Gabrielle Reilly: Do you have a daily schedule or does your schedule change too much to do that?
Neetu Chandra: Yes it changes according to the passion that I have at that time. And I have loads of passions from dancing to basketball to music to going to the gym to acting to cooking.
Gabrielle Reilly: What is one of your favorite life philosophies that may inspire our readers?
Neetu Chandra: Philosophy of giving 100 % to what you are doing and not just 99%. So if you are not putting in all that you have in everything like playing, sleeping, a relationship, your work - it doesn't work. Try it out.
Gabrielle Reilly: What does your weekly fitness routine look like?
Neetu Chandra: I eat a balanced diet, drink loads of water and do balanced exercise.
Gabrielle Reilly: What does your diet look like throughout the year?
Neetu Chandra: I have no rice, no aloo, no butter, no ghee, no mithai. everything else is accepted and enjoyed.
Gabrielle Reilly: What are your favorite beauty tips?
Neetu Chandra: Lot of water to drink and less makeup.
Gabrielle Reilly: How do you keep your skin so beautiful? What do you do every day without fail for your skin?
Neetu Chandra: I do not use face wash. Instead I use my grand-mother's recipe of masoor Ki daal (lintels) paste to clean my face and drink lots of water.
Gabrielle Reilly: What advice can you offer people on emotionally handling the word "no" and the rejections that the entertainment industry (and life) throws at everyone sometimes?
Neetu Chandra: Go with a non expectation attitude and be truthful. If the opportunity comes to you then you are blessed. Otherwise if doesn't then the one who have not given you the chance are the unlucky ones.
Gabrielle Reilly: What advice can you offer for building such a successful career?
Neetu Chandra: Success is a state of mind. As far as I am concerned, I am quite successful. From where I come and then building an empire of dreams was no mean achievement. And getting mails that I am the youth icon etc brings the awareness with it. I have done 11 films, acted with the best of the actors and directors, have even managed getting National Award for 2 films. So it has been a journey with many fruits. Many a times parents call to tell that they are sending their kids to this industry because I am there. It inspires them. I would say focus, caliber, willingness to let yourself grow & learn as you work - all works.
Gabrielle Reilly: In America we love watching the way Indians move their heads. We try to emulate it, but can't. Is this something you just naturally learn to do as a child?
Neetu Chandra: You cannot ever do that because it is very emotional. It is an emotional head movement. Indians are born and they grow up with very high Emotional Quotient. Wherein in America things are more on professional front. Loneliness afflicts people there and hence EQ is low. So you can't move your head in any manner.
Gabrielle Reilly: I read you once slept on the street in Mumbai for a week to get in character for your role in Traffic Signal. What was that experience like for you personally? Did it change your attitude towards life by living like that?
Neetu Chandra: No, it did not change my attitude towards life. If that was the case I would not have gone. By doing so, my attitude was complimented. I have seen enough of all this from where I come. In place like Mumbai that is a big metro, is where the difference is. My attitude is that my country is a country of villages. Many a times I hear people talking all kind of things about my country. But I do not see my country through my ears. I see it with my eyes. I see and then make my images. When I sat on the street, I saw the way they are. They are contaminated and corrupted by the syndicates. I actually did not learn the actual authentic way of doing what I was doing in Traffic Signal because in cities like Mumbai, behavior of people is not all that natural. Even after sitting there, we had so many gestures in the movie that were done 100 times before too.
