A career in ‘style’

The Indian fashion industry has evolved in the past 15 years. With fashion gaining momentum, complimentary activities like styling, fashion forecasting, merchandising etc. are also gaining prominence. With international brands springing up, creative youngsters have taken up fashion styling as a career option.

However, the Indian fashion styling industry is still at a nascent stage as compared to European and American markets. Many, like Sandalwood actress Anusha believe that youngsters should not rely on this job. “There are very few people in India who would hire personal stylists,” she explains. “Once the fad of styling catches on, an overdose of stylists will mean not enough openings for the job. Youngsters should have another career to fall back on. Unless they are not the best, they will not be hired,” she adds.

New-age role models

I am influenced by Hannah Montana, Gossip Girls and Beverly Hills 90210 and have to watch these shows without fail. The girls wear fancy clothes and look amazing on screen. We like them because they do things which we love like dressing up, partying and hanging out with friends.” This is not just what student Pratiksha S, 14, thinks but it is the voice of a generation of youngsters whose ‘role-models’ are old enough to be their classmates.

Sex, drugs, all-night partying, hospitalisations and drunken driving are what tweens and young adults are emulating. What they don’t understand is that these celebs have achieved fame through hard work and dedication. “I lost my father when I was a teenager. I had a lot of responsibilities and took to modeling to earn money,” explains Sandalwood actress Anusha. “Being a part of the glamour world is not easy as there is a lot of competition. Getting fame early can change your life. Under pressure, young celebs sometimes do things which they regret. Youngsters should learn from these celebs on how to be independent,” she adds.

Actress Anusha talks about bringing up two adopted girls

Anusha, model and actress, is bringing up two girls she has adopted.

The Venkata in Sankata actress first adopted Sangeetha (12) seven years ago and Maheshwari (7) two years ago.


Happy family: Anusha with Maheshwari (left) and Sangeetha


"Both these girls are from very poor families in Suryapet, Hyderabad, my mom's native place. When I was young, I lost my father and I know how difficult it is to come up in life. Due to financial problems, I started working during my college days. So, I decided to adopt these children and want to give them a good education, see to it that they get a good job and marry nice guys."

Sangeetha is studying in the seventh standard at Christ School while Maheshwari is in the first standard at Johnson Public School, HSR Layout. "Both study very well and are among the top five in class. Sangeetha wants to become a doctor and Maheshwari a teacher," says Anusha.

Anusha loves teaching kids and helps them with their homework. While at it, she also teaches children in the neighbourhood.

"Both of them are very attached to me and my mother. They call me akka (sister) and my mother amma," she says.

Sangeetha's biological mother works as a domestic help and her father as a coolie while Maheshwari's mother is a housewife. Her father works in a field.

"I call their parents and make them talk to these kids. Their parents come during vacations and stay with them for about a week. During their stay, they go sight-seeing in Bangalore. These kids don't like to go home and are more comfortable with us. They love watching movies and I take them to PVR every once in a while. They also love dancing."

And the best part is that the two girls are "very attached to each other".

"I want to take care of them till the end," says Anusha.

No room for newcomers

 

While the Sandalwood industry has willingly accepted actresses from other states, local talent is ignored. Anusha, a Mumbai-based model and student of Adarsha Film Institute, says that luck plays an important factor. “No matter whom you meet, all it takes is luck. The right approach at the right time makes all the difference. Even if you get lucky, you have to struggle for four to five years to gain a foothold in the industy,” says Anusha.

Coorg and Ooty for long drives

Anusha, Model

I fly down to Hyderabad often during the weekends mainly to attend parties. There is a pub called Touch which hosts awesome parties there. I think the city really rocks when it comes to partying. Also, since I have my cousins there it’s never boring for me and I always have company to party with.

I also visit Mangalore often. I just visited the coastal town last month. We went driving down in search of Murudeshwar Temple. We were told that it’s very close to Mangalore but had one hell of an adventure finding the place which took us a lot more time than anticipated. But, once we found the place it was an absolute relief. We had fun boating and swimming.

Next weekend I plan to go down to Dharmasthala. Karnataka has some very beautiful temples and I love visiting them. I feel really good visiting temples as they give me peace of mind.

Since I love animals, Bandipur National Park is another place I have in mind for visiting whenever I get a long weekend off. I have heard that there are cottages in the middle of the forest where tourist can spend the night. I am really excited to spend some time there. I am indeed looking forward to the experience.

