'Acting Is In My Karma'

When I was shooting Aashiqui, I would hear comments like “Yeh toh bahut lambi hai. Heroine nahin dikhti hai”. But Aashiqui became such a big hit, and you know how the industry is. You have success, then you have everything.

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Anu Aggarwal has always been an enigma.

From lip-syncing to popular Aashiqui songs to enacting unconventional roles to disappearing from films, the actress has made brave, individualistic, choices.

Courage is also what Anu exhibited after a life-threatening car accident. Instead of upending her life, adversity encouraged her to travel further on the path towards self-discovery.

“International Creative Management, one of the largest talent management agencies in Los Angeles, wanted to take me on. But that is also the time I wanted to take a break. I had started meditating. What more can you give me which my country hasn't already given?”,

How do you look back on your smash hit debut Aashiqui (1990)?

Aashiqui made me a star, and it showed me the stars. A transformation happened in me, and I was grateful.

I had interviewed you in your Khal-Naaikaa days in 1993, and I recall you liking my headline: ‘Cat Among The Pigeons’.

The headline made me smile, and then it made me think. Your interview and your perspective of me was so on the mark. I'll give you an analogy. I once wrote about how I'm walking on the bank of a river alone when everyone else is huddled in groups trying to swim inside the river (the mainstream).

You were definitely unique. That helped you generate a brief but memorable film career.

I was clear about what I wanted to do.