By A Correspondent
On January 15, 2010, Sydney Girl Sanghmitra made a quiet entry into Bollywood with the release of “Bhavnao Ko Samjho” in which she plays the lead role. The film has also entered Guinness Book of records for featuring 51 stand-up comedians. The story of the film revolves around Suman (Sanghmitra) who is the doting grand-daughter of a wealthy businessman and heiress to his property.
Sanghmitra has been appreciated by the critics for her scintillating performance in the movie and seems to have crossed the first hurdle in her journey to stardom. Her next film, Idiot Box is also due to be released soon in which she plays a pivotal role.
Sanghmitra’s journey into the tinsel world began at the tender age of eight when her mother spotted the talent in her and sent her to attend a National School of Drama’s summer workshop in New Delhi. This was followed by a telefilms “Papa kho gaye” and two documentaries on AIDS awareness that were sponsored by the Australian High Commission in New Delhi and shown on the SBS channel on World AIDS day a few years ago. She also acted in several TV serials notably among them being “Kahan Se Kahan Tak” directed by renowned film director and veteran Lekh Tandon (Professor and Amrapali). She also hosted over 50 educational programmes for the NCERT on the Doordarshan for schools apart from dubbing for a few TV serials.
Thereafter, upon moving to Sydney with her parents in 2000, Sanghmitra did not let her talent die and began giving dance performances in school and social functions where she would often get standing ovation and several prizes. She acted in several plays for the Abhinay Theatre and other groups. Sanghmitra also hosted TV programmes for Curry Culture on Channel 31.
Sanghmitra is also a trained ramp model and organized first-ever ramp modelling contest and pageant in Sydney in 2003 which was followed by Mr. India Australia 2003, a pageant for the Indian youth of Sydney.
But the fire in her to hit the stardom never doused in spite of being far away from the Bollywood town. As soon as she finished her studies in Sydney, Sanghmitra could not wait to make a dash into the land of her dreams.
Back in Mumbai, Sanghmitra’s journey has not been different from any other newcomer. She had to start from a scratch. Auditions after auditions, she braved lewd remarks and lurid advances of some producers to make a humble beginning by doing a Punjabi music album and few serials. It was during one of the auditions at Anurag Kashyap’s studio that she was offered a small but significant role in Aamir and she grabbed it with both hands.
This was followed by another small but central role in ‘Idiot Box’ in which she makes all characters dance to her tune. Sanghmitra said in an interview recently to an Indian movie magazine about her role that “Idiot box” is a brilliant intellectual comedy. The script and concept of the film are fresh and a much needed break from the traditional “running around trying to find a treasure chest” comedies. Sunando (the director of the film) ventured a completely undiscovered concept and it was impossible to say no (For the role).
This was followed by some TV serials Haadsa (Zee TV), CID (on Sony), Kash-ma-kash Zindagi Ki (Doordarshan), Zindagi ke Rang (Pragya channel). Utilising her modelling talent, Sanghmitra is the brand ambassador of “Nikhaar” Fashion House in Bandra in Mumbai.
Sanghmitra loves challenges and is undeterred by the various auditions she does almost every day. She is determined to keep exploring with the hope that she might soon land a challenging role that would bracket her into the category of ‘fine actors’.
She is a fighter and never likes to lose or left behind. She was in the year IV when the school headmistress chose her own relative for a dance drama ignoring the more talented Sanghmitra; she barged into her office and demanded the reason for dropping her. Taken aback by the determination and courage of the little girl, the headmistress had no choice but to include her in the dance troupe. Even in the making of the films, Sanghmitra had stood her grounds on many an occasion and not allowed any compromise with the situation.
Sanghmitra is not alone in her journey to stardom. She enjoys the solid support of her family with her especially, her mother, who has made a lot of sacrifices right from the beginning to see her daughter’s dreams come true.
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