Shalini Pandey has had quite a journey. From doing drama in Jabalpur, where she hails from, to being the toast of the Telugu industry after the success of Arjun Reddy (2017), she has seen some incredible highs in her life. She has an pan-Indian face, which has helped her land both South and Bollywood films. In her recently released OTT film Maharaj, she plays a bubbly Gujarati girl who blindly trusts a religious guru and ends up losing her life. It was a layered role but she got the sur of it right. The film marked the debut of Aamir Khan’s son Junaid Khan. Shalini calls him the sweetest co-star she’s ever worked with and says he’s sans any starry airs. She held her own against Jaideep Ahlawat in the film. They had an extremely difficult intimate scene in the film but Shalini pulled that off with aplomb. Her excitement seeps through the airwaves as she sassily answers my questions on the phone. Excerpts:

WHAT KIND OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR CHARACTERS FROM ARJUN REDDY AND MAHARAJ?

For Preeti, I would say, meet other men. He’s not the only guy, okay? I've seen what girls like Preeti are like; they completely fall for a guy like that. This is what I tell my sister before meeting one guy - don't get stuck to the one love you have seen in school or college. You feel that’s the only thing, but when you grow older, you realise your values. She needs to grow as a woman on her own. Kishori is a very blindsided woman. I just wish she wouldn't commit suicide. One shouldn’t have to take their life for something like that. And for both these women - please don't centre your world around men. Men are amazing, but please get to know yourself first.

WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION WHEN MAHARAJ CAME TO YOU?