Tia's Talk with Bollywood Dancer & Actress Bhavna Pani - The Lead in 'BHARATI' at Sony Centre Toronto

Tia's Talk

Bhavna Pani is a Bollywood actress and model. She has also learned Contemporary Modern dance and is also trained in Kathak and Odissi. She is an exquisite and talented dancer and actress. She is most famous for being the heroine of Bharati The Show - the most succesful Bollywood musical in many countries. I had a chance of talking to her while she is here in Toronto for her Show BHARATI in Toronto at Sony Centre on 9th -10th Feb, 2013.

Where were you born and raised?

                      I was born and raised in Mumbai. The heart of Bollywood cinema. I did my education and dance training here as well.        

How do you think the environment you were in and your surroundings shaped for what you do now?

                      My environment was definitely very conducive to my choice of profession. My father, UdayShankar Pani is a film maker himself and I have grown up on sets of movies,like 'GANDHI' that he would work on. But inspite of all this, my family wasn't in favor of me having a career in performing arts. But I was very clear about my choice  and finally they had to relent to my persistence.

What led you to realize that you wanted to be involved with music and performances and wanted to be an actor and performer?

                       I was training in Indian classical dance and music since the age of 6yrs. So I was fairly young, in my early teens, when I decided that I wanted to choose performing arts as my career. My mother always said, that I had learnt to dance before I began to walk... so I guess, it was a part of my DNA. Although, I became an actor by chance, as movies was never my goal... but things just happened for me and I ended up working in films at a very young age. But my ultimate dream was to always be on stage and be recognized all over the world as a complete performer. 

How do you think you are impacting the south asian community around the world with your work?

                       I think , with a show like 'Bharati', I am just trying to encompass the authentic essence of India. And I try to bring that to the audiences here. So that they can get either get initiated or re-connected or simply just feel proud of belonging to such a rich cultural heritage. My job is to be the face of India,like a mini ambassador, both on stage and off- stage.

Who are your favorite dancers and performers.?

                       My inspiration are legendary Gurus like Late Kelucharan Mahapatra (Odissi) and Pandit Birju Maharaj (Kathak). In Bollywood, only two actors inspire me- Mr.Naseeruddin Shah and as a dancer Madhuri Dixit. 

What are you currently working on? What do you have in mind for the near future?

                       I am currently working on a new venture on stage, which will be announced by our producer Mr.Deshe very soon. I also just completed my Diploma couse in Contemporary Dance from Terrence Lewis Academy. Apart from that, back in India, I am busy doing films and modeling in TV commercials. 

-Tia Virdi

StarBuzz, Toronto