The failure of my first film made it tough to get work in Bollywood: Manjari
After her last two Bollywood films, Nirdosh and Baa Baaa Black Sheep (both 2018), Manjari Fadnnis did not sign any other Hindi film. She was recently seen in the web film Barot House, but that’s about it. Naturally, one is bound to wonder if there’s a lack of good Bollywood film offers coming her way or if the failure of both Nirdosh and Baa Baaa Black Sheep at the box office has got to her.
Manjari admits that it has been “challenging” for her to find a foothold in Bollywood. However, she is not one to quit that easily. Moreover, thanks to the web, actors like her can now fulfil their dreams when Bollywood proves elusive.
“Digital is the way ahead for us. It offers actors like us, characters that otherwise would not have come to us in Bollywood. I have always been instinctive about the kind of projects I have taken. In Baa Baaa Black Sheep, I got the opportunity to sing a song, while in Nirdosh, I had a lot of scope to perform. So both the films are close to my heart. But then I can’t decide success or failure,” says the 31-year-old.
Manjari also shares that in between when she had time in hand, she worked on a theatre production done in Broadway style. She portrayed the character of Chandramukhi from Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s Devdas. And she plans to do theatre whenever she gets time.
Looking back when she started off with Rok Sako To Rok Lo (2004), Manjari shares that breaking into Bollywood was tough. “Plus I’m from a non-film background. When the film didn’t do well, it became all the more difficult for me to get more work. Only after Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na (2008), things started looking up,” she says, adding that the courage to experiment has got her a few good offers from Bollywood.
Sustaining presence is difficult in showbiz, but Manjari says, “I am thankful to the industry for helping me become a better actor. I’m also thankful to be a part of the industry especially when it’s focusing on good content. The fact that web has also opened up is wonderful. After Barot House, I’ve got a lot more offers [from Bollywood], and I am keeping my fingers crossed,” she concludes.
I’m also thankful to be a part of the industry especially when it’s focusing on good content. The fact that web has also opened up is wonderful.
MANJARI FADNNIS ACTOR