Life & Style | People
I will never forget my first film role...
Lights! Camera! Action! Many aspiring actors dream of hearing these three words. Many struggle to get a few frames in a film, but for me the opportunity fell into my lap.
- By Varsha Mhaskar-Nair
- Published: 00:19 May 23, 2008
- Image Credit:
Lights! Camera! Action! Many aspiring actors dream of hearing these three words. Many struggle to get a few frames in a film, but for me the opportunity fell into my lap.
It was never my ambition to make it on the silver screen.
I was a studious student who came from a family of doctors. Acting (Marathi theatre) was a hobby. I was inclined towards arts, but acting in the movies? Not really. I never dreamt I'd be part of a Bollywood film.
Here is how it all happened...
It was just another hectic day in the office when I was interrupted by a call from a friend. He asked, "Are you interested in doing a two-minute role with Saif Ali Khan?" "What?!" I said. He explained that auditions were taking place and that I should try my luck.
I was working, and taking time off for auditions wasn't an option. Plus I didn't know what role I would have been auditioning for.
But before I shrugged off the thought and carried on with my work, I sent in a photograph of myself. The very next day, much to my surprise, I got a call asking me to meet director duo Abbas-Mustan at the World Trade Centre where the shooting of the movie Race was taking place. After our casual five-minute chat, I realised how down-to-earth they were.
They asked me if I had any experience in acting. I told them I dabbled in Marathi theatre. They asked me if I could be on location at their next shoot which was at the Le Méridien Mina Seyahi. That was it. No screen test, no audition.
I was thrilled and couldn't believe I was going to act in a movie!
The following morning I, along with husband, son and mother, bundled into the car - all very excited. The gridlocked traffic on the Sharjah-Dubai exit road delayed us by two hours.
The local coordinator kept calling frantically to find out why I was late. My husband thought it was very funny that I was making Bollywood stars wait for me and teased me all the way. By the time we arrived we were three hours late.
I had a make-up person and hairdresser. I was given the script while I was getting ready so I could learn my dialogues.
It was then that I found out I would be playing the role of a real estate agent. There were about five lines; the assistant director explained the scene.
I was going to be shooting with Indian actors Anil Kapoor and Sameera Reddy! I couldn't believe it. Soon the three of us were rehearsing our dialogues. We were ready for our first take.
It was a really short scene, but they needed to film the same dialogue from different angles. It took more than three hours. During breaks my hairdresser would do my hair while Sameera's hairdresser attended to her.
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