She became a household name overnight and truly deserves every bit of success that is coming her way. Meet Shalini Pandey, a powerhouse performer who shot to fame with her super-hit release Arjun Reddy. Extremely proud of the person she is, this actress speaks her mind like a strong woman of today. She has everything that is needed to make it to the top – and definitely could not have asked for a better start. In a conversation with the actress, we discovered that there was a lot more to her than just those 16 kisses she had during the movie – which had been doing the rounds. Read on to know her better...
I got a call from a coordinator about someone in Hyderabad wanting to meet me. I am not from this industry and did not know the way about – so to me, it all sounded like a farce. I assumed it to be a fake call and did not give any importance. Then I had a conversation with the director, Sandeep Reddy Vanga, and validated the whole thing. He asked me to come down to Hyderabad to meet him and I did so. Once I was here, even before I heard the script, I was asked to do a look test – they loved the shoot and while doing it, not once did I feel uncomfortable or out of place (as I was an outsider). When Sandeep narrated the script to me, I agreed for it in one shot. The conviction that he spoke with and the story just blew my mind.
Was it his storytelling ability or the story that made you say yes?
His faith in it and the story, too. I believe that a bad director can spoil a good story and a good director can make the worst story look amazing. Anyway, I had best of both – a good director and a good story. I was sure he would end up doing justice to the whole thing.
Did you not consult anyone before signing it?
Nope. I did not. No one had a say in this. My folks back home were against me getting into this industry, so there was no one I could have asked, or wanted to either. As a person, I am incapable of giving and taking advice, I feel one needs to take one’s decisions and evolve as a person. I went with my gut feeling and did not want to end up blaming anyone for the decision, if it went wrong.
How long ago was this and how has it been ever since?
Since the day I got the call until now it has been two years. It has been the same! Nothing has changed apart from the fact that now I am a known face.
This story is from the July 2018 edition of RITZ.
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This story is from the July 2018 edition of RITZ.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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