Update: 10 January 2012 - Pallavi Sharda has signed to play Stephen Curry’s girlfriend in a new Australian film “Save Your Legs” - HERALD SUN
Former Miss India Australia (2010) PALLAVI SHARDA, originally from Melbourne, Australia, talks about her new Bollywood film “LOVE, BREAKUPS & ZINDAGI” (LBZ) due to be released on 7 October 2011.
Pallavi with actor Zayed Khan in Love, Breakup's & Zindagi
Miss India Magazine(MIM): How’s the anticipation for your upcoming Bollywood film Love, Breakups, Zindagi (LBZ)?
Pallavi Sharda) PS: I just attended and participated in the music launch of the film and now there is a definite buzz about it in the industry, it is getting very exciting now that the release is so close.
MIM: How was your experience on the sets for LBZ?
PS: It was such a warm and loving set, we really all became like a family. All my scenes were with Zayed, however, so I was very jealous when I missed out on the group schedules as they looked like so much fun. But I have managed to bond with the cast during our off set promotions and dinners which has been like finding a new family. Zayed was a wonderful co-actor, I met him the day before we had to shoot a big scene so he decided to pull a prank on me on my first day. When I arrived on set he was looking very sombre and told me I was 1 hour late and Sahil (my director) was very upset and cancelled the day. I was devastated and couldn’t believe I’d make a mistake like that… Zayed strung me along for about 2 minutes before I called his bluff but they were a long two minutes!
Dia is like a mother on set to everyone. She has such a nurturing personality and has really gone all out to make her actors feel loved and wanted. Similarly Sahil is such a supportive director, he knows just what he wants and really takes care of his cast.
MIM: What is your character in LBZ- did it go with your “natural” style of acting?
PS: I play a very precise character in LBZ, that of Radhika. Radhika is a headstrong, modern woman whose career comes first in her life. She likes to be in charge and seems to allow this trait to flow into her personal life too.For me, on the one hand, it was not difficult to get into the character of Radhika as I have had so much corporate experience and parts of me are like her in terms of being forthright and knowing what I want in life. But it was much harder to pull off than playing Geeta of Dus Tola who really only had one shade in her character. Radhika is more complex because she has a wonderful heart but doesn’t know how to express her feelings except through instructing others. I had to pull this character off delicately, being true to it but without creating a caricature. From that perspective it has been my most challenging role yet.
MIM: What is your favourite song for LBZ?
PS: I have three favourites! Rozana because it is such a great pick me up I now listen to it every morning when I get out of bed. Rab Rakha has such a nostalgic soundng love song and is picturised so beautifully. And the sufi-style song Chai Tanhai is a track which really pulls on the heartstrings through it’s melody.
I am so lucky to work on my second project where music is my Salim-Suleiman, the first being as the lead in Vaibhavi Merchant’s Musical (the second after Merchant’s of Bollywood) the Taj Express
Pallavi Sharda
MIM: How was this character to play compared to your previous film “Dus Tola” - do you seek challenging roles as an actor?
PS: The character of Radhika in LBZ is diametrically opposed to Geeta of Dus Tola! Geeta was a poor, village dance teacher who had simple aspirations in life, in fact she didn’t live for herself at all but for those around her. She was something ‘pure’ out of a folktale. Radhika is today’s woman. She is a corporate mover and shaker and looks at her entire life as a plan to be executed. I loved that I have played such different roles in my career so far. It is a testament to the fact that I believe my USP as an actress is my versatility and I can’t wait to keep changing my guise on screen.
(MIM): You have been living in Mumbai (Bollywood) for sometime now, how easy was it to move from Australia? Is it okay to say that you have two homes now?
PS: I definitely have two homes now. I miss one when I am in the other. A few months ago it was so lovely to be home in Melbourne with my friends and family but I missed the buzz of Bombay dearly and I realised then that Bombay was not just a base for my acting career but had become an integral part of my being. I feel very lucky to be able to travel between two such different and wonderful cities. I’m definitely feeling very homesick for Melbourne right now!
Pallavi photographed in Durban in 2010
MIM: Culturally speaking- what would be one Australian aspect you would love to have in Mumbai and one Indian thing you would love to have in Australia?
PS: Melbourne cafes in India! I miss the Melbourne brew and the wonderful European atmosphere in the coffee shops… Mumbai would be a much easier place if I had such little corner escapes like I do in Australia.
- In Australia, I would want the ability to break away from strictures and carve ones own destiny, something which I really believe exists in India today. This particularly in a place like Bombay which is the most ideal place for anyone with an entrepreneurial spirit. … (If I had the latter coupled with Aussie coffee though, the world may have to brace itself :-p)
MIM: Our audience are surely looking forward to seeing you in the film Love, Breakups, Zindagi releasing in October 2011 - is there more of Pallavi Sharda we are all going to see - besides acting, what is the other area of films which interest you?
PS: I have also been busy working on my own script in Australia which has been a pet project along with a very well known Aussie comedian. I am really looking forward to see this project come to fruition, I love screen writing and can already tell from my experience as a dance director and this project that direction and film making is a serious passion!
I am also playing the lead role in the TAJ EXPRESS which is a theatrical musical directed by Shruti Merchant and choreographed by Vaibhavi Merchant. It is their next endeavour after the very popular Merchants of Bollywood and I’m looking forward to our international tour.