I love to go on long drives. Coorg and Ooty are my next long drive weekend destinations.

So, what's sexual harassment?

'Modelling is safe'
Anusha, model

I have been modelling for the past four years and feel this field is safe. I haven't come across such a situation. If someone pays a compliment, saying: 'You look hot', it is not sexual harassment. It depends on how individuals take it. If something happens with the consent of the other person, it is not sexual abuse either. But when a person is hurt mentally, it is sexual harassment.

Stalk review

It's a record of sorts for Sania Mirza two stalkers arrested in as many days. Both Mohammed Ashraf and Ajay Singh Yadav claim to be in love with Sania.

But then, isn't that an occupational hazard for celebrities?

We get Bangalore's glitterati to open up about their stalkers...

Anusha, model and actress: I had gone to Mumbai a few years back on a modelling assignment when I started getting calls and SMSes from this person who wouldn't even spare me at night. He would say: 'I want to talk to you and meet you. If you don't talk to me, you won't stay in Bombay any more'. I was scared as I was new to the place.

He troubled me for about a month-and-a-half. The interesting thing was he knew a bit about my background. A few days later, I came back to Bangalore and the first thing I did was to change my number.

Now for the past three days, I am getting calls and messages from a guy saying he wants to be my friend. He also wants to know how my dog and cat are, etc. He calls at 10 pm and sometimes even at midnight. I think I will have to change my number again.

Mind your language: Citizens endorse EC's dictat to politicians

Actress Anusha, who stars in the recent Kannada comedy Venkata in Sankata, said, "This is common in politics and the election authorities should let it go. But ideally. personal rivalry should not come into politcs and the fight should be fair and legal."

Fifty and counting

Sweet nothings: Anusha feeds co-star Meghana cake at the 50-days party of Venkata in Sankata

The cast and crew of the Kannada film, Venkata in Sankata, celebrated the completion of 50 days of the film.

Actor-director Ramesh Aravind and his heroines were all smiles at the press meet at PVR Cinemas on Saturday evening. While Anusha struck the perfect pose, Meghana rushed in rather late. Dentist turned music director Ricky Kej came just in time for the cake cutting. Naresh Mangalani, producer of the film, and Satish Kumar, general manager, PVR Cinemas, Bangalore, were spotted in deep conversation.

Zip, zap, zoom
Venkata was indeed in sankata yesterday. When our alert lensman discretely told actor-director Ramesh Aravind that his fly was open, the poor guy went red but recovered quickly. And sport that he is, he laughed uproariously at his gaffe, hoping that he wouldn't be hauled up for obscenity like Akshay Kumar!

All eyes on Anusha!!

It is a common feature to see many pretty girls coming from the modeling circuit to make it big in movies, but only a determined few tend to make it. Here seems to be a new girl who is keen on making it and she is none other than Anusha. She is making her debut with the film 'Venkata in Sankata' alongside the famous Ramesh Aravind and the pretty girl says that she is looking for a long term innings in Sandalwood. Given her slender looks and sex appeal, if Anusha can add some performance to it, then it looks possible. All the best Anusha!!!

Anusha has a dream debut in 'Venkata in Sankata'

 Model cum actress Anusha who became famous through the Lays chips ad that she did with Saif Ali Khan has made a debut in films through Venkata In Sankata.

She had won the Miss Beautiful Body in the Gladrags contest earlier. "I was over the moon when Ramesh sir told me that I would be part of his film," says Anusha who had worked with some big names in fashion business like Prasad Bidapa in Bangalore and Lubna Adams in Mumbai.

Did she not find too much of competition from the other two other glamorous girls? "Well, I enjoyed great time during the shooting of the film. Ramesh sir ensured that working environment remained very condusive and encouraging for a better work. I got along very well with both Meghana and Sharmila Mandre. Sharmila had already established herself as an actress in the Kannada film industry when I met her. I interacted with Meghana more than I did with Sharmila. She was my friend and also a critic. She gave me valuable suggestions. And during the promotional tour of the film, all of us got along very well," says Anusha.

First Look: Ramesh Arvind and his three beauties

The three beauties sharing screen space with Ramesh Arvind in his new Kannada film, Venkata In Sankata are Sharmila Mandre, Meghana and Anusha.

