Around the world with Shruti

Ten hours before Fa Femina Miss India-Miss World, Shruti Sharma, takes off for Nigeria to participate in the Miss World pageant, there's excitement and chaos at her Bandra apartment. Her mum, dad, brother and Shruti are frantically looking for the box that contained her mum's jewellery. The bag in which they remember putting it is empty. There is tense silence.And then they find it all in another bag. My blood pressure almost dropped for those few minutes. I'm a little nervous, says Shruti.Does this mean sleepless nights? Surprisingly, I've been sleeping very well. It's just that my appetite has disappeared. Blame it on the excitement of the possibility of her winning the crown. Yeah, I think so. Just winning one crown (Femina Miss India) has changed my life. People who treated me like a kid now take me seriously. Also, there's more responsibility on my shoulders. I have to conduct myself in a certain manner.But success doesn't come with good things alone. I'm flattered with all the attention, but there's also envy from certain colleagues. Also, some new relatives have sprung up all of a sudden. People who never kept in touch, now call claiming to be relatives. But Shruti's really thrilled when classmates from her boarding school track her down to congratulate her. I was a very shy and quiet child, so they are pretty surprised to see me in this role, she says.And roles, the filmi kind, we mean? Yes, of course, there were offers after I became Miss India but I've turned them down until I finish with the Miss World pageant. It's only how I fare there that will decide whether I take up films or not. Yet, you can't stop a girl from dreaming. I would love to play a romantic lead with Amitabh Bachchan. It would be easy to show my emotions. I would rather do that than play his beti or bahu. Also, acting opposite Shah Rukh and Aamir Khan would be a dream come true, says Shruti.But all this only after December 7. Until then, she's praying to Sai Baba whose pendant she wears around her neck. Also giving her company through her trip is an idol of Lord Ganesha, the God of success.simi.chandoke@timesgroup.com