She adds, “We were not allowed around my dad’s music recordings because we were naughty. Even on the sets of Koi… Mil Gaya, while filming the last scene where the aliens are going back, I remember we were having a field day in the forest. I remember Chittu Papa (Rakesh Roshan) yelling at me on the mic. I have a picture with Jadoo as well. In college, just to mess with people, I used to tell them I played Jadoo in the film and they used to believe it.” Pashmina admits that she was influenced by films as a kid. She even cut her hair like Kajol’s Anjali in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Pashmina has come a long way from playing pranks. She’s taking cousin Hrithik Roshan’s advice more seriously than ever. “His feedback is one of the most important things in life. I value the work he puts out and I value the kind of human being and soul he is. I look up to him. Be it film, or even if it’s like a small piece of art, I seek his feedback,” she says.
As she reflects on her journey, the newcomer admits she’s had a sheltered life. She muses, “I was born and brought up in Juhu; my school was down the block. I had not seen enough of Mumbai, let alone India. And there was a thought that, okay, I need a degree. I need to fall back on something. So I studied mass media at Jai Hind. I had done Bharatnatyam but that is again not enough. I need to do more.” Just when she was about to leave for further studies in the UK, she realised something was amiss. “I was sad to the point where I couldn’t do anything other than take naps in the afternoon.” That’s when Pashmina recalled her father’s advice, “My dad has always said that, look, an artist should always create his art. No matter how big or small, that’s the only way you’re going to be satiated and happy. That’s the day I took a leap of faith.”
The Ishk Vishq gang had a rollicking time on the set. “We are all of the same age; our teams are the same age and even the assistant direction team was of similar age; it felt like everyone was going in as students. Our humour also matched. We were close throughout filming and we got even closer during the promotional events,” she shares. That being said, it isn’t all fun and games. Pashmina is self-aware of her last name. Speaking about her privilege, she shares, “I completely understand that there is a discussion about nepotism. And I respect that. I can understand that the audience will view me through that lens as well. But I have worked hard. I have auditioned for this role.
I have auditioned for many other roles and I’ve often been rejected. I’m here today after all of that. I know that maybe going forward, my last name will have a lot of weight. But I feel if I think about this too much, I’m not going to go further. My focus can’t shift to too many different things. It has to be my performance.”
While the enormity of entering Bollywood hasn’t fully hit her, the debutante is choosing to find joy in the little things. She says, “My name is part of a cult film’s legacy. I cannot explain to you the gratitude I feel. So everything is small compared to that. At times, it’s a pinch-me thing. I can’t even believe that this is happening,” she concludes.
