Shah Rukh Khan prompted Lalit Modi`s niece Jayati to take up acting

Mumbai: Former IPL Chairman Lalit Modi`s young niece Jayati, who is making her acting debut with Karan Johar`s `Gippi`, says she took up acting because of superstar Shah Rukh Khan.

The 17-year-old will be seen in Johar`s upcoming home production, directed by Sonam Nair. "Whenever I am upset I prefer watching Shah Rukh`s movie. I think his onscreen presence is so powerful that it has the ability to make you smile. Seeing him on screen is the major reason that why I wanted to be on screen. Another dream of mine is that if I do another movie after this, I would want to work with him," Jayati said in an interview here. It was through her friends in Delhi that Jayati learnt about the film and decided to try her luck. "Through word of mouth I got to know about the auditions for this film. Initially, I did not go for auditions as I was unwell but finally managed to go for it. I completely freaked out during the auditions," she said. Though Jayati has done theatre and drama, she was nervous while giving auditions. "I was so nervous. It was our director Sonam Nair and casting director Faraz who coaxed me to just do it. I had a scene where I had to give a head girl`s speech, it went on well but I didn`t know whether I would be called back," she said. The newbie was not sure if she would make it, but she was surprised, when she was chosen for the film. It was like a dream come true for Jayati. "I was really very excited. I have been always been interested in acting from the very young age. It is a dream to be in movies. But I never thought I will actually get to do a movie... It is like a dream come true," she said. The film stars Riya Vij as the titular character Gippi and releases on May 10. PTI