You have seen this fresh face on television, flaunting bright gold jewelleries of Bhima jewellers. The svelte model-turned-actress, Rich Panai created waves in the Malayalam film industry with her stunning performance in three Malayalam movies, back-to-back. Hailing from Uttaranchal and having done her graduation in arts, she preferred the world of stars than any other profession. After Bangkok Summer, Vadamali, and Sandwich, she is now on the constant lookout of next project. UT caught up with her for a candid chat. Excerpts from the conversation…

What defined your childhood ambition?

I always had this ambition of being an actress, and never a model. I also wanted to participate in the Miss India contest as I was highly influenced by Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Sushmitha Sen.  Preity Zinta and Rani Mukherjee too have inspired my passion for acting.

Tell us more about your modelling assignments?

I am not a ramp model, I do modelling for print and visual media. I have done ads for various brands like Maruthi (South), Bhima Jewellers, Adidas, NIIT, Pizza Hut, and Reliance Express. I also did an appearance in the IPL Pune video.

Beauty pageants that you have participated so far?

I have participated in Miss Lucknow when I was doing my schooling and to add to my happiness, Shabani Aazmi had crowned me. Then I went on to win titles like Miss Anandi and Miss North India the following years.

Despite winning all these titles, why didn’t you attempt for your dream pageant Miss India?

Blame it on my height that I could not participate in the Miss India pageant. They required five feet seven inches, while I was just an inch lesser, five feet six inches. Fate I say. But I never brooded over it. I moved ahead and won three movies and many advertisements in my career thus far.

Your greatest inspiration?

My parents are my greatest inspiration. Despite not hailing from a filmy background, they were really supportive right from my school days. They always let me attend beauty pageants, NCC camps and other personality classes, which I believe today is well reflected in my life.

Your greatest criticiser?

My mother has always been my greatest criticiser. Though she is sans any film hereditary and unknown to the Malayalam language, she watched all my movies from a common viewer’s point of view and shared her opinions and tips to improvise my acting.

How did Bangkok Summer happen to you?

The director of the movie spotted me in my ad for Bhima jewellers. When he approached with the script for the role of Ganga, I realised it was time that I switch my career from modelling to acting. And hence, my first movie.

What was the level of discomfort that you faced while doing the few steamy scenes in Vadamalli?

I and Rahul Madhav were already friends since the Bangkok Summer movie. I think because it was him that I did not feel any uneasiness while doing the scenes. Otherwise, I am a very restrictive person. A tad bit of melodrama was included in the song for me, which in turn boosted my confidence to do the scenes.

Your three movies failed to make it to the box-office. What do you think possibly could have gone wrong?

I believe luck also matters in one’s life. Chackochan’s every movie has always made it to the box office and clicked well. Moreover, I guess the script also did not complement the expectations of today’s’ script.

How do you normally choose your movies?

Honestly, till now I never explored the script due to the language barrier. The story used to be briefed to me and following that, I picked my movie. That’s how it worked.

And now in the near future?

Now I have decided that I would thoroughly go through each line in the script, understand the story and then make my move. Hope that will fetch me success.

Tell us about the comments and suggestions that you have received from your fans?

All my fans have always been very nice and honest with me. They would pitch in their suggestions and opinions which would help me to do something more.

How about marriage? Are you seeing somebody?

Right now, I am seeing somebody. I intend to enter wedlock with him by the next year. Details would be exposed later.

Were you a nerd at school or the notorious little girl?

I was a very notorious kid at school. Since I was the youngest in my family, I had the freedom to be me. I think I have not changed ever since, but relatively better now (LOL).

An incident that you would never forget in your life?

I will never forget the moment when I received my first ever award for Vadamalli at the Asianet Filmfare Award in Dubai. I have lots of fun and memories to cherish.