Neha Pendse – talent unlimited
Neha Pendse came into limelight especially after her appearance in TV serial ‘Bhagyalakshmi’ in which she plays the title role; but she became more popular among Marathi audience with her dancing skills through Zee Marathi’s favourite programme ‘Ekapeksha Ek- Apsara Aali’. Not many were aware about her entry into Marathi films through ‘Agnidivya’ for which she received a state award and the recently released film ‘Karuya Udyachi Baat’ which won Green award from USA.
Marathi Movie World spoke to Neha Pendse, who has also done 13 South Indian films so far and that too in lead role, besides being part of Bollywood and Hindi TV serials as a child artiste.
Q. How did you turn to this Glamour world ?
A: It is very difficult to tell that. Since childhood, I am into acting. I took my acting lessons from Mr. Ramnath Thorval at Prithvi Theatres. He suggested my name to few people and after watching my one performance, I started getting more offers.
Q: So, did you begin as a child artiste?
A: Yes, about 10-12 years ago there wasn’t much competition among child artistes. Even in Bollywood, there were very few child artistes. Those days Ektaa kapoor was making her first TV serial and it was a coincidence that it turned out to be my first serial too. I have performed in serials like ‘Hasretein’, ‘Padosi’ and ‘Khushi’. Besides that I have also performed in films like ‘Pyar Koi Khel Nahin’, ‘Tumse Achha kaun Hai’and ‘Deewane’. Sometime back on Doordarshan they showed a tele film ‘Ghunghaat’ by Anant Mahadevan. I have also performed in it.
Nehha Pendse
Q: You have also performed in South Indian films ?
A: Yes, I have done 13 South Indian films so far. In all these films, whether it was kannada, Telugu, Tamil or Malyalam; I have played lead roles.
Q: Can you compare South films with Marathi films ?
A: Yes, South and Marathi films are regional films. But, in respect of presentation and budget, we are far behind them. In Marathi, we find division of audience, for example: Intelligent, Commercial and typical. In south, the film makers very well know what the audience expect and that glamour is offered through those regional films; which prevents their regular audience from watching another language films. In turn, we have plenty of
talent in Marathi, which certainly makes us superior to south and Bollywood films.
Q: How did you enter Marathi entertainment industry ?
A: ‘Pimplepaan’ directed by Chandrakant Kulkarni was my first serial followed by ‘Bhagyalakshmi’ and then it was my appearance in ‘Ekapeksha Ek- Apsara’ reality show. ‘Agnidivya’ was my first Marathi film, for which I received the state award. Recently released ‘Karuya Udyachi Baat’ was my second film based on Global warming, but it could not reach maximum people here, though it has won Green Award from USA.
Q: How much are you enjoying in that double role in ‘Bhagyalakshmi’ ?
A: It is a good experience. In real life I am a bit Kashi and a bit Gopi. Therefore, I get a chance to play my own self through these two characters.
Q: And what about ‘Apsara Aali’ Reality show ?
A: I had an opportunity to learn so many things on the sets of this show. During childhood, I had learnt classical dance. Otherwise, I had no base in dance. Yet, being a non dancer, I could reach the last four stage. That itself is a great achievement for me.
Q: Tell us something about your forthcoming projects.
A: While I was engaged with ‘Apsara Aali’ for the past four months, besides ‘Bhagyalakshmi’ I could not do any other projects. There were offers, but due to non availability of dates, I could not take them. Now, I am going out of India and shall think about my future projects only on my return in June.
“I was always passionate about dancing”- Urmila Kanetkar
“Dance is a delicate balance between perfection and beauty.” If you are a good dancer, acting becomes much easier. Many film actresses possess this ability, but they don’t get an opportunity to combine both together. Today, not many roles in films or on television are meant for actresses with dancing skills. In Marathi films in particular there are few songs or no songs and the only item number is performed by a guest artiste. On television, When we watch the dance reality show ‘Ekapeksha Ek – Apasaras’ on Zee Marathi channel, we do notice some of the finest acting talents performing different forms of dance. One of them, a strong contender for the crown, is obviously Urmila kanetkar. Marathi Movie World caught up with Urmila to know about her objectives and passion in life. The modest and talented young actress spoke freely, giving a brief account of her career.
