Afshan Azad

" Even If you don't think you are going to get it, Go for it !"

"I was always interested in drama and even took it as a course earlier. So when this opportunity of acting in a film came my way, I was only too ready to take it,"

"It was a total joke for me. The casting agents came to my school and my friends and I did it for fun. But I became very serious about the entire thing once I got in."

"I want to concentrate on my studies. The future is undecided. If I get offers, then let us see, may be I would take it up. But as of now, I'm taking each day as it comes,"

"I hope they are glad to see a Bengali girl in a Hollywood film. I want them to see my talent and see me as an individual,"

What did you think of the premiere?

Afshan: Oh it was absolutely amazing you know, it was phenomenal. No words can describe the feeling that I had when I was walking down and saw all the fans and everything. Oh! Nothing I say can describe what I felt. It was absolutely amazing, incredible.

Did you get a chance to meet and talk to any fans?

Afshan: Ah the same really. When the fans have got your pictures and they're screaming your name and it's just like: "How do you know my name?" It's so surreal but it was just so flattering to see fans waiting there - the night before the premiere, coming all the way from other countries just to see people like us. We were just really grateful for them coming all the way because like I said - it's only us! But it was really nice. It was buzzing out there but this being our first ever premiere the atmosphere was electric - every step we took was brilliant, it was great.

Did you actually see the film?

Afshan: Yes we did. It was actually my second time that I saw it.was cringing when I saw myself and I was fighting my brothers, they were nudging me every time I would come on. I just couldn't watch myself or listen to myself it was so cringing, but it was really funny. It was great to hear the audiences' reaction to our parts and our roles and the laughter when it was funny, the ahhhs when they sympathise with us. It was great hearing the audiences' reception to it, really, really cool.

You two have those really hilarious scenes where you keeping going past saying: "Hi Harry". Was that funny to film?

Afshan: Yeah we're going to get that for life now aren't we?We were the Harry girls, it was like every time we walked past it was: "Hi Harry" and he was like "Gosh". We were saying that they would make these dolls of us saying: "Hi Harry".

Shefali, what did you think of seeing yourself on that massive screen at the Odeon?

Afshan: I was looking at you (Shefali) thinking how stunning you looked.

It must be a weird experience being in the cinema having all those people looking at you?

Afshan: Yeah it is, because I remember this man sitting in front of me and every time he saw me he would turn around and look at me. So at the end it was really flattering when people were saying that it was great job, and that you were great. I just wanted to see how the audience reacted - but it was really cool.

It hasn't put you off then?

Afshan: No, not at all no, it made me want to do more, great.

Tell us about the auditions and how you got the parts.

Afshan: In the morning (at school) we have notices and we had a notice that our form tutors just reads out. And I remember just sitting there and my teacher was going through all the activities that were going on today and it was really boring. Then she said that casting agents were coming to our school to look for two Asian twins to take part in the Harry Potter films and everyone just started laughing.

I went to an all girls school and so everyone wanted to take part and we said: 'Oh let's go!' So me and a friend had read the book, and we thought we're never going to get in but we're not going to lose anything. So we sent in after school and saw all the girls lining up and they were all looking after themselves, all combing their hair, putting make-up on. I literally thought I didn't have a chance, so I just went in as myself you know, smiled a bit and out of my group of five I was the only one that got through to the next round.

So my friends were like: "Oh my God maybe you've got a chance" and I said: "No way - this is Harry Potter, a person like me wouldn't get into Harry Potter!" But then little did I know that I'd get called back day after day, week after week and, like Shefali said, I got put with Shefali in the last audition with Mike Newell and it all started from there really.

How did it feel for both of you to do that final audition in front of Mike Newell?

Afshan: It was nerve-wracking.Afshan: I remember actually you (Shefali) were quite nervous and I thought: "Oh God, if she's nervous, I should be nervous!" It wasn't just us at the final audition - there were about 12 more girls. But me and Shefali got put back a lot because they were trying to find twins - it was quite weird because there were twins there but Mike was saying that we would rather have two people that could act than twins who couldn't act.

It must have been an amazing experience when you found out you'd got the part?

Afshan: Then we were crying and screaming and my mum was running down the stairs saying: "Who's died? Who's died?" And I said: "No I just got into Harry Potter." And then I rang my brother at work and he was screaming to his friends, you know it was just really surreal, as Shefali says, it still hasn't sunk in yet.

Had either of you read much of the books beforehand?

Afshan: I was a Potter fan. Every single one. I was actually a fan through Newsround as well, I used to watch Newsround everyday and see Lizo's updates on Harry Potter - I was a fan.Totally, it's like only a year ago I was reading the books and then I didn't know if I would be in it or not. And now it's like: "Oh gosh!" Now I can actually picture myself as Padma and Shefali as Parvati - it's just so different.

Of course, and that's what all the fans picture you as now!

Afshan: Hopefully, hopefully.

What's it like acting with Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint?

