The gorgeous actress from the Valley talks about her foray into Sandalwood, life as a movie star and the future ahead
Aqsa Bhatt
Born and brought up in a remote village in Anantnag, Kashmir, she comes from an orthodox family. Living in Bengaluru was itself a big dream for Aqsa Bhatt. This greenish-blue eyed girl Kashmir ki kali took up modelling to earn some pocket money while pursuing her four-year doctorate course in speech pathology and audiology. Soon, the hobby became her part-time profession as she modelled for more than 100 projects. That is when director Ratnaja of Nenapirali fame spotted her while searching for a fresh face for his comeback venture Preethiyelli Sahaja. Aqsa reveals how she ended up becoming an actress despite rejecting the offer straightway.
“I came to Bengaluru to pursue higher studies. Though girls from orthodox families in Kashmir are rarely sent far for studies, my parents agreed as my elder brother was doing his engineering here. Frankly, till then I only wore traditional outfits and never wore jeans. I had to convince my parents to allow me to model. I was back in Kashmir when Ratnaja sir called me offering me the film but I straightway cut the call. It was only when he came in search of me in Kashmir, and not only convinced me but also my parents, then. I agreed,” says Aqsa.
Brought up in the valley, Aqsa recollects that she faced difficult times during her childhood days. “During my birth, there was lot of tension in the valley. I was brought in the military camp for sometime. My parents faced a lot of difficulties. I had no idea that cinema theatres and food joints existed outside Kashmir. There was just one channel, and I remember how we use to wait for Sunday evenings to watch the movie.”
After convincing her parents, she started shooting for the Sandalwood venture and opportunity knocked her yet again while she was shooting in Kerala when she was again spotted by a talented director following which she signed her first Mollywood project which is releasing during Onam season.
“While shooting in Kerala, I got the offer for the film Life of Josutty. Its an — signed another Malayalam movie, in which I play a deaf and dumb character. In Game, a bilingual directed by AMR Ramesh featuring Manisha Koirala and others, I play a young teenager,” she adds.
She even plans to start her own clinic in her village. “I pursued my doctorate studies for this reason. There are no specialised hospitals there. I will always be to serve my people,” she explains.
Before she wraps up she reveals that her mother who would witness several film stars shooting in Kashmir now feels proud of her. “My mother is now more happy than me. She accompanies me everywhere. My father who was initially not to enthusaistic, recently told me over coffee, that he was aware of the films I was doing and advised me to do good roles, and it was a proud moment for me,” she adds.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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