Fresh off the HT Brunch cover shoot, 29-year-old Loitongbam Ashalata Devi is in high spirits. "It was so very good," she repeats thrice, effusively. "It was my first experience and I really liked it." Ashalata is instantly easy to talk to and has an almost innocent, unpretentious way of speaking and natural charm that draws you to her.
But if you ran into her on the street, chances are you'd walk right past her without recognising her. The professional football player and captain of the women's national football team may have kept a low profile, but she's already achieved more than most men and women her age, after overcoming what is arguably the most influential pressure there is familial to get to where she is today. She may be young, but her life story already has all the ingredients you'd need to make a compelling biopic.
Who would she choose to play her on the big screen? "I think Sanya Malhotra would fit my character best," Ashalata muses.
FROM THE BEGINNING
As with any good biopic, there should be a detailed flashback to one's early childhood days. However, Ashalata says that she started playing football pretty late in life. She was already 13 when she first started playing, back in her hometown of Imphal, Manipur.
"I'd never really seen girls play football before," she says. "When I was studying in class seven, I used to see some boys playing near my house. And looking at them, I really wanted to play, too."
So, she did what anybody in class seven would do: went to her teacher. "I requested my school teacher to let me play," Ashalata says. "He told me, 'Football isn't played with just one player. You need an entire team. If you want to play, make a team and come back."
Denne historien er fra January 21, 2023-utgaven av Brunch.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra January 21, 2023-utgaven av Brunch.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Avantika Dassani
Actor, @AvantikaDassani
Keep your i on this BMW
The brand's beloved sedan has now gone electric. The i5 M60 has a sci-fi roar and razor-sharp graphics. It's worth the hype
Why adapt when you can evolve?
Sometimes, the movie or show does it better than the book it is based on. Here's when to stream not flip
Sharp edges, blunt words
British chef Heston Blumenthal has gone public about his struggle with ADHD and bipolar syndrome. He hopes it calms kitchens down. It's hot in there already
The suitable boy
He's played lovers, taxi drivers, street rats and rich brats. He's redefining what it means to be the token Brown boy on set. But would he be on a reality show? Ishaan Khatter tells us why he's a career chameleon and how he got here
Stay stylish in your cubicle
Everyone's back at the office. Covid flexibilities are long forgotten. But being comfortable is still key. So, what are we wearing to work?
Fit check? Look behind you
In gyms, someone is always filming. We are all in the frame without meaning to be. Is privacy at odds with fitness goals? Is consent even possible with all those mirrors?
Hey, I found you online
Baby pics, emo selfies, old tweets outing the ex. If it makes you cringe, it makes HR departments do too. Here's how to clean up your digital footprint
Is It Scrolling Or Screening?
Being on the phone while the TV plays is the new normal. Just don't do it when there's company. A case for what it means to be present
This week, we're...
Preferring the spinoff.