Being an actress one gets a lot of male attention. How do you deal with it?

I am very comfortable with the people looking at me because I am used to it.

Has it ever made you uncomfortable?

Lots of times! Indian men are bad lechers. Some lech at women as if they are naked. I completely ignore them.

Are men in metros more liberated?

They are more civilised. Some men know the art of complimenting women.

When did you become aware of the male gaze?

Because of my fair complexion and features I don’t look Indian. So that was my advantage. From the beginning, people would give me extra attention whether it was in school or my tuition class. Whenever I go out, everybody looks at me and I am okay with it.

Do you think people are biased towards fair women?

Completely! For Indians, if the girl is fair, she is beautiful. They don’t look at features. I was very fair, I had golden brown hair. All men would give me extra attention and the girls hated it.

What is the first thing you notice in a man?

His behaviour. He can be well-dressed and from a good, well-to-do family, but if he is not behaving well then it’s a big turn-off.

You are three sisters. Did your parents ever miss a son?

I don’t think so. We are like sons to them and they are very proud of us.

When you decided to become an actress, was your family supportive?

Yes, but they were shocked because I am from a very educated family. I have scientists, doctors, professors in my family. I am the only one who is anpadh (laughs). I have come to Mumbai and lived alone. Now my mom and my sisters live with me.

What kind of bond do you share with your dad?

He is a very conservative man. I cannot sit and watch my own film with my father. I am more comfortable with mom because she is more like a friend to me. My dad has been like a friend but somewhere you have to draw a line.

Have actresses come of age in Bollywood?

It’s still a male-dominated industry. Very few films are made with women in powerful roles. A heroine comes into the picture if she is friends with the director or the actor or someone recommends her.

Does the casting couch exist in the industry?

A lot of people talk about it. There is no smoke without fire. I have never faced it. In Mumbai I was with the modelling agency Elite. I have always been very protected.

Are you single?

Unfortunately, I am single.

Were you in a relationship in the past?

Not really. I have lots of guy friends who like me. They know if they say “Urvashi I am in love with you”, I will say, “Get lost”.

Can there be platonic relationships between a man and a woman?

Why not? I am more comfortable with men because women are jealous of me. They don't like men giving me so much attention so they try to put me down all the time. Even in Fear Factor, Akshay would give me a lot of attention because I was a good performer. I have got attention all my life so I didn’t feel ‘Oh Akshay Kumar is giving me attention’. But the other girls were very jealous. It didn’t bother me. Now I enjoy it.

Were you nervous doing a lovemaking scene in your first film, Naqaab?

I was very nervous. I am still scared of Akshaye Khanna. He is very quiet and thinking something all the time. If you say something to him, he would just look at you and make some face and go. I used to literally shiver in front of him.

Are heroes more comfortable doing an intimate scene?

Akshaye is more experienced while it was my first film. It was very important for him to make me comfortable, which he did.

What has been the boldest pass made at you?

I have always been a very strong girl. After Fear Factor nobody has dared to come close to me. I have beaten up a lot guys. I used to live in a very conservative area and guys would follow me. I would warn them not to follow me. They thought ‘Oh what can she do?’ But I complained about them and they were caught. Then they got a good beating from the policeman and from me.

Who is the sexiest man in Bollywood?

Salman Khan and Hrithik Roshan are very hot. My first crush was

Enrique Iglesias. I told Kumar Taurani (of Tips, the producers of Naqaab) that I want to do a video with him. They said you might have to kiss him. I said: “I don't mind kissing him.”