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Ananya Pandey, Janhvi Kapoor & Other Young Actors Open Up About Acting & More At MAMI.

Ananya Pandey, Janhvi Kapoor & Other Young Actors Open Up About Acting & More At MAMI.

On day 2 of Jio MAMI Film Festival, film critics Anupama Chopra and Rajeev Masand got talking with Ananya Pandey, Janhvi Kapoor, Avinash Tiwary, Mrunal Thakur and Radhika Madan. In an insightful panel discussion with these young actors, the moderators got them talking about everything, from their first brush with fame, to the one thing they would like to change about the film industry.

What Is It That You Love Most About Acting?

 

What Is It That You Love Most About Acting?

Radhika: I love the thrill of that brief period between the words “rolling” and “action”. It’s so full of possibilities.

Ananya: I just feel very comfortable doing what I do. I love that I’m able to be myself.

Mrunal: I enjoy playing different characters; bringing something special to each of them. It takes me away from the real world, from reality.

Avinash: Acting lets me explore the crazy side of me; it lets me experience situations and emotions that I wouldn’t be able to, otherwise. Janhvi: It makes me happy just to be in front of a camera. I love the travel and the experiences that come with the job.

What Was Your First Experience Of Performing In Front Of People?

 

What Was Your First Experience Of Performing In Front Of People?

Janhvi: It was in school, when I performed to the song ‘Piya Piya O Piya Piya’. My mom choreographed my dance steps.

Avinash: It was when I performed at Prithvi Theatre in 2003, in a play called “Dilli Uncha Sunti Hai”.

Mrunal: I had participated in an elocution competition in school. I walked onto the stage and I froze. I was very shy of talking or performing in front of people until about the first year of college.

Ananya: I used to perform the “Dhoom Macha Le” dance at many of my friends’ birthday parties.

Radhika: I had enrolled for a jazz dance class but used to stand at the back of the class. Then, one day, the instructor suggested that I try dancing in front of a mirror. Somehow, watching myself dance gave me the confidence to perform in front of people.

What’s The Feeling Like, When You Don’t Get A Role You Had Hoped For?

What’s The Feeling Like, When You Don’t Get A Role You Had Hoped For?

Ananya: I believe that what’s meant to be yours will come to you. So what if I didn’t get a role; a better person got it. I don’t let it get me down; I move on.

Mrunal: “Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast” – that’s my mantra. I had auditioned for a role for three months and then trained for it for another six months. Still, in the end, the role went to someone else. That hurt, but then “Love Sonia” happened and my life took a different turn.

Avinash: If I knew the reason why I get work, I would probably know the reason when I don’t. I did 21 tests for Laila Majnu and then was told that the film was shelved. Fortunately for me, it started again after a while.

Janhvi: There are bound to be occasions when you try for something and don’t get it. But you’ve got to respect the director’s vision.

Radhika: I think it’s a mix of destiny and your efforts. You need to keep trying, keep asking for opportunities. If, despite your best efforts, you still don’t get the role, it’s okay. At least you know you gave it your best shot.

Whose Feed Do You Envy On Social Media?

 

Whose Feed Do You Envy On Social Media?

Mrunal: Kareena Kapoor doesn’t have a social media handle, but I wish she did. I follow her through her fans and fan pages.

Radhika: I envy the kind of following that Ranbir Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor enjoy. I, too, like Mrunal, follow Kareena through her fan pages.

 Ananya: I envy Varun Dhawan’s social media feed. He’s so funny; he just posts anything he likes. I don’t think he worries about being judged.

Avinash: I am not very active on social media nor do I follow many. The account I envy is my own. [smiles]

Janhvi: I am not very social-media-crazy either, although my team is always urging me to be more active. But I do love “The Avocado Show” on social media; they put up a lot of very interesting stuff.

What’s The Role That You Envy – That You’d Love To Play Yourself?

What’s the one thing you would like to change about our film industry?

Avinash: I think we need to create a space where more cinematic voices can be heard. There are so many good films that do not get the visibility they deserve or do not even see the light of the day. We need to increase the number of exhibition centres, for one.

Janhvi: Times are changing, but I still I think we need to have a little less “sanitised” role for women. The best such role I can think of, in the Indian context, is the one played by Nutan in Bandini. There should be more roles that portray the uninhibited side of the female – roles such as the female versions of Kabir Singh or the Joker.

Mrunal: I think many actors/actresses do not get the kind of recognition or the kind of roles they deserve. We need to look beyond commercial considerations; look beyond star power. Good actors should get good roles; it shouldn’t be a function of their box office pull.

 Ananya: We need to stop imitating the West or looking there for inspiration. We have so many great stories to tell and such great talent who can tell it!

Radhika: Even today, there’s far too much emphasis on who the “hero” of the film is. Even I give a great performance, it means nothing unless the movie is a commercial success. That’s sad. I think this needs to change.

 

 

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