Views : 2336
Posted on:
14 May 2009 at 12:00am
Where do I exactly start from? My life could be described as a roller coaster with all those ups, downs, and turn overs. Well, for most I was born & brought up in Mumbai itself. I use to live in Bhindi Bazaar in the 'Lehri House' building as a kid but my family shifted to Kurla later, where I joined class one. I stayed there for a good 15 years.
My school life & childhood were not all that interesting. Boringly enough, I don't recall any childhood memories. I used to be a very disciplined and obedient child. I didn't do any kind of masti. My mum was grateful to be never called by the teacher because I was not really mischievous nor was I a prankster! I would go to school, pay attention in class, come back home, do my homework, shut my books & tuck myself into bed! Just like an ideal kid and definitely not like Tina! Academically, I wasn't an outstanding or an A++++ kid. I was average, except for my performance in my class 10 boards when I secured distinction.
Unlike usual boys, I wasn't extra ordinarily fond of sports either but I did enjoy football. I especially enjoyed cricket, although I never got the opportunity to play it.
I lost my dad at the tender age of 12 & that's one major reason as to why I didn't have a very playful and memorable childhood. I used to spend a lot of time with my family since we had a big joint family. So basically all we cousins lived in the same building thus I didn't really interact much to make new friends. I was happy playing with them.
The 'interesting' adjective in my life was missing until I joined Jai Hind College. After losing my dad, I became more responsible even though his death was such a setback. Life wasn't looking too great from that point on. I wasn't good at studies either, just the average kid. I was a very pampered being the youngest child out of the three. But my dad always said that all his kids would do something in their lives but I guess that's how every parent thinks, or rather hopes!
So anyways, once my dad past away there was no looking back. I decided to work for my boards & get out of Kurla to get into a decent town side college. I worked hard and achieved the marks to get into Jai Hind College without any influence or quota. In college I was not that active nor did I take part in extracurricular activities because I wasn't that interested. However my friends were always inclined & I eventually started to participate in dance & drama.
I was still not really interested in studying. I mean which young adult would? But I managed to pass. How? Well, don't ask me because I definitely don't want anyone following my footsteps!
I wasn't a bad student academically but I just didn't work for it unless I liked it. For example I scored well in math & accounts because I liked the 2 subjects! I am a number wiz
But on the other hand, I hated literature & languages! They didn't appeal to me. Along with studying, I started acting in school plays because I was passionate about them. Sometimes I'd sit in college till late hours practicing with all my other friends. This certainly helped me form the basis of my acting career.
I started seeing Tina in FY Bcom & my love life was pretty much set then on. Having a girlfriend in college especially during our time felt on top of the world! Everyone amongst our friends knew we'd go a long way together & make it to the altar. Our union was very Bollywood I must say. Everything was perfect & rosy then. But I realized I needed a career going! With Tina things were going steady & smooth & we both wanted this to be a serious, long term & committed relationship. With that aspect of my life going great, I started to work on my career. My brother, who's a director, suggested I quit my "Lukkhagiri" & try out for ads to put a portfolio together.
So with just 1800 Rs. as my budget, I managed to get a decent one done along with a friend. We'd go for auditions & he got through for one. That motivated & gave me hope.
Soon my luck worked & I landed myself with a Reynolds ad. For that I earned a 5000 Rs. cheque & was impressed with my first pay cheque! Then commercials just fell into my hands with Close Up, Jai Soap & Rexona. The 'beginners luck' made me believe in destiny and myself as well as everything around you plays a role to get you where you want to. Life was just how I wanted it to be. I had Tina by my side and work falling towards me.
After ads I got an offer for a serial but I wasn't too sure if it was my cup of tea. I was very low on my confidence since childhood. Then one day, I was at a friends place in Juhu. He told me to drop his keys to town side urgently. I was quite annoyed because of the time consuming travel but I forcefully went. I did it out of absolute pressure. There I met another friend who casually asked me if I had gotten a call for a serial. I said yes. He suggested I go give it a try because the director was a big name with big shows running on Zee TV that time. Because of my friend's persuasion & insistence I went ahead, gave the audition, & bam I got selected! That was a U-turn for me & then on my career shaped up real well. They say peer pressure could be a bad thing but for me, it was an excellent thing!
The role I had won was for romantic lead that any new comer would die for! Then "Ashirwad" came followed by "Kanyadaan" & "Kyunki". Later on,"Kumkum" &"Krishna Arjun" also joined my list. I had four big shows in my hand & no time to spare! I was extremely busy. Thankfully without any complications or controversies, I eased out of "Kyunki" on a good note. Then I was offered "Khul Ja Simsim". I was approached to host the show. So for 2 months, I worked hard to anchor the show with rigorous rehearsals & speech classes. With that I felt I had tried my hands on an array of roles on TV including anchoring and thought I had accomplished everything. Little did I know a reality show was waiting for us right around the corner! Tina and I were offered "Nach Baliye" and we gladly accepted it.
I couldn't have asked for anything more, memories-wise. Tina & I cherish every moment we had together & even till today play the tapes to just go back & re-live those fun, sweaty times!
