No matter what roles she has played, Shraddha Kapoor has always been a ray of sunshine on screen. The popular actor — who has 80 million followers on Instagram alone — will now be seen in a role, which contrary to her sweet and simple image, requires her to be saucy and even conniving.

Tu Jhoothi Main Makaar, the big Holi release hitting theatres on March 8, has Shraddha, 35, cast opposite Ranbir Kapoor for the first time and has the two at loggerheads in what is being described as a ‘twisted’ rom com. t2 chatted with Shraddha on playing on the “front foot” in Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar, working with Ranbir and why she loves being simple and regular.

Most actors complain that promoting a movie is the worst part of the entire film-making process. But from the looks of it, you are having a great time working the crowds for the promotions of Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar...

Absolutely... I am just loving it! Just to get that energy from people on the ground is so amazing. I can’t even express it in words. That love, that adulation makes us feel that all the hard work that we have put in has translated into this kind of love. It overwhelms my heart so much!

The audience is really looking forward to this film because it really looks like the kind of entertainment package that (director) Luv Ranjan is known for.

We missed you in Kolkata, though...

I know! Hopefully, I will get to go to Kolkata after the film releases. Fingers and toes crossed!

When Ranbir was here, I had asked him what his first thoughts were about the film’s title. What was your reaction to it?

I thought it was very unpredictable. It has no mushiness in it. It makes you wonder, ‘Okay, what is this film all about? Why is it called Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar?!’ I actually thought it was a very, very catchy take and honestly, the title is very true to what the film is all about.

What is it about this role that excited you? Ranbir has said that you are the surprise package of the film...

It’s very kind of him to say that. Here’s hoping that the audience also feels like that (smiles). I hope they enjoy the film and they love what we have done. This is a film I am so excited to be a part of because it’s a whole other world. It’s very different from the kind of films I have done so far, and in fact, it is quite unlike anything that one has seen in recent times.

The kind of films that Luv Ranjan makes are so in sync with the pulse of the audience. His films really appeal to the youth of today, whether it’s the theme, plot, dialogues, characters or songs. I was very excited to play this character who is constantly on the front foot. It was a lot of fun to play her, especially because of how this character literally comes alive with the slightly tedha writing that Luv Ranjan brings to his female leads. It was refreshing for me as an actor to be that character, to be a person who drives the car and says to the guy, ‘Chal, mast drive hain aur mazey karenge’. She tells him, ‘Don’t worry, I won’t make you have alcohol and take advantage of you’. I really enjoyed going all out and playing this girl on the front foot...

Do you relate to her in any way?

I think I can partly relate to her clarity... in terms of what she wants in life and also what she wants from an immediate situation. But I don’t relate to any other aspect of her, very honestly (laughs).

Shraddha on her birthday on March 3

Luv Ranjan’s films are popular no doubt, but they are often accused of being misogynistic. Did you have any apprehensions on that front when you were first approached for Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar?

I didn’t, actually. I first heard the story and that was pretty exciting. I knew that I wanted to play this character, who — without divulging too many details about her or about the film — is the way she is... there is a reason why she’s called ‘jhoothi’. To be able to play such a tedha character excited me as an actor. I felt challenged to play this character.

It’s quite surprising that this is the first film that Ranbir and you are doing together, given that both of you have been acting for a while now. Before Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar, did you ever come close to being paired opposite each other?

Actually, no. This is absolutely the first film, we weren’t offered anything before this. I have always admired him as an actor and I always wanted to work with him to know what he is like, and what his process is like on set. Working on this film with him made me understand why he’s considered such a superlative actor and why he is such a superstar. He’s so natural, he’s so effortless. And he’s so lovely to work with, a great co-star to have around, to jam with on set. He’s a fabulous, fabulous creative energy. If you get to work with someone like that, it inspires you, it makes you want to put in your best. Ranbir definitely has that quality about him.

It’s been 12 years for you in the business. How are you picking and choosing the parts you are playing now?

I want to be a part of very strong scripts. I have gained a lot of clarity after all these years that I have spent as an actor... I started out (with Luv Ka The End) in 2011. I definitely think that the opportunity for women to play diverse parts now is really growing.

I have always been a fan of Julia Roberts and the kind of romcoms that she is known for... stuff like Pretty Woman or Notting Hill or even Erin Brockovich, which had her in such a strong role. Those are the kind of films that I really want to do now.

You have an Instagram following of close to 80 million (Shraddha is the third mostfollowed Indian on Instagram after Virat Kohli and Priyanka Chopra Jonas). When one scrolls through your feed, however, we see you putting up pictures of your everyday life, all of which seems very organic. Have you ever tried to decode what works for this huge following that you have?

As you said, I do a lot of regular stuff. That’s because I am a very regular girl and I cannot pretend to be anything that I am not. This is who I am and I really enjoy sharing those aspects of mine on social media.

The fact that people are so loving towards me on Instagram has actually inspired me to check my social media more, to be more interactive, check their DMs, I read almost all comments and reply to quite a few of them.... I love sharing authentically who I am and what I stand for and to interact on common likes. For example, I love chai and I love talking to my followers about chai and how they love having it. It’s so refreshing to be able to talk about regular, normal stuff...

And I am jealous of the fact that your Insta is full of pictures of you eating all the time and yet you look like this!

(Laughs) I do put on weight, but I work out... a lot! It’s just that I don’t put out any workout videos because I am so passionate about food!