While studying in [Mumbai's] SNDT College, I had taken up home science as one of my subjects. That was the first time I learnt to bake a cake. I also learnt to make Payesh [Kheer], which is a typical Bengali sweet dish.

You want to know about a cooking disaster? I always used intelligence to succeed in life. None of my films, except my first, Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat, was a disaster.

While preparing any dish too, I always remain quite careful. I became an actress at a very early age and as a result I always had to remain busy. So, my mother never told me to come to the kitchen. In fact, most of the time she stopped me from going to the kitchen. Maybe she was scared I would burn my hand. But I love to cook.

After the Kargil war [in 1999], I had visited the place and prepared Payesh for our soldiers. They liked it very much and praised me. In cooking too, I am a superhit!