Actor Shikha Talsania on inspiring people through her Veere Di Wedding character Meera, and exploring every opportunity to perform
Anuka Roy (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 1, 2018)

Not many people remember that actor Shikha Talsania made her debut in 2009 with Wake Up Sid, as Ranbir Kapoor’s chubby friend, Laxmi. It was her turn as Meera, in the recent grosser Veere Di Wedding (VDW), that made people finally take note of Talsania. “Even though my role (as Laxmi) was appreciated and I got a lot of offers, they were all one-dimensional ‘fat girl’ roles — the character was either hungry or horny. And that didn’t interest me at all,” says Talsania, 32. After Sid, Talsania acted in Madhur Bhandarkar’s Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji and Deepa Mehta’s Midnight’s Children, but it was 2016 that proved to be a turning point in her career.

That was when she was offered VDW. “Rhea [Kapoor, one of the producers of VDW] and I have known each other since Wake Up Sid. She was an assistant director while Karan Boolani was Chief AD on that film,” says Talsania. “Boolani suggested my name for Veere Di and casting director Mukesh Chhabra called me in for a screen test. Then I read the script, fell in love with it and met Shashanka [Ghosh, the director] and Rhea. That’s how it all began.”

When her ‘bold’ Meera stepped out in a swimsuit in VDW it inspired many full-bodied women. But that wasn’t Talsania’s intention. “It’s lovely that people find it inspiring. However, for me, I was just playing my character and trying to stay true to it,” she says, matter-of-factly. “If I go to a beach, I would wear a swimming costume. But that’s my confidence and my acceptance of my body.” Talsania believes one needs to be fit to feel happy from within, and well-being is not necessarily related to losing weight. Talsania has embarked on a fitness journey herself after her first film, by eating right and exercising. But she did it for herself, and not as a result of any pressure.

Although Talsania has a strong film connect — her father is veteran actor Tiku Talsania, who is known for his comic timing and wide variety of roles — she has never used her father’s connections to land work. “I’m extremely proud of what my father has achieved, but that is his journey. I believe that my journey will always be my own,” she says. But she hopes to emulate the energy and excitement her father brings to each of his roles, during her journey. When Talsania expressed her desire to become an actor, however, her parents were concerned. As entertainment industry veterans themselves, they sat her down and talked about the ‘erratic’ nature of the profession and gently suggested she explore other things.

And she did give other careers a go. At different times, Talsania has worked as a line producer, celebrity manager and post-poduction for reality shows such as Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa and Indian Idol. But the acting bug had already bitten her.

Talsania’s tryst with acting began in college. “I was in Jai Hind. And, I was offered these two plays — The Graduate, directed by Divya Palat, and a Gujarati play — and it was a great experience,” says Shikha. Her first professional acting gig was Silly Point Production’s Four Square and, since then, she has worked with various theatre groups like Rage Productions and The Patchworks Ensemble. But the production company she has been associated with for the longest is Akvarious Productions. Talsania was a part of the company’s popular play, Internal Affairs. “They have played a huge part in my life. I was introduced to the world of theatre by them and got to meet and collaborate with so many fantastic people,” she says animatedly. This year, Talsania co-directed an Akvarious production called Dekh Behen, with an all-female cast and crew. Set against the backdrop of a big fat Delhi wedding — much like VDW — the play received rave reviews and has completed over 25 shows in less than five months. Asked to pick between films and theatre, Talsania says: “They are very different. For a performer, I don’t think it matters. Both platforms give you a different high. It’s like asking a mother to choose between two of her children.”

Now that she’s found her groove in entertainment, Talsania wants to try it all. “Actor for life. TV, theatre, web series, movies — bring it on. If tomorrow someone says put on prosthetics and play an old lady or become a man, I will happily do it,” she says. “That’s the fun of being an actor.”

The couldn't-care-a-damn actress readies for a second round onstage
Reema Gehi (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 24, 2015)

Dressed in a shocking pink number, Tanishaa Mukerji breezes in with her entourage into her Santacruz office, while her lhasas, King Leonidas and Princess Leia, potter around. The 34-year-old ("but refuse to age beyond 30") seems to be in the skin of the character she will play in the upcoming play, The Jury.

Directed by Divya Palat, it sees Mukerji essay the role of an actress. "It's a funny take on what justice would be like if we had a jury system in India," she says. "It's entertaining, I am having a ball."

The production, which opens on August 7 at the National Centre for the Performing Arts, is her second play with Palat. Two years ago, Mukerji made her stage debut with The Verdict. "It was scary. My sister and mother thought I was mad," she says of successful actress Kajol and veteran performer Tanuja. "They couldn't believe I could remember my dialogues onstage."

Tanuja acted in a Marathi play years ago and was troubled by her failing memory. "But I was like a vampire feeding off the audience response... loving the drama," she grins.

Life between the two plays has, however, been quite a ride. Soon after the shows wrapped up, Mukerji signed up for the seventh edition of Bigg Boss, a television reality show that not only brought her more fame ("10, 000 more followers on Twitter," she chuckles), but also resulted in a rather public relationship with co-contestant Armaan Kohli. "My next relationship will be under constant glare, too. It's okay. Didn't it make great television viewing, didn't we entertain you all?" she chides.

Reports circulating in press suggested that Mukerji's family wasn't too pleased with her decision, but she remains unperturbed. "Let people gossip, if that's what makes them happy. I don't care."

Mukerji steers clear of regrets. "In fact," she says, "when I write my book, Bigg Boss will be take up the largest chapter. I am not about to not do what I want to because someone decides to talk about it."

Sharing her feisty mother's chutzpah, Mukerji wishes she was as forthright as her. Although, she says, "Tomorrow I may do something that will blow your socks off, and you'll wonder, what's the next controversy coming from her? I enjoy the rollercoaster ride. I want it."

Having forayed into Bollywood at 23 in the Pawan Kaul-directed horror thriller, Sssshhh..., she was known as 'Kajol's sister' and 'Tanuja's daughter'. Mukerji's film trajectory hit speed bumps before she settled with theatre. "I couldn't debut at 16 because I looked like a kid. Besides, I wanted to study abroad, and Kads wanted me to have that opportunity," she says. "Although acting was on my mind, I never considered films a career. It was enjoyment. It's the luxury I had that my sister didn't." Kajol debuted with Bekhudi in 1992 at18.

However, Mukerji wasn't free from the weight of expectation. She too was meant to live up to the reputation of her maternal grandmother and actress, Shobhna Samarth. "But that expectation wasn't in my head," she argues.

The sisters have stayed away from comparison. "She's her own person, I, my own," Mukerji says. "Kads is different from me in every way. She even looks different. She has curly hair, light eyes, caramel skin. She's a serious person, I am nuts, more social. How do we compare ourselves?"

And yet, they are united in support. Kajol was right beside Mukerji in January, when she launched her production firm in association with her mum. "My mother has worked like a dog to give me what I have," she says emotionally, referring to Tanuja's journey to bring up the kids single-handedly after spending years estranged from husband Shomu Mukherjee, who passed away in 2008. "I have got more than I could have asked for. And I am not about to throw it all away."