I Believe I Am A 'Savvy' Woman Because... 'I Fought, I Survived. I Am A Fearless Tigress, Wounded But Empowered Enough To Fight Back For My Cubs.'

Actress, homemaker, mother, writer, two-time winner of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for Short Film Director and black belt martial artiste, I am Aartii Naagpal, a woman who wears many hats but gives everything she does her all.

- Andrea Costabir

CHILD’S PLAY

I was born to actress, producer, social worker and politician Shradhha Panchotia, daughter of filmmaker Shri Vitthaldas Panchotia and Ashwini Kumar Nagpal. I was very attached to my mom but when I was three, I was sent to boarding school as both mum and dad were busy with their very public careers and wanted my sister Deepshikha and me to study in the ‘right’ atmosphere. My mom lost her three younger brothers and though she had a sister, she was nanaji’s ‘son’ and she tried her level best to live up to his expectations. She even kept his surname after getting married. My parents argued a lot about this, but mom was resolute. She was a true brave heart and will always be my idol.

BONDING WITH MY GRANDPARENTS

My nanaji had walked with Gandhiji during the Satyagraha dandi march and knew his life closely. At the age of 90, he was working on a film called ‘Gandhi’ and would make me write a draft of the film after I got home from school. I was a hyperactive child and wanted to play most of the time. But nanaji would ask me to write his script as he narrated it. So, I used to run away to play in between but then I would come back to see him still narrating with his eyes closed! I would feel bad and out of respect would start writing again.

My naniji would make me fast for Navratri and Shankar Parvati vrat. I used to help her do all the chores at home as I was the only physically present support they had at that time.

LIFE IN BOARDING SCHOOL