How much help did you get from Deepa in connecting with Kalyani's esoteric character in the film?

I received a lot of help and guidance from Deepa in connecting with Kalyani's character. Deepa is the consummate actor's director. Deepa gifted me with an excellent study on widows in India called "Perpetual Mourning" and under her guidance, I attended a workshop with Neelam Mansingh, a gifted theatre director and Deepa's childhood friend, in Chandigarh.

I also visited Vrindavan and spent time in vidhwa ashrams (widow refuges) there. I was in drama school in London when I began working on Kalyani, so Deepa and I used to have lots of discussions and communication on character, actions and motivations and other acting grammar and technique.

However, Deepa also gave me the single most important piece of direction, which came from her heart. Deepa gave me an image to work towards. She said, and I am paraphrasing: 'I want Kalyani to be like a beautiful lotus flower, blooming in the murkiest of water, untouched by the muck underneath'. That was the one image that was most important for me in connecting with Kalyani's character.

I believe you and John Abraham got along like a house on fire?

It was a pleasure working with John. He is professional, committed, generous, polite and talented.

You also had the opportunity to work with some fine talent like Seema Biswas and Waheeda Rehman?

Unfortunately, I didn't get the opportunity to act with Waheeda Rahman as she plays John's mother in "Water" and we don't have any scenes together. However, it was an honour to work with Seema, whose work I had always greatly admired.