I've no special preferences: Payel

How has Prem Amar changed your life?
My engagements have increased manifold. Popularity brings with it a huge amount of responsibility as well. Prem Amar has set a certain standard and I'd want to live up to that and better myself in my forthcoming ventures.
All your films ' I Love You, Cross Connection and Prem Amar ' have had the male characters hogging the lime light...
I can talk about Prem Amar. Raj had restricted the character to exactly what was required for the script. I think, I had a meaty role in that. I try to give my best in every venture I sign. It's important to look and perform well instead of figuring out who's hogging the limelight. We cannot deny the importance of a hero in an average commercial cinema. There's no point cribbing over why a hero always gets more importance than a heroine. That's the way it is. But I think I'm doing fairly well for myself.
So you have again shifted your base to Kolkata post-PA. Has the film's success made you return to your roots?
But this isn't my comeback at all. It was while I was doing I Love You that I got a chance to meet Anurag Basu. He offered me a lead role in Love Story. Since other good offers too followed soon after, I stayed back in Mumbai. But, I never lost touch with Tollywood. I used to get offers from here on a regular basis. But my professional commitments in Mumbai were such that I couldn't take them up. Thanks to Raj Chakrabarty, I now have a hit like Prem Amar in my kitty and I want to make the most of this. I'm in no hurry to sign films unless I get really good offers. I want to sign only roles which I think will live up to the standards that Prem Amar has set in the industry.
The makers of PA are known to repeat their casts. Will that be the same for you too?
Well, let's see what happens. As of now, I don't want to reveal much about my forthcoming projects. There are a couple of offers that I am considering.
Rumours have it that you are in Raj Chakrabarty's next which also stars Dev...
Yes. We have started shooting for Le Chakka... from Sunday. I play a funny and feel-good character.
But your first Bengal venture was with Dev. How eager are you to sign another one with him now?
n I've no special preferences. Unlike performance, casting isn't in my hands. It is for the makers to decide who they want to take in their movies. I met Dev during the making of Prem Amar. We had exchanged pleasantries.
A lot has been written about your extra flab...
I'm working to reduce weight. But that doesn't mean I've stopped eating completely.
With so many new faces around, is the competition getting tough?
Healthy competition is always welcome. There was a phase in Tollywood when there were dearth of new faces. We surely don't want to go back to that era. Today's makers are spoilt for choice. That's a healthy trend.
What happens to your Hindi serials?
I had a 104-episode contract with Ladies Special which got over recently. They wanted to extend the contract. But I was sure of wanting to shift my base to Kolkata. So, I didn't renew the deal.
Lastly, what is your relationship status?
(Laughs). What do you think? Currently, I'm trying to concentrate more on my career. Everything else will fall into place when they have to.