I’ve grown up thinking there’s no place but centre stage. That's because I was always the girl in front for the dances during school annual days, be it Mehendi laga ke rakhna or Un dos tres. I was always the class monitor, always chosen to play Mother India and always the hot contender for “Rose Queen”. Point here being: it’s not my fault that I have this “main-girl” fixation.
Yeh dosti
The first piece of advice someone gave me years ago was “don’t ever do a friend role; you’ll get slotted.” I’ve been the main girl in all the ads I’ve shot for until recently when I had to play “the friend”. To be honest, it didn’t feel great being sidelined, especially after a childhood spent in the hall of fame. Just before my New Year vacation in Goa, I got a call from Outcast — a casting agency spearheaded by actor Sandhya Mridul. The role in question was for the upcoming Dia-Zayed production, as Dia's friend. “Its a good role,” said Sandhya’s assistant assuringly.
So I landed up dressed all cool, in a pair of shorts. To my surprise, Sandhya herself walked in with a coffee to conduct the audition! “Oh! I loved you in Saathiya!” is what I wanted to say but oops is what my instinct screamed out loud as I hadn’t learnt the lines well enough.
She gave me a quick recap of what my character is supposed to be like: “She's a lot like Rachel,” she said, putting it in a nutshell. She played Dia’s part and guided me through mine. It’s a joy to do an audition with an established actor as opposed to someone lifelessly reading out your cues. I felt a connection with her as we both enacted the scene. “You’re good!” she said in conclusion. “You just need to relax and learn your lines!” *Gulp*
{{/usCountry}}She gave me a quick recap of what my character is supposed to be like: “She's a lot like Rachel,” she said, putting it in a nutshell. She played Dia’s part and guided me through mine. It’s a joy to do an audition with an established actor as opposed to someone lifelessly reading out your cues. I felt a connection with her as we both enacted the scene. “You’re good!” she said in conclusion. “You just need to relax and learn your lines!” *Gulp*
{{/usCountry}}Now if I do get the part, would I like being the friend? I probably shouldn’t count my chickens before they hatch.
In other news
I auditioned for a Babul Supriyo music video where I was made to dance to Sheila ki jawaani… The performance was half-baked, making me realise that I might need Bollywood dance classes. I also auditioned for a Vivel shampoo ad opposite a South superstar named Mahesh Babu, and I’m in talks for a movie also starring Tusshar Kapoor. Now the question is: the movie opposite Tushar Kapoor or should I rather just be the infamous “friend”?