They were very tedious three months but simply amazing. And they paid off thanks you all!
Tina was apprehensive about our chances of lasting in the show earlier. I never expected her to do well but she managed to stun me with her dedication! 'Nach' gave her a chance to get a glimpse of this industry & make new friends. It helped her understand the demands of my profession better as well.
Post 'Nach', we were called for many shows together. So that way we got to spend lots of quality time. We even went for holidays. I love my life. It's a dream life & I hope it never ends. Its like a dream come true, whatever I dreamt of I am living today.
Views : 2464
Posted on:
14 May 2009 at 12:00am
Where do I start from? My childhood was full of mischief and energy. In fact I would say I was the complete opposite of Hussain as a child. I was born and brought up in Mahim. I was definitely not the typical girl parents imagine a girl to be. My parents were called almost every year consistently for some monkey business of mine! Even in my building, I would go and stand up against the boys who dared to act over smart with me
I was pretty much a tomboy! However once I entered class 9, I started becoming girly! Excluding class 9 and onwards, I was certainly everything but a girl.
I first met my better half, Hussain in junior college, Degree College. We used to have a combined math lecture in which we would sit together. Hussain and I would together make fun of our South Indian teacher's accent. (We were just acting too kiddish .. cmon, we were just in college!)
Even though he used to sit right next to me, he doesn't seem remember any of this. Moreover, I got along with Hussain but at that time I must say he wasn't good looking at all. He wore dorky big specs and had an awful dressing sense! Something like Surinder Saini from Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi but a bit better
. More so, we started hanging out together with a common circle of friends. Ultimately we developed feelings for each other however it was all in low key that time. At first we never told each about our feelings
. We would both talk to a common friend 'Satish' about how we felt about each other but we never confronted one another. Eventually our friend got fed up listening to us and that's when we decided to take our friendship to the next level. And from then on, everything went sturdy and sound except for my studies! I still blame Hussain for my low performance in my final year. He was such a big distraction!
Once we completed two years together, I told my parents about our relationship. They knew who he was and they were quite fond of him because he would come home often. They had absolutely no issues with Hussain but they did with our caste differences! That was the only drawback and trust me, we had to slog to convince my parents for our marriage. It was unquestionably not an easy peasy cakewalk! Eventually, I told my parents I would just remain friends with him but we were still very much in love. Then one fine day, the media got to know about us and published this juicy gossip. Upon this, things started to get a bit out of hand. My brother told my father about it & he was yet hell-bent on not consenting for this marriage. Eventually he had no option but to give in to my stubbornness and thus, we tied the knot!
After my graduation, I was selected for the 'Reservations & Ticketing' department by Singapore Airlines who came on campus. However I was keen to do fashion designing. My parents weren't too supportive of it so I went ahead & took the job. I quit the post in less than a year and then I was approached by the 7-star hotel called 'Regent'. In less than 10 months, I was promoted to the position of Lobby Manager from Guest Relations Executive. Nonetheless, I was bored of the monotony. Along with working, I had also made a modeling portfolio. When I showed Hussain he was quite surprised and conned me into doing some ads.
Anyhow moving back, with the money I had earned from my modeling, I paid for my Fashion Designing course at B.D.Somani without telling my parents. I did that for a year and I was supposed to continue to my second year when my uncle from the US offered me to take over his business. Considering the experience would be more beneficial than education, I agreed & opened my own export firm with my parent's help of course.
Initially it was very tough because I was single handedly doing everything from accounting to getting the printing done at the mills, to monitoring the fabric to designing the garment and to entertaining the clients! I even had to sweep the floors at times, surprising eh?
Gradually, I got help from my mom & masi (mom's sister). They helped in the administration & accounting department while I concentrated on the designing & production. The business really grew. I was extremely happy with the progress. My firm is called '7th Avenue Fashion' and my brand is called 'Casual Studios'.
Soon after Hussain and I received the offer of participating in popular dance show, 'Nach Baliye' . Hussain conned me into it once again! While I was working hard on my dance with Hussain for 12 hours daily, my mom handled the export firm & I just corresponded via phone. After spending multiple hours dancing, you all showered your votes on us and made us victorious. Now my mom handles the business herself and I am planning to start something new locally. More so into gowns & bridal wear and I am hoping like everything in my life has worked for me, this will to!
Views : 698
Posted on:
13 May 2009 at 12:00am
My In-laws have seen me progress from a Scooty to a Maruti to a Lancer to a Camry... They have seen me in all stages & growth & have always been supportive so everything about my caliber was out in the open for them.
I used to go to Tina's house off & on. I think they knew all along that we had a soft corner for each other & we don't know why they didn't stop us from being together because we are Hindu-Muslim! But I guess they knew where we were getting to & think they wanted it too, seeing how happy we were but they also didn't want it because of the religion difference. Fortunately there was no twist in our love story & we got happily married.
We had a lot of chupchup ke milna, jhoot bolna & all that. So that way we've had a filmi kahaani
