Last year around the same time, a young 18 year old girl made an entry through a lead role on Marathi television. Today, her character of Anandi is more popular than her original name. Sankruti Balgude, the second year S. P. College student from Pune, will be celebrating completion of one year as a TV actress this month. Marathi Movie World spoke to this talented hard working dancing star. Excerpts from an interview :

Q: Tell us something about yourself and your association with this glamour world ?
A: Ever since I was seven years old and studying in Pune’s Symbiosis Secondary School, I was passionate about dancing. I have passed four exams in Bharat natyam from Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Pune. Thereafter gave dance performances including Arangetram. When I joined Pune’s S.P. College, I started taking part in various competitions. I have performed dance shows in Switzerland, Mauritius and France. At present, I am studying my second year in college.

Q: But, how come while dancing, you switched over to acting ?
A: While studying in 11th standard, I was watching my seniors Siddharth Chandekar and Mrunmayee Deshpande. I used to admire them being my seniors and watching them perform, inspired me towards acting. Somewhere inside I felt that I could act. Thereafter, I started giving auditions. I was confident that the main requirement for being an actress was dance and I was good at that.

Q: You mean, to play Anandi’s role, you got selected because you were a dancer too ?
A: Yes. During my first year in college, I came to know about the audition for this serial. They had specifically mentioned that they needed an actress, who could dance. I felt, my selection for this role was mainly because I knew dance well.

Q: How much do you enjoy being a part of this serial ?
A: It’s great! This 17th January, the serial will complete one year. But, I don’t know, how the time flew so fast. I can still remember that day, just a day before my 18th birthday in December 2010. That evening, I received the confirmation about my selection for the role of Anandi. I think, it was the best birthday gift for me. I am really thankful to Zee Marathi and makers of Pinjara. I am also thankful to all the artistes, who helped me to improvise on my acting, as till then, I never knew much about acting. Now, whatever compliments I receive for my acting, the credit goes to all those artistes who helped me on the sets.

Q: What you have to say about the similarities between the character of Anandi and yourself ?
A: Anandi is very sweet in nature. In fact, she is too good. She does not understand, how people around her are taking advantage of her good nature. Anandi is passionate about acting and is melo melo.., soft soft type. In comparison, I am also passionate about dancing and very loving are caring too. Like Anandi, I am little bit shy; but not as much as Anandi.

Q: Recently, ‘Pinjara’ won the Zee family award. How do you react to that ?
A: I am proud to be a part of this serial, which not only received maximum nominations, but also bagged 7 awards. All this was possible because of best direction and best performances from all artistes. But, our technical team right from the Production manager to costume designer and hair stylist also to be thanked for this success. I am glad that this being my debut, the audience accepted me and that itself is a great moment for me.

Q: Anything in particular about the producer and director ?
A: Mr. Rakesh Sarang is a very strict person, as far as discipline is concerned. While he is on the sets, I don’t dare to face him. But, otherwise he is a very sweet person. Always enquires about everyone present on the sets. I respect him a lot and admire his work behind camera and direction. Now, few words about my director – Girish Vasaikar. What Anandi is today, is all because of his efforts. He has handled us very patiently. He made the pair of Veer and Anandi popular among the audience. According to me, he is the best director.

Q: What is your priority now ? Dancing or acting ?
A: At present myself and my character of Anandi have both taken a back seat for dancing. Therefore, whenever I get an opportunity to perform dance, I accept the same. Dance is my thirst and acting comes next. But, at present, I am giving equal importance to acting.

Q: What more, besides your present role of Anandi ?
A: I had offers from films. But, I am tied up with dates for this serial. So, at present, it is only ‘Pinjara’ for me.