Exclusive: I have been getting a few film offers, says Sangeeta Bijlani
A calm and peaceful Sangeeta Bijlani greets you, one who has embarked on a self-realisation path that has blossomed into a way of life thanks to Kriya Yoga. That is also what has brought her to Bengaluru from May 26 to 28. She will be in the city reconnecting with an old and dear friend Mimi Partha Sarathy to flag off a 5K Walkathon, that begins at Malleswaram this morning, to raise funds for the students of Ashwini Charitable Trust and to sponsor two students for the a yoga teacher training course.
“Mimi is a dear friend, in fact you can call us soul sisters. She told me she was doing this event, and of course, I jumped right into it, as it’s for a good cause of sponsoring teacher's training. More so, I haven’t seen her in years,” says Sangeeta, who herself has been practicing yoga for over 15 years and walks the talk, looking radiant, fit and serene thanks to the practice of meditation for three hours a day or “may be even more”, she says sheepishly.
“The journey is magical, transforming, healing. About the mind, body and spirit, about aligning oneself internally, so that everything just flows. Many years ago, I was introduced to it (yoga) by my father who is also my guru. The Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram has held on to this tradition. With gurus like Lahiri Mahashay, Yogananda, BKS Iyengar, it's authenticity is unquestionable,” says Sangeeta Bijlani, about both her and Mimi’s tryst with yoga.
Her friend, Mimi, herself a staunch believer in this way of life, “This course conducted by Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram, which is one of the world's most renowned yoga schools would enable the sponsored students to be one of the best Yoga teachers around.” Sangeetha also has fond memories of Bengaluru, “Oh my god, there are many wonderful memories. I remember coming on assignments during my modelling days. I would pick up a Kanjeevaram silk saree for my mom, which she eventually passed on to me. I still love to wear them on special occasions. I used to come with my parents and stay at my uncle’s lovely home at Golf Links. Mom and me loved going to Commercial Street, to eat and shop. She especially loved buying her entire year's stock of agarbattis, after which she would take me to my favourite store — Warehouse. Our dinners were mostly at this place which served amazing and massive mouthwatering Paper Dosas that occupied most of the table, and we’d dig in. Another fond memory is when I was shooting for the film Police Dada with Vishnu Vardhanji, a bi-lingual in Kannada and Hindi. It was such a pleasure to work with him."
Many might not know that Sangeeta also blogs, with Bijli Strikes, every fortnight on wellness, body and mind. “Yes, I am still blogging. Though, this month, I have only written one blog as my father was unwell, but he is fine now. I write on healthy living, how meditation helps attune oneself. The best part is sharing whatever I have learnt from my father and guru, about how to go through life, to be happy intrinsically. It’s about healing oneself instead of external and invasive ways. This is internal healing, about breathing and it is needed today, where stress level are so high, It's also anti-aging,” says the actress who certainly looks the part, at 52 years.. On her friendship with Salman Khan, she prefers not to talk about it, focusing more in the now of wellness.
The question about her comeback into films is met with deeper understanding of what Sangeetha has imbibed over the years, “Honestly, I have been getting a few offers and am not closed to it but it should appeal to me, and my sensibilities, I have read many scripts and not really liked anything. I have no qualms if something appeals,” she quips.
