Rakul Preet Singh, who turned 29 last month, is in a happy space. She, in fact, celebrated her birthday by buying herself a diamond ring. On the professional front she has evolved a lot since her debut with Yaariyan in 2014.

The actress said though her last venture De De Pyaar De did not draw much box-office success, the positive feedback from the film gave her confidence for Marjaavaan. Rakul added that she has signed three films but is waiting for the producers to announce them.

Concurrently, Rakul’s South career is going strong. “I am doing a film with (Telugu actor) Nithiin, being directed by Chandrashekhar Yeleti. I am playing a criminal lawyer in the film. I am also doing Indian 2 with S. Shankar,” she said.

Rakul also reflected how looking good all the time has become important these days.

“Earlier, heroines, not only in the South but in Hindi cinema also were not skinny. Now all are fitness conscious and take care of their physique.”

Besides her work in films, the actress said she is evolving and understanding fashion.

“I started working in Hindi cinema in 2014 and I am trying to understand fashion and what suits me and my body. I have been working on it and have become conscious about it.

“I didn’t know anything about style earlier. Now I realise that I have to look a certain way and match my shoes. Now it’s become an everyday thing. I can’t step out without styling myself but for me, comfort is of the utmost importance.”

She, however, stressed that she doesn’t take too much pressure about always looking perfect.

“What you look on screen is not what you look all the time. These days it’s about airport looks. But as I said, be comfortable in your skin. I can’t take so much pressure. The paparazzi is always following you... I usually take early flights to avoid them. I keep shutting between Hyderabad and Mumbai for my shoots very often so the best way to face the pap culture is to wear my shades and just say hi.”

She does get upset though with the paparazzi when they click pictures of her leaving the gym. “There are photographers right outside the gym and yoga class. I sweat a lot and I just run into my car. I don’t know how the others manage to look so pretty.”

Her key to looking good is being happy all the time.

“If you are jealous of others, or have stress it affects you. The eyes are the mirror to the soul,” said the actress who owns three gyms and says in two years she would like to do something on the lines of F&B.

“Food is something I want to venture into. Food, fitness and films is what I indulge in. I write diets for my friends. I love food, it makes me happy. I have three gyms and it will be four years I have set them up.”