Basday reaches for the stars
SMALL town girl Carishma Basday always dreamt of making it big and becoming a household name. Little did she know her dream would materialise before the age of 30.
The Material actress, who presents on SABC 3’s Mela, which focuses on Indian entrepreneurs and culture, grew up in Port Shepstone with her younger brother, Aadil, and parents, Dick and Shamin Basday.
Now married to helicopter pilot Gael Le Martin and living the life she dreamed of, with two “fur” babies in Cape Town, 30-year-old Basday said she aspired to be a vet in her younger days. She has two dogs as pets.
“I was always throwing a tantrum, trying to get my parents to let me rescue some poor animal. Up to this day, animals are my weakness.
“I used to volunteer at the local vet when I was younger and for some time, wanted to become one until I got to high school and realised I can actually have a career in the entertainment industry.”
It was at Port Shepstone High School that Basday met her drama teacher and mentor, Anita Schonauer.
“She made me believe in myself as a performer and opened my eyes to the professional world of acting.”
Basday is not only a stunner but very much a tomboy.
“I was always climbing things and playing in the dirt outside. When I got older, I was always more interested in playing soccer with the guys and F1 racing but then also loved dance classes and make-up.
“I don’t think I have changed that much. I’m still wild and adventurous and curious and happy go lucky.
“And I’m still very much a mix of tomboy and girly-girl.”
After school, Basday lived in the US for a year as a Rotary exchange student.
It was only after she returned home that she decided to pursue a degree in performing arts majoring in dance, choreography, acting, directing and media at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Thereafter, the then aspiring actress took on a year of acting for film at Act Cape Town (ACT).
In 2012 she landed a role in the movie Material opposite comedian Riaad Moosa and for the past two years has been presenting on Mela. “I really just love what I do. “With Mela, I love meeting new people and having new experiences every day on set and with acting I love transforming into new characters and learning so much about myself through the process.”
Basday said Mela offered a great platform to showcase Indian culture and the mark it made on the world.
“I think it’s great for Indians to have a show like Mela where they can delve deeper into our culture and be inspired by other Indians making their mark on the world.
“I think it’s also great for everyone in this beautiful multicultural rainbow nation of ours to have programmes showcasing different cultures, so that we can all learn and grow.”
In her spare time she practises yoga as it helps to keep her grounded.
She said after completing 200 hours training in India with her guru, she had become a yoga instructor.
“My training was over a one-month period and it was the most life-changing 30 days of my life.
“We covered everything from yoga asana to philosophy, anatomy, ayurveda and pranayama.
“I chose to do my training in India because it was working out to the same price as doing my training in South Africa.
“I also have a very strong connection to India and thought, ‘If I’m going to do this, I want to do it properly and where better to start my journey than in the birthplace of yoga and where my own roots are planted’.
“I have also just completed my 500 hour advanced yoga teacher training.”
With tons of plans for her future, Basday said she could not divulge too much but has hinted about a lead role in a new feature film.
Basday lives by her motto: “Be noble for you are made of the stars. Be humble for you are made of the earth.”