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Shilpa Shetty turns mentor for Dishkiyaaoon heroine
Shilpa Shetty, who is turning producer with Dishkiyaaoon, is not only launching her lead actress, Ayesha Khanna, but also mentoring her. Before being signed for the Sunny Deol-Harman Baweja-starrer, Ayesha was a stylist with a leading production house.
Shilpa Shetty, who is turning producer with Dishkiyaaoon, is not only launching her lead actress, Ayesha Khanna, but also mentoring her. Before being signed for the Sunny Deol-Harman Baweja-starrer, Ayesha was a stylist with a leading production house.
“I’ve trained her, been around for her photo sessions and whenever she shot for the film. Whatever I’ve learned through my career, I’ve passed it on to her. We’ve given her a complete makeover. Even though she’s a stylist herself, I’ve helped her with the costumes,” says Shilpa.
It was the desire to cast a fresh face in the film that made Shilpa sign Ayesha for the part. “I first met her as a stylist. She looked beautiful, and instinctively, I thought she was heroine material. As a producer, I didn’t want an actor who has already projected a certain image,” explains the newbie producer.
Ayesha too is thrilled with the support from her mentor. “I’m grateful to Shilpa. I never thought I could do it, but she encouraged me all the way. She was also very protective of me during the shoot and she would keep encouraging me,” says the debutant.
