The actress with a future
SHYAMHARI CHAKRA
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The actress with many hats is choosy.
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Monalisa.
Monalisa Kanungo wears many hats: Model, anchor and actor. Just one movie old, she is considered the faces of future in Oriya film industry. Monalisa chats about her career and her future in films.
How was the beginning?
I was not interested in acting. Rather, I dreamt about having an excellent academic record and land a decent job. It was my mother who was instrumental in pushing me into this profession. And I don’t doubt her decision.
My mother is a beautician and she sent me to participate in Miss Swosti princess contest in Bhubaneswar in 1997 and I won the title. Then I got an offer from Doordarshan’s musical programme Mahake Rajanigandha that also clicke
d paving my way to the world of albums. My album Sei Jhiati was a big hit.
Didn’t advertisements help you make an early debut on the small screen?
True. But let me tell you that acting was a totally different experience for me than dancing for albums. Even after facing the camera for more than two dozens albums, I was a bit nervous when I made my debut on the small screen. I realised then that acting demands a lot more than modelling. With the help of my directors and acting upon my intuition I could get under the skin of the characters that I played. Although I have essayed several characters in popular TV serials, my role in San
kha Sindura remains closest to my heart.
We are yet to see you in films. Any constraints?
Before I acted on television, there were a few film offers that I had to decline, as I did not want to disturb my studies. And when I started acting in small screen, it was not possible for me to move out of Bhubaneswar because my assignment with television serials demanded my presence in the city. Of course I acted in the just released Jai Jagannath that has been dubbed in 15 languages. But I am not keen about a career in cinema unless I get the characters that I dream of.
What is your choice of characters?
I do not believe in essaying central roles. For me strength of the character matters more than its length in the film. After all, the audience remembers us for the quality of acting and never the quantity. I am also quite choosy about my image and personality and I strongly believe that the choice of characters should confirm to my taste and our tradition. I don’t think today’s film industry would offer me this kind of freedom of choice.
How do you foresee the future of Oriya entertainment industry as a new generation actress?
It’s bright. Television has brought in lot of scope for the scores of aspiring artistes. However, it has been more challenging than ever before. So what matters at the end of the day is one’s talent and professionalism.
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