Actress Saiyami Kher says she auditioned for her debut, "Mirzya" like any other struggler and did not inform her aunts Shabana Azmi and Tanvi Azmi about it as she wanted to bag the film on her merit, without their help.
Saiyami comes with a film lineage-- being the granddaughter of actress Usha Kiran and niece of Tanvi and Shabana, who are both National Award-winning actresses.
"They (family) did not know I was auditioning for 'Mirzya'. I was called for auditions like any other struggler for auditions.
"I did not tell anyone, including Shabana masi and Tanvi bua about the auditions as I wanted to do things on my own. (But) it is always comforting as I have somebody to talk to when I am having a bad day," Saiyami told PTI.
The 24-year-old debutant says while Tanvi got quite emotional when she signed "Mirzya", Shabana was assured that director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra will take good care of the newcomer.
"Tanvi bua is very filmy. She cried when I signed the film. She (Tanvi) has worked with Rakyesh sir on 'Aks' and 'Delhi 6' and said it would be fun working with him (Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra).
"And Shabana masi said I am in good hands (referring to Mehra's direction) and that I just follow Rakyesh sir," she said.
Saiyami added both her aunts are extremely protective about her.
After the initial auditions, Saiyami and one more girl
were chosen and sent to Delhi to learn horse riding and get training under Adil Hussain.
It was only after three months that Saiyami was informed that she was selected to play Sahiban.
"He (Mehra) wanted to be sure if I fit the bill. There was I and another girl, we both were sent to Delhi, we both had to learn horse riding.
"That (horse riding) experience was amazing. For three months I was in Delhi and I was coached by Adil Hussain and his guru Dilip Shankar," she added.
"Mirzya", which took quite some time in making, is slated to hit cinema houses on October 7. But for Saiyami this wait was not frustrating.
"When I was auditioning, I knew there are two of us-- me and another girl-- so its 50-50 chances (on doing the film). I looked at it (process) as a learning experience. We shot for the film for 83 days. I was choked and teary when the shoot was over as I did not want it to get over," she said.
Saiyami said she did not feel nervous before the shoot of "Mirzya", which is based on the Punjabi folklore Mirza Sahiban, as she had undergone training and rehearsals.
"Our rehearsals were so strong that when we started shooting we felt easy. He (Mehra) pampers his actors very much. He never yelled on the sets, he is so relaxed and calm while working. So, there was no burden, stress.
"The only time I felt little stressed was when I read the script and it had name of Gulzar saab. He is a legend... He is writing after 15-16 years. So I felt there is a responsibility, but Rakyesh sir made things easy for us," she said.
The model-turned-actress made her acting debut with Telugu film "Rey" and she says good films matter to her, not the language they are made in.
"I don't look at it as which language the film made in. If I get an offer to do a Chinese film, I will do it if the story is good. I did a film in South while I was in college. My masi and bua felt as I have grown up in Nashik, if I do a south film it will help me in opening up," she said.
After "Rey", Saiyami started getting offers for more South Indian movies, but she choose to let go of them for her debut in Bollywood.
"The Hindi film industry is one of the biggest in the world. Who wouldn't want to do a film here in Hindi?," she said.
