Freida goes to Hollywood!
Author: Corinne Griffith-Cole
Magazine: Cosmopolitan (India), issue March 2009
Ever since Slumdog Millionaire hit theaters and resonated with both critics and viewers, everyone’s been buzzing about first-time actress Freida Pinto. Almost overnight, the Mumbai-born former model has gone from “who’s that girl” to “It girl,” whirling across the globe to attend scores of red-carpet events and award shows, and schmoozing with celebs like Leonardo DiCaprio (an admitted crush).
Cosmo caught up with Freida for a chat in London the afternoon after the British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards, where she had been nominated for best supporting actress. With a career launch this lively, we can only imagine how full her future will be.
Your schedule is crazy, with the award shows, glitzy events—there’s all this excitement. How are you handling it all?
I’m just trying to enjoy it as much as I can, because it happens once in a lifetime. It’s a big blessing so I need to learn to relish and savour every moment, and that’s exactly what I’m doing. And breathing, most importantly.
So going from an unknown to being on the red carpet with the likes of Angelina Jolie and Kate Hudson — what’s that transition been like?
It’s beyond my comprehension at this point, because I’m still trying to understand what just happened. All this seems like one big lesson because you struggle and struggle and then you finally get [something], like Slumdog Millionaire. The baffled look that Jamal Malik had when he won the money is pretty much my expression any time I see an A-lister on the red carpet.
Speaking of the film, what is your take on the controversy surrounding it—how it portrays what some would call the clichéd, poor face of India?
It’s a large country where the population is 1.3 billion, so it’s going to be pretty hard to impress everyone and make every living soul there happy and cheerful about things like this. The truth of the matter is, we do have slums in Bombay—we have not created [them] for this film. So all the locations are real locations. They’re not sets. What you see in the film is pretty much what you get. And I guess everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion, but my opinion is that it is a very true portrayal and there is nothing wrong with what is shown.
You were a TV presenter for a travel show, and a model—now you’re acting. Do you think you’d like to focus on one thing going forward, or would you kind of like to do a little bit of everything?
I definitely know where I’m going. I’ve always wanted to be an actor, and when I started modeling, it was with the hope of having an [acting career] at some point in time. I got a travel show instead, and I learned a lot from it. It’s been a great deal of fun. I wanted to be an actor in Slumdog Millionaire, and I had my fair bit of struggle—and I think it’s great I had that. It just makes it so much sweeter.
That’s amazing! As a former model, can you tell us a bit about your personal style? What is your favorite item in your closet?
A pair of jeans and a nice, comfortable T-shirt, or a lacy black top. Wear them with a pair of high heels, and it’s the easiest to pull off on any given day.
Would you say that’s your go-to outfit, the one you feel most comfortable or confident wearing?
If it’s a go-to, then I think it has to be comfortable heels—it can’t be high heels. Heels do become uncomfortable. They can be the biggest and best brand ever, but they’re heels!
What qualities do you look for in a boyfriend?
I think it has to be a blend of everything. The person needs to be hilarious but know when to draw the line. There should be a balance of it all. Someone who has to try too hard is a bit scary.
Right, but there are lots of girls who might be shy putting themselves out there.
I guess there’s always a way of doing it very elegantly and very smartly. But for me there are no rules that it has to be the boy or the girl. In fact, sometimes when the girl is more proactive, it’s far sexier.
Among the many themes conveyed in Slumdog Millionaire, one is fate. Do you believe in destiny?
I do. I come from a country that believes in destiny, and I feel there’s a lot of destiny things that have happened with my film. Like, when I was supposed to go to Toronto for the Toronto Film Festival, I remember not having my visa literally until four hours before the flight. I was like, “Uh, I don’t see this happening…” and I really wanted to go. Then I got this miraculous call saying “Your passport has been sent from Delhi to Mumbai; someone needs to come and collect it.” I was like, “Did I just get my visa?! Wow!” My bags were all packed, I was ready go, and I was in tears, ’cause I thought I was going miss my opportunity to watch my film for the first time. That definitely reaffirmed my faith in destiny. And also there are so many things that have happened, one after the other. It just makes believe that there is something called faith and destiny. Slumdog was my destiny.
What are your goals for the next few years?
I’m launching myself as an actor, but it’d be nice to do something that makes a difference. I wouldn’t say another Slumdog, ’cause that’s not going possible, but this film has touched so many hearts, and I really hope that my next project will also do the same.
Know more about her…
Name: Freida Pinto
My Nickname is: Frei, Fro Freigums, Bits
My favourite part of my body is:
a. My butt.
b. My boobs.
c. My abs.
d. My legs.
e. Other— my spleen!!
The feature I get the most compliments on are my — smile.
I am most insecure about my — feet, because — they are rather large!
I think it’s sexy when a guy:
a. Has an amazing body.
b. Calls his mom every day.
c. Is good with kids.
d. Is funny.
e. Is a little bit of a bad boy.
My weirdest phobia is of — that of the ‘Dark’.
If you looked in my purse, you’d be bound to find — nothing at all!
I wish I could be more:
a. Uninhibited.
b. Organized.
c. Relaxed.
d. Sexy.
The most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to me
Being dragged up the red carpet in the pouring rain with a streaming cold!
The one food I simply cannot resist is — shortbread.
I sometimes get mistaken for — nobody.
I’ve been in love:
a. Once.
b. Twice.
c. More than twice.
d. Never.
You’d be surprised to find out that I’ve never__watched my co-star Dev Patel, in ‘Skins’.
My ritual to help calm my nerves is — sleeping.
My worst habit is:
a. Eating junk food, especially.
b. Swearing.
c. Saying whatever is on my mind.
d. Skipping the gym.
e. Reading tabloids.
e. Watching cheesy TV.
On a random Saturday, I can be found:
a. Having a two-hour brunch with friends.
b. Shopping.
c. Working out.
d. Working.
e. Sleeping in.
f. Hanging out with my family.
The words I live by are — there’s no such thing as a free lunch!
