After a quick shower, Riya Sen steps out of her bedroom at her Ballygunge house dressed in a black ganjee and black tights. With no make-up on, she looks dewy fresh and so beautiful. A black-and-white photograph of her father, Bharat Dev Varma, lounging on a beach stands on the centre table. “Don’t I look like Dad? He was very good-looking,” smiles Riya, sipping ajwain paani as we start chatting and discover a new Riya...

Your Twitter page is overflowing with messages from fans about your February 12 release Hero 420... about how hot and sexy you’re looking in the film. 
You know what? I wasn’t sure initially whether I should accept the hot and sexy compliment gracefully or not. I was tagged hot and sexy right after my first film (Vishkanya, 1991) in Bollywood and I wasn’t too comfortable with it. I said no to a lot of movies because I tried to run away from that image. When everyone started calling me hot and sexy, mom (Moon Moon Sen) panicked and she would tell me, ‘Don’t wear mini skirts... don’t do this, don’t do that’. 
Today, I am more experienced, mature... I think. I have realised that being hot and sexy is not a bad thing. It’s a good thing (smiles). Today everyone wants to be hot and sexy. The hot and sexy image that I have is in a nice, sweet way. Today I enjoy it, I love it and I don’t want to run away from it. I have done films like Noukadubi, Abohoman, Kolkata Calling, which are not typical commercial films. I tried to do different kinds of films. But I guess the audience want to see Riya Sen as hot, glamorous and sexy. 

 
What does ‘hot’ mean to you?
Hot means someone who is glamorous, sexy and fun. Hotness comes from within. I think being cool is actually hot. I know I am not going to be good-looking forever and people do age. I am happy to age gracefully. I am happy where I am and I know for me today, hotness is more than just looks. 

So do you look into the mirror and say to yourself, ‘I am hot’?
You know, earlier, I would take hours to get ready. I guess I wasn’t sure about how I was looking. Today I can get ready in five minutes. I can wear anything and I know I will still get a compliment. It’s my inner confidence which makes other people think I am hot. I don’t think I am thaaat hot. I think I am okay! (Giggles)

How did you get this new confidence?
It’s got a lot to do with meditation. I am not like heavily into it. But I want peace of mind and meditation gives me peace. While other people are taking a power nap, I just close my eyes and meditate. I get all my answers. And that has made me a confident person. An insecure person is confused and doesn’t have answers to a lot of questions. With meditation I get a few answers and that makes me more confident. I’m a changed person today and a lot of people tell me that. 

You are very different from your elder sister Raima Sen, isn’t it? She is more approachable, lively... 
Yes, I used to be a bit of an introvert earlier. But people misunderstood me. They have always misunderstood me. Maybe because I was very shy. I would not say hi to everyone at a party. Today I say hello to everyone. People took my shyness to be arrogance. But yes, Raima and I are totally different but also very, very, very similar. We always get along with the same people. We get along with each other’s friends like a house on fire. Mood swings, what we like, don’t like, what we like to eat, what we think of a person without even discussing it.... All our friends tell us ‘OMG you both are are so similar’. But like you said, we are poles apart too. I am withdrawn. But I keep people’s secrets and I think I am more loyal as a friend (laughs out loud). Raima is basically everyone’s friend. 

And both you and Raima are foodies...
We talk about dieting but end up eating everything! (Laughs) We eat the most fattening food together like pork sausages, biryani, ham, chocolates. Horrible! She is very naughty. She knows that I like chocolates so she keeps boxes and boxes of chocolates beside my bed! But yes, we are a family of foodies. We enjoy good food, great adda and a good life. 

While the interview was on, fans sent in their questions on Twitter

@abhishek2526: Any plan on doing a Bollywood movie?

@itsriyasen: I have done too many Bolly films. For now lemme concentrate on Bangla films. Do watch Hero 420.

@Debjani01: Does being a celebrity prevent you from doing something you really want to?

@itsriyasen: Well I don’t consider myself a celebrity. I go shopping, watch movies, without make-up. That’s the trick.

@barnitarnab: Could we get to see both of you sisters in any Bolly neo-art film?

@itsriyasen: Both of us will do films only if directors have a good role for us. 

Kushali Nag
Costume: Priyanka Khanna; Hair: Bappa

What does ‘hot’ mean to you? Tell t2@abp.in