Hindustan Times (Lucknow) - Hindustan Times (Lucknow) - Live
Lucknow lass set to get B’wood wings
Lucknow girl Pankhuri Awasthy is on cloud nine these days as she is all set to make her Bollywood debut next month. During a recent visit to her hometown Awasthy spoke about her TV shows, film debut, Lucknow and more.
Awasthy has been part of shows where she got to play strong characters. “Yes, it is a matter of pride for me as all my shows on TV till date gave me an opportunity to play truly strong female characters. The magnum opus series ‘Razia Sultan’ gave me wings as an actor and I realised how high as a performer I can fly. Portraying the role of Delhi’s first woman emperor was a big break for me and then again I got a chance to play Draupadi in ‘Suryaputra Karn’ another very strong female character from our history. So, these two shows did prove path-breaking work for a small town girl like me who landed in Mumbai without a godfather,” she said.
Talking about her transition from TV to films, she said, “I was constantly taking shows and was lucky to be a part of yet another show based on a rape survivor and her fight for justice. When this show ‘Kya Qusoor Hai Amala Ka’ got over, I decided to give some time to myself and settle down with actor Gautam Rode. But work on TV continued after a little break, till I got an offer from nowhere to go and audition for a role in the film ‘Shubh Mangal Zyada Savdhan,’ and soon I got a call that I had been selected. I had no clue but things kept happening at their own pace. Here, I was finally making my Bollywood debut with ace producers like Anand L Rai and Bhushan Kumar. What more could one ask for.”
Born in Lucknow, Awasthy still loves the city very much, “It’s always great to come back to Lucknow as it is one of my favourite cities and then to top it all my family is here. My early childhood was well spent here when I went to La Martiniere Girls’ College till class one, before moving out of Lucknow. Then we came back here and I joined CMS Gomti Nagar for Class XII. When not in Lucknow, I miss its food but winter season I try to avoid as this weather is not meant for me I feel,” said the young actor. Talking about her role in the upcoming film, she said, “SMZS is a first of its kind film. The film is based on homosexuality. Though films have been made on this earlier but none approached the subject head on. This is a comedy drama as well as a satire on our society that refuses to change even after Supreme Court’s verdict in 2018. Also, sharing screen with actors like Ayushmann Khurrana, Jitendra Kumar, Neena Gupta, Gajraj Rao is a big, big opportunity for any debutant. Though I don’t share screen space with Ayushmann as my character is associated with Jitendra in the film but still all works for me. The trailer has got an exceptionally great response and I am keeping my fingers crossed for the release.”
NOTE TO READERS: Some of the coverage that appears on our pages is paid for by the concerned brands. No sponsored content does or shall appear in any part of HT without it being declared as such to our valued readers.