New girl Nidhhi Agerwal rises up

RISING cinema star Nidhhi Agerwal has shown amazing versatility in a short space of time. The talented Indian actress made her debut with Bollywood film Munna Michael in 2017 and has since mixed up languages along with roles she has taken on.

With forthcoming projects in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi, the strikingly beautiful star is set to shine even brighter on the big screen and rise higher.

Eastern Eye’s Asjad Nazir caught up with Nidhhi during the Covid-19 lockdown to talk about cinema, acting, future and inspirations.

How are you coping with the lockdown?

I am coping quite well. I am trying to keep myself as busy as I can. I am getting all the sleep that I haven’t got in the last two years. I am eating home food and having like a total detox. I am doing a couple of online courses, I am cleaning, I am doing a little bit of cooking, I am doing some exercise and meditation, so I keep my whole day busy. I am watching a lot of content as well.

Has mixing up the languages been a conscious decision?

Yes, absolutely. When I started working, I always knew I wanted to do films in many industries, not just Hindi or Telugu, but wherever good work is coming from. And now is the perfect time to work in multiple industries. It makes your own world bigger and you can get to be a part of stories from different regions. You learn so much, which has happened with me in the past few years. I’ve learned new languages and pretty much new cultures. It has been really nice for my personal growth, as well as my growth as an actor.

Does your approach to acting changebetween the languages?

When I am on set, not really. Of course, the languages are different, so it does feel different when you are acting in them. As everything I do comes from my director, it totally depends on who is directing me, what they want and tell me before a scene, and how they guide me through the shoot. So, it depends on my director, which has been different with each film, so I have had a different approach with each one.

Is the biggest challenge as a newcomer finding strong roles?

In a way it is. I think if you start with a commercial film or in that space then people don’t want to see you in the other space, like maybe a more Indie film or arty space, but it is the same thing with people starting in that space also. So, it’s a normal thing and as an actor, you take on a conscious decision to break that box you are getting put into. It does happen, but you need to take charge and change it.

What kind of projects are you looking for?

I want to do different things, honestly, and right now, I want to do action or maybe a period film. I would love to do something in that zone.

Tell us about your forthcoming films?

I have a Tamil film called Bhoomi. We have about a day or two of shoot left, so I am going to finish that and it will release. Then I am shooting for a Tamil film, a Telugu film and a couple of films starting after the lockdown is over.

What would be your master plan for acting going forward?

The acting master plan is to just get better with every film. That has always been my goal. I started with having no formal training in acting, but I think the best kind of training one can get is on a film set. Nothing can beat that.

What would be your dream role?

I love this question and hate it because I have so many answers to it, but right now in the mood that I am in, I would like to play Madhubala or Madhuri Dixit. I would love to do something in that space.

Who are your acting heroes?

I love Ranbir Kapoor. I think that he is a really good actor. I also really like Varun Dhawan, Akshay Kumar sir and Shah Rukh Khan sir’s work, so there are a lot of actors that I like. Of course, I also like Kareena Kapoor Khan and I love Priyanka Chopra.

What inspires you?

To be honest, I have always wanted to be an actor. It is the only thing I have ever wanted to be and somehow knew I am going to be one. So, I think that whole dream I had as a child, that whole feeling of every time I watched a film, I knew I was going to be doing that. So that whole phase of my life and entire childhood obsessing over movies and actors. My dream is and was so big that it inspires me everyday.