Simone: In quest of the unusual

She exudes an unmatched confidence, an unusual sophistication and has a deep understanding of what she talks about.
Simone Singh, who first acted on the small screen, and successfully entered the portals of Bollywood with Ek Rishtaa: The Bond of Love, is clear about what she doesn���t want to do. ���I don���t want to do fiction roles on TV for sure.I am hosting a couple of shows and I enjoy doing them,��� she says matter-of-factly.
Simone is presently acting in Via Darjeeling, a psychological thriller. ���A large part of the film is a mystery story told in five different perspectives by a bunch of friends. Friends indulge in some story telling and that changes the story each time it is told,��� reveals Simone. As the name suggests, most parts of the film were shot in Darjeeling and Kolkata.
Incidentally, the movie is being directed by adman-turned-filmmaker from Kolkata ��� Arindam Nandy. ���He is an ad man originally with many advertisements to his credit, and has now ventured into films,��� informs she.
In this multiplex world, films with an ensemble cast are the order of the day. And, she agrees, ���Yeah, that���s true. Even Via Darjeeling is an ensemble cast film starring Vinay Pathak, Kay Kay Menon, Parvin Dabas, Sonali Kulkarni and Sandhya Mridul.���
So, how did she bag this role? ���How would any actor bag a role? Producers came up to me, I saw the script, I found it interesting and unusual, I felt confident about this role, and I took it up,��� says Simone in a very obvious tone.
We talk about her appearance in the film Kal Ho Naa Ho opposite Saif Ali Khan, and she sounds nostalgic. ���It was nice doing that role. They are nice people to work with, and it was a slight departure from the other roles I have done in the past. I am glad that such a short role is still remembered,��� muses Simone.
Moving on to the new film that she has taken up, she is careful about what she lets out. ���It���s a small but a very interesting film.��� And, that���s about all she will let us know. But, she is very clearheaded when she talks about films and Bollywood. ���There is this new kind of cinema coming out of the Mumbai film industry complete with ensemble casts, a sensible budget giving an opportunity to experiment, and a penchant for taking risks. Given this, there is a new climate in the industry, and hence an actor is able to act in films of different genres. There are no restrictions anymore,��� feels she.
But, is there any specific genre she is fond of? ���I like to take up new stuff. If I get an offer for a role I have not tried before, I will take it up,��� declares Simone.
What does this lovely lady indulge in when she is not shooting for films or doing shows on TV? ���My husband and I love to travel. And, when we are not travelling, I am what you call a voracious reader, so the rest of the time you will find me reading. I read fiction, but I have no specific taste, I read varied books,��� says this pretty woman who is born in Jamshedpur and brought up in Bengaluru.
With as many as eight Bollywood roles already to her credit, and a clear focus on what she wants to do, Simone seems to be making the right moves.