Sexy is an attitude and confidence: Jiah Khan

On her visit to Nagpur, the rather reclusive Jiah Khan spoke to NT about films, her passion for music and her style statement…
No matter how simply or glamorously Jiah Khan is dressed, there's a certain sizzle factor that she just can't hide. Tell her this, and she says, "Style to me is a mix between rock star chic-quirky-sexy and expressive. I always dress for my body type as it's important to highlight your pluses! I like edgy clothes that have character.I usually dress by the mood I'm in - so if I'm in my ripped jeans and leather jacket, you know I'm feeling rebellious!" And how does she manage to look sexy? "Sexy is an attitude and confidence," quips Jiah. Excited to be in the city as a special guest for a fashion show, said, "Coming to a new city is always welcoming. The crowds are super excited and appreciative and that's what I love about India. The people are warm and friendly."
Media shy?There's certain media shyness about Jiah that's rather rare in this era of 24x7 spotlight. Doesn't she miss it? "Not at all," she says, adding, "There is a time and place for being in the limelight. As far as being away from the spotlight, well, a certain air of exclusivity is always good." And how does she use the time when she's away from the camera? She says, "I use the time to train my skills, be it my Kathak, my martial arts training, my singing/composing or my piano. An artist must constantly transform herself/himself in order to stay ahead of the game."
Colourful SouthAs stars these days are busy criss-crossing regional and national boundaries in search of good scripts, ask her if she'd be game to star in regional films, and she says, "I love working in cinema - it can be in any language! I have a few exciting highly stylised projects that I am signing! It's incredible how much South cinema has influenced Bollywood in the recent years. The sensibilities from down South are making a huge impact on our movies and it's fantastic. I love the larger-than-life characters and colourful appeal of their films!"
Co-stars bonding From working with Aamir Khan to Akshay and the Big B, Jiah is one of those lucky few who have worked with such big names in the nascent phase of her career. Does she have any fave? She says, "I enjoyed working with all and I feel privileged to have been given the opportunities! Mr Bachchan taught me about getting into the depth of a character, as he engages you with his intensity. Aamir is a fantastic professional. His commitment is wonderful and when performing with you, he captivates. Akshay is fantastic! A very hard-working individual with an immense sense for comedy and action is amongst his many strengths, he is a wonderful human being too!"
Period dramaActors today are seen experimenting with different genres these days. Quiz Jiah on hers, and she says, "I go by scripts rather than genres. So far I've done drama, thriller and comedy, and I think it's a pretty good variation. If anything, I would like to attempt a classical love story or a period drama. I have been training in Kathak for the last 6 months and as my mother is from Lucknow I'd love to portray a character, which could exhibit not just the dancing skills, but also the adah that existed in the classical era." She goes on to add, "I would enjoy venturing into music, as I do write songs and compose music! And, of course, dance, rhythm and performance are in my blood, so eventually I see myself doing something in that area, surely!"