Lock

Tena Desae on buzzine.com

FILM INTERVIEW: TENA DESAE

Debutant Actress Dreams Up Bollywood, Stars in ‘Yeh Faasley’

By: Simran Mody
March 9, 2011

Fresh out of the Elite Model Management casting agency and Hollywood-Bollywood crossover extraordinaire is Tena Desae, who not only realized her dream to star in a Hindi film but also was fortunate to work alongside Slumdog Millionaire star Dev Patel. Starring in last week’s Bollywood release of Yogesh Mittal’s Yeh Faasley and working with Mr. Patel in John Madden’s The Best Exotic Marigold, Ms. Desae feels her day has finally come.

 
“Acting is what I always wanted to do, but it took me a long time to arrive at this decision of taking acting as a career,” Ms. Desae told the press. “I used to watch a lot of films and drama series, and eventually realized that nothing moves me more than a film, and I thought acting is probably what I should do.”
 
While she always wanted to act, it took her a moment to actually get into the groove, which is rather difficult to do when one is balancing Hollywood and Bollywood in addition to dabbling in films and commercials.
 
Tena Desae“Shooting a film itself was a new experience for me, so it’s difficult to say which was more fun or tasking for me,” Ms. Desae humbly informed the press.
 
Still, Ms. Desae appears to have a firm grip on where she wants to take her career.
 
“You choose to do certain kind of films that bring out your potential as an actor. I want to do some candyfloss films at some point, but I want to do some valid commercial, meaningful films. Also, I don’t think I will plan my career based on the budget of the film,” the young actress told the media when speaking of Yeh Faasley, in which she played a leading role. “It will always be one of my biggest films ever because it’s completely my film. I am the protagonist. This is a type of film that I will get probably once or twice in my entire life," she added.
 
Moving into cinema after doing commercial advertorials for the likes of Fair & Lovely, Titan Raga, iPill, and Hero Honda, Ms. Desae is thrilled to be living out her dream, and hopes to make more of her Bollywood experience.
 
“Bollywood had always been my dream. I first got inspired to become an actress at the age of about 13, when I realized the impact that films had on me. That’s when I made up my mind to get into Bollywood,” she candidly told the press. “With Yeh Faasley, my casting agency, Elite Model Management, got in touch with me and told me that Mr. Yogesh Mittal liked my pictures and would love to audition me. He gave me a very difficult part to act for the audition, but my performance was so convincing that he was left with no choice but to select me.”
 
Playing the daughter of Anupam Kher’s character in the film, Ms. Desae gave some insight about her role and how she plays off of one of Bollywood’s most legendary names.
 
“The movie sees me playing Anupam Kher’s daughter who is very supportive of her father, but how the relationship gets affected when she finds out about several truths that were hidden from her by her father,” she stated. “The role was a very challenging one, but, thanks to Mr. Kher’s help and guidance, I got into the skin of the character with great ease.”
 
Not only is Ms. Desae taking cues from Mr. Kher, but she seems to be getting an in with the likes of Mr. Patel, Lady Judi Dench, and Bill Nighy as well, all of whom star alongside the Indian actress in The Best Exotic Marigold.
 
Also slated to star in the upcoming Indian comedy Sharafat Gayi Tel Lene, Ms. Desae’s career seems to be off to a great start. Be sure to watch for her in central roles in Yeh Faasley and The Best Exotic Marigold.