Showing posts with label Pallavi Sharda interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pallavi Sharda interview. Show all posts
Friends would call me ‘Work Experience Girl’-Pallavi Sharda
8:11 AM
As told to Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 8, 2018)
I was born and brought up in Australia where my parents, who are both IIT alumni and have PhDs in science and engineering, migrated before I entered the world. Both my parents, Dr Hema Sharda and Dr Nalin Kant Sharda, are professors in Australia. I knew I wanted to be an actress as a young girl, but perhaps because of the academic environment at home, I chose to pursue Law, Media and Communications and a Diploma in French at the University of Melbourne.
As a child, I had dreamt of being an independent working woman. When I was 15 years old, I started my first job at a bookstore in Melbourne. I would sell books, stock shelves and handle the check-out counter. My father loves books and our house in Melbourne is like a library — so the bookstore felt like a natural place to start my working life.
In my second year at the University, I worked as an RJ on a community radio channel and would do a broadcast once a week. I also sold 3G phones in a phone store in Melbourne.
In the third year, I started working part-time at a management consultancy firm. I was a part of a team which set the curriculum on how to teach new software to the employees of our clients. We were called the ‘Human Performance Team’.
While I was working at the consultancy firm, I splurged on my first ‘adult’ Christmas presents for my family. I bought my brother a signed copy of Steve Waugh’s autobiography, a beautiful stainless-steel kettle for mama and socks and ties for my father (he always drew the short straw!). I remember putting up our tree and carefully wrapping all the presents. It was rare for all of us to be under one roof on Christmas Day as my mother used to travel a lot. But that year, we were all there and I wanted it to be a real Christmas.
My friends called me, the ‘WEG’ — the ‘Work Experience Girl,’ because every time we met, I was doing something new. Some of these jobs only paid me a few dollars an hour but I enjoyed the joy of buying my own coffee, clothes and paying for my own expenses.
I wanted to understand what I really wanted to do before I actually embarked on my future, so I tried my hands at as many jobs as possible. I even worked at a law film, doing a clerkship in my final year at the University.
But while I was doing all this, I still clung on to my acting dream. The first step was to enrol in drama school part-time while I was studying.
I then started teaching Indian dance at the University. A Bharatanatyam dancer, I was passionate about Indian folk and classical dance, I wanted people in Melbourne to know that our country is more than just Bollywood and introduced dance forms from around India within the course. On Saturdays, I would also teach Bharatanatyam to young students at our dance school. Throughout this period, my father would joke that he had to take an appointment to meet his busy-busy daughter.
I was still studying at University when I first came to India in 2010 to follow my childhood dream. Mumbai and the film industry was a whole new world for me. I auditioned every day and one of my first major assignments was a cameo in Karan Johar’s My Name Is Khan with Shah Rukh (Khan) and Kajol in the lead.
The same year, I played a leading role opposite Manoj Bajpayee in Ajoy Varma’s comedy drama Dus Tola, a remake of the Malayalam film, Ponmuttayidunna Tharavu. I played a classical dance teacher and my experience came in handy. I would go back and forth to Melbourne to finish my degrees and ultimately graduated with honours.
During my time in India, I’ve worked in the theatre in Mumbai and gone on to do films including Besharam, Hawaizaada with Ayushmann Khurrana, Dev Patel’s Lion and the period-drama Begum Jaan. I’ve loved the last two-three years in which I’ve had the opportunity to work in so many territories, diversify my craft and expand my horizons as an Indian-Australian actress.
There was an attempt to Bollywoodise me, but I resisted it-Pallavi Sharda
6:49 AM
Lasyapriya Sundaram (BOMBAY TIMES; April 14, 2017)
There was a lot of hype and
hoopla about her launch with Ranbir Kapoor in Besharam (2013), but with
the film's box-office failure, her career fizzled out, too. However,
Pallavi Sharda, a nonresident Indian who wanted to make a mark in
Bollywood, didn't give up easily. In an exclusive chat with BT, she
talks about her role as Gulabo in Srijit Mukherji's Begum Jaan.