Afshan: They're amazing actors.They are so down to earth, they are just normal people, absolutely, so humble and down to earth. And we, Dan and I, became best friends and Rupert was so hilarious on set. He's a right joker, it's hard to understand but they're really just genuinely normal people, normal teenagers who were just up for a laugh and we all just had fun. Everyone was like family on set and everyone just went to each other when they needed a shoulder to cry on or shared the laughs.He always gave you advice didn't he?He would always give me advice and I would go up to him saying: "How do you think I should say my line?" and he would always be there to give advice and is so down to earth and so friendly. Everyone is really, but at the end of it we became really the best of friends and hopefully will be friends for a long time.

Your biggest scenes are the build-up and the actual Yule Ball, how long do you think you took filming all that?

I think it was possibly longer but we did eight shots after so it seems to other people that we do it in one take, but it's just not that. We have to have one hour shots, three hour shots, we sometimes went up to late nights.But it was great wasn't it seeing everyone just dressed up? And made up to just look absolutely beautiful. I remember just gasping as soon as I just walked in.Everyone was dressed up and everyone was looking at each other and saying "you look gorgeous" and it was like a prom again. It was so magical though wasn't it? The whole thing, the whole set was just so amazing, but it did take a long time to shoot but we all had fun on set.

Didn't you two have to have dancing lessons along with all the other cast?

Afshan: Shefali was really lucky because she had the all the dancing lessons whereas I had only a couple. They realised that I wasn't actually dancing in the scene - I was actually sat there with Ron. It was quite sad actually because I had to be tutored and everyone else would rush off to dancing lessons and I would sit there just saying: "Have fun".

All because Ron's too miserable to dance!

Afshan: Yeah I know, I blame him, I blame him. But I did have a slow dance which was OK but I would have liked to have had the whole waltz.

What did you think of your costumes?

Afshan: It was really nice, they wanted it to be quite traditional Indian and I think it really was a pretty dress. I think they shipped it from India - didn't they Shefali?Our wardrobe lady was really enthusiastic about having us in traditional Asian dress to show our culture, but it was really pretty and everyone liked them on set and it was great, colourful, and obviously we have matching outfits.In the film we actually wore one earring in one ear. Just to show that we were twins you know.

You two were thrown together in this film and now you must know each other really well. How do you say you get on?

Afshan: We're sisters aren't we Shefali?We used to sit there on set going: "Oh mum would kill ya!". Now we are really good friends, this whole experience, we started this together and we finished it together and we shared a flat together with Katie Leung. We became like sisters didn't we?

Did you ever feel star-struck by any of the famous people that you met on the Harry Potter set?

Afshan: I remember in the read-through before we met Dan, Rupert and everyone we went to script read-through and everyone was there. And me and Shefali were like 'Harry Potter! Hermione! Ron! Fred! George!' Now thinking back it was like it's only Dan, Rupert and Emma. Ha! Thinking back on our first day we were just so gobsmacked.I remember seeing James and Oliver who play Fred and George on my hotel balcony and I was screaming that I've seen James and Oliver and the next thing, you know, you see them the next day.

But there's so many people on set - especially Maggie Smith. Because I remember doing my GCSEs and I was doing a story on Maggie Smith and she was there sat next to me in the make-up chair and I was just saying to her: 'I just did my GCSE on you!" It was so freaky. But I definitely got star-struck all the time. When I'm talking to Dan, I'm like "What - are you really Dan?" Then I realise it's just like old friends - you know?

Would either of you say your life's changed very much since Harry Potter?

Afshan: Turned upside down.For the best.t still hasn't sunk in you know, I went on the internet to see a couple of pictures of the party and premiere and I was looking at myself and Shefali and I was just: "Oh my God we've done it!" You know this is what all this work is about and all the tired nights/sleepless nights have all paid off. I actually thought we've actually made it now and you have this overwhelming feeling inside you. You feel very proud just to be part of this worldwide phenomenon.At the premiere everyone just looked so amazing.

Actresses Shefali Chowdhury and Afshan Azad chat about what they'll be getting up to this Christmas.

Afshan: I'm staying at home for Christmas. I love England at Christmas, all the coldness. I'll probably be watching Christmas telly, all the films.

Shefali: Harry Potter?

Afshan:Harry Potter! On repeat! What would I want for Christmas? Probably the Harry Potter DVD, if it's out by then. I don't know actually, I've not thought about it. A car would be great! No, I'm not that fussy with Christmas presents - just any present will do really.

Shefali: A sock?

Afshan: A sock, yeah a sock will do! But I've got a feeling my family will actually just take the mickey a bit and buy me a whole load of Harry Potter stuff. Which will be funny I'm sure!

Shefali: Oh I love staying home for Christmas and watching Home Alone which is always on.

Afshan: I love that!

Shefali: And going Christmas shopping and listening to Last Christmas by George Michael blasting from the shop - it's a great one to sing along to. And coming home to the warm radiator!

Afshan: Hopefully it will snow this year as well. I love it when it snows.                                             

Shefali: I want a white Christmas! That's what I want!

Afshan: Yeah, so do I.                                                                 

Shefali: It's never a white Christmas. It's always a month later!

Afshan: Shefali, say what you want and I'll get it for you - in budget!

Shefali: I want one hair off Santa's head - can you do that?

Afshan: Mmm. Right okay. Maybe not then...