Soha Ali Khan hired a tempo once and threw eggs at people

Ever played Holi with your brother (actor Saif Ali Khan) or your friends?
Never with my brother. But we’ve played lot of games together which involved water and violence.

So you were the invariable recipient of Saif’s pranks?
Actually I am lucky enough to be 10 years younger than him. So he was very nervous with me. My sister, who’s slightly elder to me always bore the brunt of Saif’s mischievous activities but I got away because he was always scared that my parents will get very upset with him.

Are you his favourite?
I’m everyone’s favourite in my family. I’m my mother’s, my father’s, my sister’s and my brother’s favourite.

Have you ever had bhang playing Holi?
I’ve never had bhang. I mean you have all these silly people give you strange things to drink all the time so I’d have possibly had some kind of drinks.
 
Is it because you played in Delhi — your increasing nervousness on playing Holi now?
I don’t know if it’s culturally specific. I’ve never played Holi in Mumbai. I think things can get out of hand in any city. And people drink a little bit and get over enthusiastic and boisterous. As a woman and as someone who’s slightly diminutive in size, when you’re playing Holi, things can get a little out of hand. And colours today are artificial and impossible. Everyone turns out to be black at the end of the day. We used to go to Bengal also for Holi — since my mother is a Bengali — and in Bengal, Holi is a slightly longer festival. I remember my grand parents making colours at home. They had certain medicinal properties that you need not be afraid of. But today everything is kind of weird. 

What about the Bollywood famed Holi parties?
Oh! I have been to them… when I was younger.
 
So what’s the dirtiest Holi that you remember having played?
I hired a tempo once and threw eggs at people. You kind of get caught up in random moments but it’s probably not the best thing to do.
 
Do you think it’s scary for girls to step out and play Holi with random people?
It’s always scary to play with random people! Today’s world is a lot more unsafe than it used to be. When I was growing up, terrorism wasn’t such big a threat that it is today. So every time there is a big festival there is a panic attack like should I go to this theatre or not? Unfortunately, life has become like that. You can, as an individual, choose if you want to let your life be affected by that though.

Are you a romantic?
Yes, I am. I choose to think that I’m romantic but I’m quite practical in life.
 
Your mom, Sharmilaji is an actor and Censor Board Chief while your dad Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi was a cricketer. So what made you choose the life of a banker at one point?
To make my father proud. He is not a filmi person at all.

Your father never wanted you to take up acting. How did Saif and your mum react to your decision?
My work at the bank had reached a plateau. When you’re a banker at some level your work becomes very transactional and you do the same work everyday.  So I did it for a year-and-a-half and then I understood that my father would be happy in anything that made me happy.

Now that you’re working with your mother in a film (Life Goes On), how’s the experience been like? She tells us that she never gave you any advice?
What rubbish! (Laughs)

Isn’t it a bit intimidating — to be seen with your mom in the same film?
Of course! I was very nervous. I didn’t forget my lines or anything but I was nervous because she has a very good aesthetic sense. I’m going to  spend three days with her, promoting the film, and I’m so terrified about what I’m gonna wear — not because what the audience will say, but more because of what my mother will say. She’ll probably say, ‘Really… you really want to wear those shoes with that? Why are you so last minute?’

She has everything set up till May. She knows what she’ll wear at the occasion whereas I’ll know what I’ll wear only on the night of the premiere itself… and of course there’ll be some dal stain on it too! So I’m very nervous about getting ready when I’m going out with her.

So you agreed to do the film with her in one go?
At that time mom had said that this was going to be her last film — which was a lie! She has done three films since then and in all probability she’ll act in 33 more before she retires. My father had told me not to fall for that. He said, ‘She told me she’ll retire 20 years ago, and I’m still waiting’. I had thought that if this was going to be her last film I’d definitely want to share some filmography with her. It would be interesting to capture both of us on a DVD for the memories in the future. 

Do Saif and you share secrets, despite the 10-year gap?
Yeah, in fact he tells me a lot. He tells me more than what I tell him. But I do tell him important things. It’s important to get a male perspective on matters. I can talk to my mother about anything but I find it hard to talk to my father about personal issues. So sometimes it’s good to get a mature perspective from him. (Seeing DNA) Oh look there’s an article with Kunal (boyfriend, actor Kunal Khemu, on the travel page). I took all of these pictures. Yes it’s not a secret…my name’s in the article, see.
Tell us about the trip you both took together...

It was good fun, besides the roller coaster, which is the scariest thing in the world.

Are you getting married?
No. Not immediately.

But are you seeing him?
Yes, I am seeing him. I think we’ve admitted to it so I can’t take it back (laughs)… but things like marriage and all — I have not thought about them.

Talking about World Cup, are you cheering for India?
Of course! I’m cheering for India. I think Dhoni as a captain is superb! I find the cricketing franchise format also very entertaining. But I think we need to relieve our cricketers of the pressure of our expectations.

Your favourite cricketer?
I have no favourites. They keep changing. When it comes to cricket in India, Tendulkar is the cricketer I have been watching since I was a toddler. He’s one of the most entertaining players. I think I’ve met him too, when I was younger.