Excerpts...Your beginning in Bollywood was rather bumpy. It hasn't been an easy ride for you. Do you think Begum Jaan will change the course of your career in Bollywood?
I didn't see it in that manner when I signed the film because I was working overseas when Srijit contacted me. I had an interesting kitty of indie and non-indie films, but there was something special about Begum Jaan. It's only after seeing the trailer that I realised that it is larger than life. It is very rare to see something transcending the script on screen. And that for me, is a fulfilling experience.
The film conveys a strong message...
It is about dignity, which women don't assert, fearing backlash from patriarchy. When you say 'my rules' in the context of India, patriarchy comes in - whose rules are they? It is a complex matter. I am still trying to understand how the conversation on self-determination can be taken forward. But I think aspiration is a great word and that's what women in this film stand for. Many young women who hail from less fortunate backgrounds don't have aspiration and that makes me sad.
Does the movie reiterate the idea that in reality, there is no country for women?
They are marginalised everywhere...We have had a male-dominated government and bureaucracy for the longest time and it's still a reality. Somebody recently asked me, 'Is feminism an overused word?' I said, 'We have the responsibility of keeping the flag flying high even if the word is taken out of context at times; we cannot be complacent'. Women's liberation started in the 1920s, which means we are only a hundred years into fighting for our right to equality. So for me, it highlights something which was and is still a reality.
Let's rewind a little and talk about your first lead role in Besharam. How did you deal with the film's failure?
I was not prepared for the business of cinema. My aspiration was to be a Bollywood actress and it's sheer determination and self-belief that has brought me here. I had no mentors. Even before Besharam happened, I was doing a musical and two plays. Then, I was cast in a film with Ranbir Kapoor. My director told me to leave everything else and concentrate on the film, because we were pandering to the business of cinema and the system of Bollywood. That changed the course of who I was as an actor, albeit for a short while. But after Hawaizaada (2015), I went to back to who I was. I am an actor and I am not necessarily here to work within a system... attend functions and dress a certain way because XYZ will see me and cast me. I don't understand that way of thinking. I come from a background where work begets work. It's been over three years and people haven't been able to get over my association with Besharam; I feel proud about it. But I don't think anyone else associated with the film gets asked about its failure as much as I do. That's a little unfair. I had to bear the brunt of Besharam a lot more than the others. After the film released, the media was very scathing. They even cast aspersions about why I got the role. While I was in New York, the media here wrote that I was spotted with the film's director in a Lokhandwala cafe. It was heartbreaking. But despite that, I did bag Hawaizaada and then Begum Jaan on my own merit.
Was it daunting for you to come to Mumbai and make a mark on your own?
I was optimistic and had self-belief. It got daunting only when I realised the reality of how difficult it is. I have lined up with hundreds of aspirants for auditions. Some of my friends and contemporaries cannot believe the kind of stories that I share about my earlier days because a lot of them haven't experienced that. I have turned up at a press conference pretending to be a journalist just to speak to a filmmaker. I would wake up in the morning and ask myself, 'What are you going to do today to make this happen?' Waking up in that state of mind for years together is hard. I have done it the hard way, so I am very comfortable in my skin today.
Do you think being an opinionated actress in Bollywood is a disadvantage?
I was 20 years old when I came here and people advised me not to tell anyone that I was a law graduate. Though I was very confident when I came here, I suddenly became unsure of myself. I am glad I went through that because it helped me realise who I am. There was an attempt to Bollywoodise me, but I resisted it. Maybe I have done a disservice to myself career wise. I guess my life would have been different if I had been malleable, but I am not. I don't want to try and please people. I have been told to keep quiet as I have not established myself, but if my process is not authentic, then my output will not be authentic either.
The melange of French, Creole, Bhojpuri and Hindi in Mauritius is incredible-Pallavi Sharda
7:56 AM
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 20, 2017)
Mauritius is an island
nation in the Indian Ocean about 2,000 km off the southeast coast of
Africa. Beautiful beaches, diverse culture and delectable cuisine are
its attractions. Actress Pallavi Sharda, who will be seen in Srijit
Mukherji's period-drama, Begum Jaan, informs what should be on every
tourist's checklist in Mauritius.
