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Daring to dream big
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They may not become the next Ronit Roy of the small screen, but youngsters in the city were game for a screen test for Zee TV's new serial.
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EKTAA KAPOOR dared from a glossy handout, Aa dekhen zara kkisme kitna hai dum, a line borrowed from a famous Hindi film song. And, a challenge it was. One that around 50 to 60 young men and a lone girl in the city took on. The dum test was part of a series of nationwide screen tests that Rai University will organise for Ekta Kapoor's new serial, `Kitni Mast Hai Zindagi', for MTV. The screen test in Thiruvananthapuram was organised at the YMCA on July 4.
Aspiring TV stars turned out for the screen test in their hip best, be it Salman Khan wannabes in transparent shirts, or Aamir Khan's fans sporting the star's `Dil Chahta Hai' look, Shahrukh fans in the same hairstyle as their hero, and the John Abraham look-alikes flaunting their long hair.
As part of the screen test, the participants were given Hindi dialogues to memorise and deliver in front of the camera. The tapes would be sent to Mumbai for the makers of the serial to shortlist the future stars of the small screen. This was the first of a series of rounds to shortlist the cast for `Kitni Mast Hai Zindagi'.
Though the response to the screen test here did not come up to the expectations of the organisers, they are going ahead with screen tests at Kochi and Kottayam, which was referred to by a screening committee member as the `Pune' of Kerala owing to the presence of a sizable student community.
That there were no guarantees about the result, that Hindi was not exactly one of their strengths did not deter any of the participants. For, they were here with the `can do it' spirit. They did not mind the fact that their `performances' were the butt of jokes of other contestants. "It is all part of the game. What is there to feel so bad about? It is a language that most of us in Kerala don't use and a different accent is but natural. People will laugh at you, and you will laugh at others. But imagine, what if I get a break? My life is made," says a participant.
The aspirants represented a cross-section of the 18 to 28 age group. Some were college students, others professionals who quit their jobs to pursue "a dream, a passion". Says Vinod Nair, an aspiring actor, "I am a mechanical engineer. I worked in Mumbai for a few years and then quit the job. Life is too fast there. I could not keep pace with it nor did I like it there. I always wanted to act and this screen test will be a good break. That is, if I make it." Vinod has auditioned for a few Malayalam movies. "The screen test provides a platform for those of us who dream of becoming actors. At worst, I will have the experience of this screen test," he says.
The lone girl at the screen test was Divya Kalyan, a second-year undergraduate of All Saints College. "I am just not interested in appearing for this screen test. But my mother wants me to have a try, and so, here I am. I have absolutely no illusions about my being selected. But this experience will give me a feel of what a screen test is like," says a nervous Divya, who is accompanied by her anxious parents. Her mother thinks the serial would be a good break for Divya, though she is not comfortable with the idea of sending her daughter to big, bad Mumbai. Divya has modelled for Jeevan TV and has danced for stage shows.
If Vinod and Divya have had some exposure to television/cinema, there are others like Senthil Shankar, an MSc Biotechnology student, who are absolute freshers. "I have enrolled for my post-graduation, but I want to give this (acting) a shot. I will not abandon my studies halfway through for acting, but I want to pursue it as a hobby," says Senthil. He is very confident of making it to `Kitni Mast Hai Zindagi'. "Where is the doubt? I am sure to make it." What about Hindi? "No worries!" he says.
Tourist Manan Khatri was holidaying in Kerala when he heard about the audition and decided to give it a shot. Did he decide to appear for the screen test from here because he had an advantage where Hindi was concerned? "Not at all. I was here when the screen tests were announced. Moreover, I cannot get back to Delhi in time for the screen test there. I am sure I will make it. I really want to act and I know this will be a good break," declares Manan confidently. If not, there is his father's laser printing business to fall back upon.
Most of the participants may not make it to the final round of audition at Mumbai but they have responded to the challenge with gusto. So, watch out Ektaa Kapoor!
SHILPA NAIR
Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Tiruchirapalli
Thiruvananthapuram
Vijayawada
Visakhapatnam
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