Little star from Amritsar floors Aamir Khan’s ‘Dangal’

Written and directed by Nitesh Tiwari, ‘Dangal’, is based on the life of wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat who taught wrestling to his daughters Babita Kumari and Geeta Phogat, India’s first female wrestler to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, would be on floors by Christmas 2016.

“The film depicts a bond between a father and his daughters and promotes women’s empowerment,” says Amritsar-based child actor Ananya, 6.

“I play Sarita and my role in the film is giving support to my father. There are scenes when Aamir uncle gets emotional but with my silent affection I deal with the situation. I will be seen in a few intense scenes where Sakshi (Tanwar) aunty and Aamir discuss a few financial constraints and plight of women in society which they determine to change by making their elder daughters wrestlers. I do not have dialogues to speak – it is just my screen presence in the first half of the film,” says Ananya, who studies in Class 1 at Spring Dale School, Amritsar.

LIttle champ loves the camera

She has also been selected for the reality show, ‘India’s Best Dramebaaz’. The little champ will be in Mumbai for the next rounds of the show.

Ananya’s mother, Sweety Sharma, says that the auditions for the ‘Dangal’ role were not easy.”Director Nitesh was very clear what he wanted and thus he was looking for a talented kid. Ananya was chosen at the auditions held in Ludhiana and she had to compete with hundreds of children,” adds the proud mother.

Sharing her confidence level, Ananya says, “I am not afraid of the camera. In fact, I enjoy posing around and also like mimicking a few actors. I have received compliments for this by Nitesh uncle and Sakshi aunty (who plays Aamir’s wife in the film and Ananya’s mother). They said that I am a one-take child artiste which means a lot to me.”

“My mother is a single parent and she is bringing me up. She stays in touch with the casting agents and encourages me to participate in other reality. The credit goes to her,” says Ananya, sounding way ahead of her years.

Chemistry with Aamir

Talking about her chemistry with Aamir, Ananya reveals, “ I have undergone brain exercises in which I can read texts by closing my eyes. I just have to smell the alphabets and digits and I can reveal what’s written on the page or card handed to me. Aamir uncle made me do that and also offered me chocolates.”

The little star, who has also won the title of ‘Little Champ Season 9’, recalls, “Aamir uncle played with me and he has recorded a dialogue with me that would hopefully be retained in the film. He is very friendly and I loved his company.”

First Published: Oct 30, 2015 13:39 IST