Feels like home
I have been to Mauritius twice, the latest trip being last November. I love its orange-tinted skies, lush wilderness and the warmth of the locals. I am a beach bum, born in Perth which sits on the Indian Ocean, so in a way it felt like going home. I love the clear waters of the ocean. I've been lucky to have stayed both on the eastern and the western coasts and up the Grand Bay. I love lying on a beach with a good book. In Mauritius the shallow water is so clear that the ocean feels like your own swimming pool.
Cruising on a boat, sunbathing on the deck, mesmerised by the view you feel you're in paradise. Don't forget the bikini or bathing suit, sunscreen and summer hat, a sarong and flip flops.
Underwater adventures
On my last trip I went ocean-walking. This involves strapping weights on your body and a glass globe to your head through which you can see the underwater life. It was scary at first but soon turned out to be a lot of fun.
The man who was running my catamaran when I went ocean walking was called Pascale. Safety is really important when you are trying out these underwater activities. He always made sure I was secure and confident as the weights were attached to me. He was a wonderful and warm person who treated me like a daughter. I will go back to meet him whenever I am in Mauritius next.
Yoga studios and customised spas
For those looking for peace there are numerous yoga studios around the island. You can also treat yourself to a massage in the beach front as you enjoy the view. For those who prefer privacy, there are spas along the coast that you can check into. Everything from the oils to the lighting is decided by you. They offer customised packages.
For those who want to see the entire island without taking a road or sea trip, there's a helicopter tour. The pilots cruise low over the island's reef, allowing you to look at the corals before taking off for the hilly areas. The island is gorgeous and this is definitely a must-do.
Dive bars, island beats
The local dive bars are a blast. I love dancing and let loose to reggae and island beats. That's one of the happiest things to do when in Mauritius.
I found an amazing swimwear store in Port Louis. I must have bought 10 bathing suits. Shopaholics, check out the area.
I binged on freshly-caught sea food in a French-inspired restaurant. Good wine complemented the meals.
French connection
Most people in Mauritius speak and understand French so language was not a barrier since I speak fluent French. Locals were shocked when they realised that I'm not from the island.
The most fascinating part of the island is the seamless integration of so many languages and cultures into one. It's incredible to catch glimpses of Indian heritage and see how they have globalised the cuisine of their ancestors and turned it into something new. The melange of French, Creole, Bhojpuri and Hindi is incredible! The people have a sense of belonging to the land which is hard to believe since until a few centuries ago, Mauritius was completely uninhabited except for the Dodo. The now-extinct flightless bird is endemic to the island.
Feels like home
I have been to Mauritius twice, the latest trip being last November. I love its orange-tinted skies, lush wilderness and the warmth of the locals. I am a beach bum, born in Perth which sits on the Indian Ocean, so in a way it felt like going home. I love the clear waters of the ocean. I've been lucky to have stayed both on the eastern and the western coasts and up the Grand Bay. I love lying on a beach with a good book. In Mauritius the shallow water is so clear that the ocean feels like your own swimming pool.
Cruising on a boat, sunbathing on the deck, mesmerised by the view you feel you're in paradise. Don't forget the bikini or bathing suit, sunscreen and summer hat, a sarong and flip flops.
Underwater adventures
On my last trip I went ocean-walking. This involves strapping weights on your body and a glass globe to your head through which you can see the underwater life. It was scary at first but soon turned out to be a lot of fun.
The man who was running my catamaran when I went ocean walking was called Pascale. Safety is really important when you are trying out these underwater activities. He always made sure I was secure and confident as the weights were attached to me. He was a wonderful and warm person who treated me like a daughter. I will go back to meet him whenever I am in Mauritius next.
Yoga studios and customised spas
For those looking for peace there are numerous yoga studios around the island. You can also treat yourself to a massage in the beach front as you enjoy the view. For those who prefer privacy, there are spas along the coast that you can check into. Everything from the oils to the lighting is decided by you. They offer customised packages.
For those who want to see the entire island without taking a road or sea trip, there's a helicopter tour. The pilots cruise low over the island's reef, allowing you to look at the corals before taking off for the hilly areas. The island is gorgeous and this is definitely a must-do.