While Sharmila has already acted inSajini, Anusha is a well known model in Bangalore. Meghna has flown in from the US to act in the film

Venkata In Sankata is the story of a police constable who gets into trouble on account of these three girls. How his aspiration to become a Police Commissioner gets threatened by the girls is the main element of the story.

Anusha was "over the moon when she was told she would be part of the film. So did she find tough competition between the three glamorous girls?

"I got along very well with both Meghana and Sharmila Mandre though I interacted with Meghana more. She became my friend as well as critic," says Anusha.

Material Girl

Tough and ambitious is how Anusha, who shares the screen with Meghana and Sharmila Mandre in Venkata in Sankata, describes herself

While her director held forth on the film, Venkata in Sankata, she listened in rapt attention. When her colleagues gave sound bytes, she nodded in approval. Anusha, who shares the screen with Ramesh Aravind, Meghana and Sharmila Mandre in Venkata in Sankata, says she surprised herself by her silence during the team's interaction with MiD DAY.

"I was a noisy and talkative kid in school. I would invariably be punished for talking in class. I would be found kneeling outside the classroom for disturbing everyone with my chatter. My mom would ask me if there was some way I could be quiet for at least 10 minutes. You just can't describe me as quiet," she said.

We guess that's reason enough to put her on the hot seat and fire questions at her.

You're a model who forayed into films. Tell us more.I was extraordinarily tall as a child. When friends asked me about my ambition, I would say I want to be a model. I decided to give modelling a shot because I love to travel and be in the spotlight. Films attracted me for the same reason. I have always wanted to earn name and fame. With modelling, you don't carry your work home. Films are more challenging and competitive. To be honest, I enjoy both modelling and acting. Believe it or not, I have a management degree in Human Resources, but I doubt I would have made a good HR manager!

We've seen you on the ramp and in TV commercials. Which campaign has been your most memorable one?
It has to be the Lays chips ad that I did with Saif Ali Khan. When I won the Miss Beautiful Body in the Gladrags contest I was over the moon. I have worked with big names in the industry like Prasad Bidapa in Bangalore and Lubna Adams in Mumbai.

How would you describe your fashion sense? Do you think Bangalore is a fashion-conscious city?
Fashion, to me, is about clothes that I feel comfortable wearing. A smart pair of denims or a designer saree could make me feel very fashionable. It's good that Bangalore as a city is becoming fitness conscious city. 

Venkata In Sankata has three heroines. Did you end up being best pals with either Meghana or Sharmila? Did they help you with your scenes?
We got along very well. I interacted with Meghana more than I did with Sharmila. After every shot I used to ask her if I was doing okay. We've got to know each other better only over the last few days as we've been travelling together to promote the film. We enjoy each other's company. When I met Sharmila, she was already an established heroine but she's very down to earth.

Is it necessary for a newcomer to have a mentor? Who are the greatest influences in your life - personally and professionally?
You can survive without a mentor, but you cannot survive without dedication, hard work, blessings and good luck. Life has been the best teacher I could ask for. I lost my dad when I was very young. My mother used to work really hard. I decided to pitch in and began working when I was 15 years old. I'm a tough, independent girl.

Movie-time with Anusha

The actress shares her favourite films with HiT LiST
Taj Mahal (Kannada): It's an amazing love story and I'm a hopeless romantic.
Welcome (Hindi): It's such a laugh riot that it can chase away your blues in an instant.
Aapthamitra (Kannada): Amazing acting by Soundarya.
Gejje Puje (Kannada): What a wonderful story and what superb acting by Kalpana.
Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na (Hindi): A cute love story that shows that one should be mature to fall in love.

This Venkata loves sankata

Actor-director Ramesh Aravind spends an afternoon at the MiD DAY office and shares stories and secrets over strong coffee. His film, Venkata in Sankata, a comedy on the travails of a cop, releases on February 13.


"There are two golden rules in the film industry. Never fight with your producer and never fall in love with your co-star," quips popular actor-director Ramesh Aravind, sipping on coffee at the MiD DAY office at 4.30 pm on Sunday.

Flanked by his young and beautiful heroines, Anusha, Meghana and Sharmila Mandre, and matching wits with a room full of scribes, the star is relaxed as he offers his take on issues ranging from the success of Slumdog Millionaire to the making of Venkata in Sankata.

The conversation is peppered with witty repartee and hearty guffaws. It's easy to understand why the down-to-earth actor is popular with his colleagues and fans.