Passionate about dancing, Urmila who has learnt her classical dancing from Ashatai Joglekar and Archana Joglekar is pursuing her MA in Kathak. Being a graduate in Sociology and Anthropology from Mumbai’s St. Xavier’s College, she makes good use of these subject background while performing different characters. We have seen this happen in popular TV serial ‘Asambhav’ and recently released film
Urmila is an intense actress, who gets quickly into her character to give her best, no matter whoever is there on the opposite side. For her, the camera lenses are her close observers. With her expressive eyes, she has many a times emoted so well. It will not be surprising to see her win the best actress award in most of the prestigious awards to be declared soon.
With her recent success through the role of Yashoda in ‘Mala Aai Vhaychay’, Urmila has established herself as a complete film actress. This author backed role has certainly given her the required exposure to reckon her among the best actresses in Marathi film industry. She was just waiting for a role with Gavran accent and the role of Yashoda came to her at the most appropriate time. Only few years ago when she made her TV debut through ‘Tujhya Veena’ and into films through ‘Shubhamangal Savadhaan’, her talent went unnoticed, as the kind of roles she played were not very prominent. But, then the role of Shubhra in ‘Asambhav’ brought a big change in her career. Through this role, she had an opportunity to present two different characters from different eras and that came to her advantage.
In ‘Asambhav’ Urmila learnt a lot under the direction of Satish Rajwade and she does attribute all the credit to him. “Performing in ‘Asambhav’ was almost like taking acting lessons from Mr. Rajwade,” she quips. Urmila doesn’t forget Sangeet Kulkarni, because of whom she got her first break in ‘Tujya Veena’. For her entry into films through Mahesh Kothare’s film ‘Shubha Mangal Sawadhan’ she says that it was on the basis of her audition that she was selected. But, her selection for the role of Yashoda in ‘Mala Aai Vhaychay’ was her real luck. The director was very keen on finding someone of the caliber of Smita Patil. But, when she noticed the talent in Urmila, she openly admitted that she had found her Smita in Urmila.
“Dancing has always been my passion and I always wanted to perform my own solo shows in different forms. When I presented my first ballet few years ago, I said to myself that one day, I would present a form of dance with variety into it. Luckily for me, today I have got a platform through ‘Zee Marathi’s reality show ‘Ekapeksha Ek- Apsara Aali’. But, here it is in a competition form,” says Urmila.
Her acting career which is now shaping well , Urmila attributes all the credit to her parents Shrikant and Nilima Kanetkar. “It is because of their support that I could enter this field and today they are with me to encourage at my every step,” she adds.
Having signed another film of Mahesh Kothare, Urmila is now starring with his son Adinath in ‘Dubhang’ which is a love story. Having already declared Adinath as her Valentine in real life on the Valentine’s day this year, their chemistry seems to be blooming in real life. Now, it remains to be seen, how it works in the film ‘Dubhang’. Shooting of this film is in progress. But, there are few more films like ‘Thenga’, ‘Thodi Khatti Thodi Meethi’ and ‘Khel Mandla’ in the pipeline. In all, year 2011 is going to be a good time for Urmila, having made a good beginning of this year with a an outstanding performance in ‘Mala Aai Vhaychay’.
She has also displayed her dancing talents in the popular reality dance show ‘Ekapeksha Ek-Apsara Aali’ and is considered to be a favourite in this competition. Talking about this show, Urmila admits that there is a big competition from other artistes, who are also good performers. “Many a times, I get tensed up during the show, as I have other commitments also. It is like running from one set to the other to give my best. It is hard work, but, I am enjoying every moment,” she concludes.