Dive bars, island beats
The local dive bars are a blast. I love dancing and let loose to reggae and island beats. That's one of the happiest things to do when in Mauritius.
I found an amazing swimwear store in Port Louis. I must have bought 10 bathing suits. Shopaholics, check out the area.
I binged on freshly-caught sea food in a French-inspired restaurant. Good wine complemented the meals.
French connection
Most people in Mauritius speak and understand French so language was not a barrier since I speak fluent French. Locals were shocked when they realised that I'm not from the island.
The most fascinating part of the island is the seamless integration of so many languages and cultures into one. It's incredible to catch glimpses of Indian heritage and see how they have globalised the cuisine of their ancestors and turned it into something new. The melange of French, Creole, Bhojpuri and Hindi is incredible! The people have a sense of belonging to the land which is hard to believe since until a few centuries ago, Mauritius was completely uninhabited except for the Dodo. The now-extinct flightless bird is endemic to the island.
Besharam actress Pallavi Sharda shoots for Dev Patel-Rooney Mara starrer Lion
7:50 AM
Actress who has filmed a Hollywood drama says she doesn't have Bollywood films in hand at the moment
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 21, 2015)
Right when you thought Ranbir Kapoor's Besharam girl, Pallavi Sharda, who made her big Bollywood debut with Abhinav Kashyap's 2013 comedy film, had washed off the face of the earth, she reveals that she was filming a big-ticket Hollywood film.
The 27-year-old who was last seen in the Ayushmann Khurrana-starrer Hawaizaada, has shot for Lion, featuring Nicole Kidman, Dev Patel and Rooney Mara. Set to release in 2016, the drama marks the directorial debut of Garth Davis, best known for helming the mini-series, Top of the Lake.
"I had auditioned for the part, last year and was excited when I was signed on," says Pallavi, who plays Dev's friend in the film. "It's the story of a boy trying to find his birth mom using Google Earth. My character, an Indian girl, helps him finish the job," she says.
It is based on Saroo Bierleys novel, A Long Way Home, a true story, which follows a five-year-old boy who gets lost on the streets of Calcutta and is adopted by an Australian couple. 25 years later, he sets out to find his lost family.
Pallavi wrapped up her sequences in April and May and enjoyed filming in her hometown, Melbourne. "Dev and Rooney are stellar. There's so much to learn from them," Pallavi says, adding that she didn't have to research much for her role. "I usually speak to the director and understand their perspective," she insists.
Later this year, Pallavi will be seen in a special appearance in UnIndian, which marks the Bollywood debut of Australian cricket Bret Lee. The actress says that she isn't afraid to take on smaller, meaningful projects. "Indie films are content driven and this space is growing bigger," she smiles.
So has she made a shift to the West and Independent cinema owing to two flops at the Indian box-office? "No," she is quick to reply. "I came to Mumbai with a dream to work in films. I did it with two big actors too. But I don't have any Hindi films in hand now," she says. However, the actress admits that "it's disappointing when not many people watch and enjoy your work."
I’ve been to that Sydney café-Pallavi Sharda
7:56 AM
Australian-Indian actress, Pallavi Sharda recounts her first reaction when she found that terror has hit too close to home
Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 19, 2014)
Last Monday, during rush hour, a 50- year-old man, who has since been identified as Man Haron Monis, stormed the Lindt Chocolat Cafe in Sydney's business district with a sawn off shotgun. The 16-hour standoff ended with the Australian police storming the cafe. In the ensuing gunfire, Monis, the 34-year-old cafe manager and a 38-year-old barrister were killed and four others were injured.
With the rest of the world, Pallavi Sharda watched the action live on TV in her Perth apartment. For the Australia-based Indian actress, the horror was all the more real because she had been to Lindt Cafe with her brother when he was working at the nearby Macquarie Bank.
"He reminded me that we'd had coffee there. The layout was hauntingly familiar," she says, adding that several of their friends still work in the area. "They are all fine though many were locked in for hours. One had to get her child from the washroom of the Day Care Centre where the kids had been herded to insulate them from the goings-on."
