“I didn’t have a single release post that. And the films I signed after, each of them is very different in its content.” In a very unconscious rather than deliberate way Kangana got typecast in a certain slot of actresses. All her roles to date have been complex; its almost like filmmakers don’t deem her capable of playing light hearted characters. “It’s been just two years since I’ve been a part of the film industry, though there is a variety of roles that one can do, the audience never takes you seriously unless you prove yourself as a performer. And I’m not apologetic that I debuted with complex roles. I consider it as a triumph when people see me as a performer rather than a wallflower.”

There is a flipside to doing these heavy roles right at the onset of her career. She attempted the serious roles right at the beginning of her career. Is there a sense of exhaustion in terms of her talent? Like she’s played her strongest card right at the start of a game and what’s left are the weak cards?

“Then I guess it’s just a matter of perspective. I think sometimes its easier to tackle the heavier roles and tougher to do the light hearted ones. I’d say that’s the case with me too. I’m good with complex roles. When a director asks me to handle a grim scene, I’m okay with it. I can very easily access a dark place or harbour a painful thought and get myself to cry. I don’t think I’ve exhausted my best. For any actor it’s impossible to say that they’ve conquered every range.

Kangana is definitely not alien to that feeling of overachievement. She did after all stun everyone with high wattage performances and a very mature talent in ‘Woh Lamhe’ and ‘Gangster’, her very first two films. It was an instant shot to success which can be scary sometimes, coz don’t they say, the quicker you get it the quicker you lose it? Does her success ever overwhelm her?

“Well, then I’m an overt optimist in that sense,” suggests Kangana, “I never ever think that I will lose everything. On the contrary I feel like I should ideally have much more success than I have right now. Like I can handle much more success than this. And I have moments of frustration when I look at stupid undeserving people who get some fabulous roles and great films and mess it up completely. My success has never come as a surprise to me. I was completely aware when it was happening to me”.

You don’t seem to suffer from the naiveté that girls your age do. “Its very simple,” she says rather matter of factly, “We are very clued in as human beings as to what reaction a particular action of ours will have. Where we falter is that, we mostly ignore our instincts. If you take a decision in a conscious state of mind, then the results will be exactly how you want it to be.” She pauses and then says, “At least nine out of ten times they will.”

There’s no doubt that she’s well beyond her years. Kangana obviously lives in a different mind space and one won’t be surprised if she finds it difficult to find someone to match her wavelength. Is that the reason why she often seems so aloof?

You seems pretty disconnected from the film industry. She agrees, “I don’t find people of my taste. It’s difficult then to find friends coz our energies have to match.” She says she doesn’t enjoy attending filmi parties or socializing with film personalities just to prove to people that she is not antisocial. I have to pretend all the time that I’m comfortable although I’m not,” she adds with a childlike frown crinkling her little nose, “Though pretending is our job. But sometimes you just don’t want to act. Not unless I’m paid at least.” She guffaws. “I’m telling you these filmi parties are the worst thing”. 

While Kangana would love to unwind with a bunch of friends at home, what she calls an ideal set-up; it seems to her today like a forlorn thought. “Mainly because I don’t have too many friends. In the next few years I hope to make some in this city.” Kangana’s probably one of the few who isn’t cynical about actresses being friends in the industry. “I’m a complete girly girl. I absolutely love female company. Even Priyanka Chopra is brilliant that way. We are working together in Madhur Bhandarkar’s ‘Fashion’ and she’s been an absolute pleasure to work with.”