From playing a woman caught in a love triangle in Subhash Ghai’s Kisna to a spoilt movie star in Zoya Akhtar’s Luck By Chance to a hearing- and speech impaired- woman in the just released Bejoy Nambiar movie David , Isha Sharvani has come far in tinsel town. The actor who calls her entry into filmdom a curious blend of “luck and destiny” is all smiles.
Says Isha: “I had met Bejoy years ago and he had offered me a role in Shaitan, which I, unfortunately, could not take up. While writing the character of Roma in David, he apparently had me in mind. The three short stories of three men named David whose lives are interconnected was fascinating.”
Isha plays Roma, a hearing- and speech- impaired woman who views the world through rose-tinted glasses in
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The lissome actor was thrilled to bits when she heard that she would be cast opposite Vikram in the film. Getting to work with Tabu on the sets of
The scenes were shot in Mangalore and Alappuzha. But, wait a minute, isn’t she playing a Goan in the movie and isn’t the story of Vikram and her (Roma) supposed to be set in Goa? She says laughing: “Yes, I do play a Goan Christian in the movie and our story is set in Goa. However, as Goa is crowded, we shot in Mangalore and Alappuzha.”
Shooting for the movie, although fun, was also a challenge. The actor recollects how they had to shoot one of the romantic songs in the movie in Alappuzha. “We had to shoot the song in just one night. The lane was narrow, barely enough for a person to walk on. As the locals heard Vikram was in town, a crowd thronged the place. The crew had a tough time cordoning off the crowd. Insects were crawling up our skins, the water wasn’t that clean, we were drenched in sweat… it was anything but romantic. However, when you see it on screen, it looks so romantic.”
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The actor who calls Kerala her home, is now looking forward to the release of the movie Anju Sundarikal . “I play one of the five sundaris in the film. The movie contains five different short stories on love. My story by Sameer Thahir is on ‘young’ love. Sameer’s sets were so different from that of Bollywood. In Mollywood, the sense of unity is strong. I liked how every one right from the actors to the director, camera man, spot boys, et al ate together. There was no difference in ranks; every one was treated the same.”
Daughter of renowned dancer Daksha Seth and musician Devissaro, Isha is an accomplished dancer in her own right. In fact, she wooed the audience with her performances in the television dance reality show ‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa’ recently. “I am so thankful to those who voted and rooted for me on the show. There is nothing more satisfying for an artiste than the encouragement from her fans. Many were disappointed when I dropped out of the show when I injured my elbow. In fact, they tell me to join the next season of the show and walk away with the title.”
Isha, who maintains that dance will always be her first love, will soon be touring various parts of the world with her mother’s Daksha Sheth Dance Company’s new dance production titled ‘Shiv Shakti’.
Dumbstruck
A fan of Vikram, Isha recalls watching his role in Pithamagan dumbstruck. “I was even more so on the sets of David . It was amazing watching him work. Although he is a superstar, he is generous with his time and helps newcomers like me on the set. It is fascinating watching him improvise his shots. Our part of the film is a love story with a dark twist.”