Soon after, the actress flew down to India with her mother, Dr Hema Sharda. They parted at Singapore with Pallavi heading to Mumbai and her mother to Delhi. "Some hours later, I learnt about a bomb scare at a Gurgaon city centre close to where my mom was. It turned out to be a hoax but made me feel vulnerable. The spectre of the two World Wars we grew up with has become a grim reality in the last decade," she sighs.
Ranbir Kapoor's Besharam co-star was in London on June 29, 2007 when two bombs were discovered, one at the Tiger Tiger nightclub in Haymarket which was next door to where she was that evening. The following day, she was in Scotland, when a jeep loaded with explosives drove into Glasgow International Airport and exploded.
"During the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai I was on my way to the Taj Mahal Hotel when a friend invited me to a film screening. It's a strange world we're living in," she shudders.
I have fought hard to get where I am today. Why would I give it all up?-Pallavi Sharda
8:01 AM
Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 8, 2014)
Ranbir Kapoor’s Besharam lady vanished from the spotlight after the film’s debacle but Pallavi Sharda insists that the absence was not intentional. She had already started shooting for Bambai Fairytale and after the release of her debut film, she took off for a schedule in Gujarat. Plus, there was her charity work and first international project. The Indo-Australian actress will play Anu Singh, a law school graduate who was tried for the murder of her boyfriend Joe Cinque. Anu was found guilty of manslaughter after a trial which was chronicled in Helen Garner’s 2004 non-fiction book, Joe Cinque’s Consolation—A True Story of Death, Grief and The Law. “Our backgrounds are pretty similar since I’m an Indo-Australian who also went to law school but I’ve never wanted to kill anyone,” says the actress, who is the only Indian in the cast of the Australian film which is expected to roll this year. Will she meet Anu? “That’s the director’s call. Even Helen didn’t meet her. We are following the book closely. We may even go with the same title,” says Pallavi.
Meanwhile, she’s wrapping up Vibhu Puri’s directorial debut Bambai Fairytale which is the biopic of Shivkar Bapuji Talpade who constructed and flew India’s first unmanned airplane in 1895. The original aircraft, named Marutsakha, has been reconstructed for this period film and although Pallavi hasn’t flown in it yet, she describes the experience of sitting in it as “magical”. “It’ll transport you to another era,” says the actress who is playing a tamasha dancer from the 1890s, more involved in Talpade’s creative experiment than one would expect. “I’m Ayushmann’s (Khuranna) leading lady. It was a challenge to learn a form of dance very different from Besharam’s Bollywood jhatkas."
Prod her on the Besharam experience and unlike her co-stars Ranbir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh, who have since spoken out against the film, she surprises you by calling it a "positive experience" despite the bad reviews and dismal box-office performance. “Today people know me because of the film,” she says. “I was cast because the character’s personality and background was quite like mine. My parents are from Delhi and I’m a Punjabi too. But I’ve learnt not to have any expectations.”
Did she re-connect with the Kapoors after the film’s release? “No, I haven’t. They are busy people. But I have fond memories of them. They are a nice, normal family and foodies like me. I caught Ranbir trying to smuggle mishti doi from the Bengali restaurant we’d gone to for lunch,” she laughs.
The film's director Abhinav Kashyap has been working on a script. If he offered her another role would she accept, given the rumours about a brewing romance between them which lead to him allegedly extending her role at the cost of the script? “It’s entirely up to him. I’d love to work with Abhinav and the team again. Since I wasn’t giving many interviews, some people decided to put out their own content for the media. You just have to read the original script to know that my role wasn’t extended. These rumours were upsetting. He’s a family man and I sob every time I leave my parents in Melbourne. It was my dad who called to tell me that Abhinav and I were being linked but he knew there was nothing to it," she says.
And what about rumours that she was all set to pack up her bags and quit Bollywood after Besharam? “I don’t think of myself as an actress stuck in one place but Mumbai is the home I come back to. Everything I own is in my apartment. I have fought hard to get where I am today. Why would I give it all up?” she asks, adding, “Acting is about being a character and living the moment. It’s far more fun than the acting we do in real life.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)