Reecha Sharma currently finds herself amidst a hectic schedule for yet another movie release. Adha Love is set for a June 9 premiere and straight off the bat, she confesses that she is a sucker for romantic stories. This happens to be the case while picking books as well. She doesn’t hesitate to confess that her picks have included the likes of Twilight and a fair share of Nicholas Sparks as well. 

“The freedom to choose applies for books too,” she says, when asked whether she has been teased about her taste. 

In this candid manner, Sharma sits down for an interview. From the reading habit that developed pretty late to the books she wishes to see adapted on the big screen, Priyanka Gurung talks about everything book related with the actress.

Being an actor do you think it influences the books you pick?
I don’t think so. As most readers, I’m merely looking for stories that grip me so that for an hour or so every day, I can lose myself in the flow of the writer’s words. When choosing new reads, I simply rely on reviews and recommendations.
But being an actress, I guess I do find myself reenacting certain scenes. Perhaps, it is an occupational hazard. There have been books where I have found characters that I would love to portray. I find myself pausing in between sentences and telling myself, “Oh, if this was turned into a motion picture, I would love to bag this role.”

Can you mention a couple of book characters that you have your eyes on? 
For one, there is Naryan Wagle’s Mayur Times. There is this character called Parag. She is completely fearless, independent, works as a journalist and even rides a bullet bike. The story is set during our insurgency times and this character shows so much zeal that I couldn’t help fall for her. I would really love to portray that character. 

There is also Draupadi from Nayan Raj Pandey’s best seller, Loo. This is such an interesting character set in such a captivating story that I think it would be amazing to be able to bring her to life. 

What attracts you to these characters? Also what qualities do you think a book needs to possess to be turned into a motion picture?
The characters that I talked about not only present an interesting challenge but, to some degree, I think they possess some characteristics that are similar to my personality as well. Thus, they naturally appeal to me. 

As far as turning them into movies is concerned, well, I think books like Mayur Times is very commercial. It is set on the back drop of war with fight sequences but it also has a love story. The conflict between the characters and their circumstances should make for a very interesting watch. The book might not have done so well but as a film, we have another medium, another way of bringing the same story to a larger mass. 

Do you think your reading habit has helped you in your career as well? 
Reading lets you get information as well as use your imagination. All readers benefit in those departments because of their reading habits. As an actor, you obviously need your imagination to interpret and play roles. For instance, if I were to play a very poor woman, in far away remote places, then I would have to cook up her characteristics in my head, from how she would speak, dress, walk to how she would think. I think when you read you have more tools to immerse yourself in the given roles. Reading really helps to cultivate empathy and you are able to feel their journey.

Even though I’m not exactly thinking about improving my acting skills while I sit down to read a book, I think it does invariably end up assisting me in that department as well. 

How did you develop your reading habit?
Actually, it wasn’t before 2012 that I became a proper reader. It’s not like I didn’t read before at all. But it used to be more out of necessity than interest. It was actually my Paris residency that helped me develop the habit. When I was there, I realized just how important reading culture actually is because over there, everybody on the train is reading, cafes are full of readers too, you have big parks where you can sit and read and the books are really cheap. All these rubbed off on me as well and I began using up my spare time to sit with a book. Before I knew it, I was doing so more and more frequently.

Do you have any tips for those who would want to develop their reading habit?
Reading is a habit and it will take time to develop. Before I too didn’t have the patience that is required but if you consciously invest some time in it, it shouldn’t be that difficult. It’s important to develop a reading culture as well, and we are on the right track for that. You only have to look at the crowds at literature festivals and book expos. Like it is the case abroad, reading has to establish itself as a fashion.

 
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