Prachi Desai turns the heat on, opts for image makeover

Prachi Desai is changing her image. From the sweet, homely, girl-next-door in her debut TV serial Kasam Se to her last film Policegiri, the actress has only been seen as Ms goody (read Bhagyashree/vanilla/boring). Now the actress wants to do a completely no-hold-barred negative role. And the first glimpse of the makeover can be seen as FHM’s covergirl (August). After Hrs chats with Prachi about dropping her inhibitions (and shirt)...

What’s bad?
Whatever your conscience doesn’t approve of is bad. But bad can be fun!

Ever thought about playing a negative character?
I’d love to do what’s not expected of me. Actors often get typecast and to challenge oneself is good. I’d love to do my version of Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman) from Orphan. I would love to play a completely evil and negative character because everyone needs to reinvent themselves and shock the audience a little every now and then.

Your favourite negative role...
Sridevi in Chalbaaz — during my childhood it was one of my favourite Hindi films. And Charlize Theron in Monster — because of how the character based on Aileen Wuornos has been developed and portrayed.

Were you ever a bad girl in school?
Going by the number of red remarks in my year book I definitely wasn’t the good girl.

Name one really ‘bad’ thing you have done.
I made people believe I’m a Miss Goody-Two-Shoes!

How low would you stoop to get a role?
That depends on what you call ‘stooping’. It’s subjective anyway. Until now I’ve chosen roles from what I’ve been offered and not gone out of my way after anything.

So you are not really an angel!?
First, I want to know who really contributed to that image? Well, yeah I have an innocent face, the kind that can make me walk away with murder but it isn’t really my fault that I keep getting offered the girl-next-door roles. If given a chance I’d love to play Irene (Audrey Tautou) from Priceless.

Three things you’d like to change about yourself?
I wish I could be less sensitive and more fearless and the opposite of shopaholic.

Three things people don’t know about you?
That I actually look my age...(laughs). I sang the song Ajeeb Dastan Hai Yeh in Rock On. And I’m an obsessive cupcake monster.

You’d fall for....
A good boy because opposites attract!