Khuda Haafiz Chapter 2 Agnipariksha star Shivaleeka Oberoi says, 'I struggled for two years to get my first film, even after being an AD.'

Shivaleeka Oberoi’s upcoming film, Khuda Haafiz Chapter 2 Agnipariksha, is all set to hit screens on July 8. She is cast opposite Vidyut Jammwal in the Faruk Kabir directorial venture. The Free Press Journal caught up with the actress for an exclusive chat. Excerpts:

How was it tasting stardom after the release of Khuda Haafiz?

I got so many offers after the release, but all those were on similar lines as Khuda Haafiz, so I didn’t pick them intentionally. I can’t give that exclusivity to anyone else apart from Kumar sir (Mangat) and Abhishek Pathak.

Do you believe that the Khuda Haafiz franchise is a game-changer in your career?

Yes, it has been a life-altering experience for me. I got a lot more opportunities after this film. Not in my wildest dreams had I imagined that the first part would release on an OTT platform and I would get such huge recognition. Audiences have to back good content, and they have actually done so during the pandemic because OTT has a wider reach.

How do you take the current scenario of changing narratives due to the emergence of OTT?

I have been choosing my scripts consciously right from the start. I was very particular about my debut, which should have either broken or made my career. It’s very tough without any helping hand in the film industry. I struggled for two years to get my first film, even after being an AD. My aim is to do a different role than my previous film. I won’t do a Khuda Haafiz with any other script.

How do you react when people say that you are a private person?

I feel my work should speak the most for me. There’s no point in being out there without work. I believe people will follow you if your work is great. In my case, it took a little more time than usual to get recognition, but I am not a public person anyway. People weren’t even aware that my debut film Yeh Saali Aashiqui released in the theatres. It even came out in a few days, but critics praised my performance.

Go on…

It was ahead of its time. Back then, people didn’t get what we were trying to show. They are dealing with it now. The film is being viewed even today.

Besides the action genre, which genres are you keen to do?

I want to do rom-coms, comedy and horror. I have been doing performance-oriented roles since my first one. My character Nargis has been very exhausting mentally and physically, but Khuda Haafiz is that one film which I will embrace forever.