“ Pandemic has made things easier for the entertainment industry . It is good that the hype created by the show business took a backseat and OTT opened ways for authentic art"___ Meghna Patel, actor, model, dancer,producer, writer, sportsperson and a social entrepreneur.
There is a turnabout in every success story because while plodding through the hardships and failures , people often intersect the routes of possibilities. Meghna Patel, a Gujrati girl, born to typical Gujrati parents too had to face tough challenges , imposed by the society and her family .
She had an acute aspiration for becoming an actress since her early childhood days , although she was very well aware of the bitter fact that like a typical Gujrati family, that thrives upon farming or business , her family too could never relate themselves to an acting career . Being a passionate dancer, singer and writer, Meghna sensed that her father, in person, had no objection for either of these , he was but adamant at his opinion about making Bollywood as her career.
Initial struggle
As a child, Meghna was different. She had great potential to showcase her talents. An outgoing girl, who could dance, sing, act and could also keep others around her motivated for fitness by her aerobic sessions , felt an intense pull towards her dreams of getting into the entertainment industry . Things weren't easy . Just like any other middle class family, her family fixed high values to education and business but took acting as the last resource.
The Turnabout
Later Meghna's mother became the catalyst to the change, although she knew that her decisions might be disapproved at home, she took some baby steps ,paving her way to stage shows . Dancing was not opposed by Meghna's father but acting surely was. He allowed Meghna to go places for her performances on a condition that her mother would accompany her to all such tours. This was the beginning of a new Era, wherein she came across many opportunities for Bollywood.
Precious Projects
Welcome, 2007 (debut film)
Aishwarya, 2009 , she played the lead actress
Dekha Ye hai Mumbai, 2010
Faraar, 2011, she played the lead actress
Hello Darling, 2011 , she had a supporting role with Javed Jaffery.
Patel played the lead role, Nagin Jwala, in TV serial Kahani Chandrakanta Ki in 2011 to 2012 on Sahara One television channel.
She has performed as a dancer in more than 1000 shows in India and abroad.
The Conversation
Here’s an excerpt from the interview
Q. Could you let us know about your first break in the film industry ?
Certainly, see I come from a middle class Gujrati family. Born and brought up in Vadodra, Gujrat, I received my school education from Vidya Vikas, Gujrat and later graduated in Commerce from M.S University, Vadodra . When I grew up with a dream to be an actress, my father strongly opposed the idea . I was good at dancing and loved staying fit. Aerobics ran in my veins and with a noble idea to train others in Dancing and Aerobics, I started with my own institute for the same. Sometime later, my mother took things in her hands, although she too was speculative about my well being in Bollywood . She was afraid of the consequences upon the family, yet she became my pillar of strength , giving way to my Dancing career. Dad had no objection in it and we traveled to places for my Dance stage shows . In those days, we didn’t have direct flight from Vadodra to various corners of the country . Henceforth, we traveled to Mumbai to board flights. In this course of events , my mother came across people who encouraged her to send me to Bollywood for auditions as they felt that I had a suitable personality for the profession. Eventually by then she realized that I was performing good on the stage , so it could be very much probable that I would be great in cinema too . My father too gained some confidence and he strongly believed that if one knows the point of drawing a demarcation line between YES and NO to a project then there was no question of worry. I got my first break in 2007 in Welcome , where I shared the screen with Paresh Rawal . It was a cameo role.
Q. You have worked in many regional language films, mostly in Telugu, Malayalam, Bhojpuri and even Gujrari. Please let us know more about it.
Sure, so if we take Bollywood first, I have worked in Farar, Kartavya and Aishwarya. Raja Thakur, Ghar Aaja Pardesi, Hamaar Gaon Hamaar Des, are some of the popular Bhojpuri films I have worked in. Solar swapnam is one of the most popular South Indian films , I have done.
Q . Do you find a difference between the work culture in South Indian film industry and Bollywood?
Yes, there is a wide difference . In South Indian work culture there is huge sense of amicability in everyone on the sets . There they don’t believe in differential treatment or groupism. Everyone is treated with a lot of warmth and the work environment is very healthy .
Q. You are a writer too . What kind of writing you are into ?
Well, I love to write for a cause or purpose . I write lyrics for my albums . Recently Baby Angel, which is a peppy number was released on B4U music channel . The lyrics are mine and I play the main lead in the album. Similarly Rab Tu is also another music album of mine that has my lyrics.
Q. You are an Aerobics professional, what is your take on fitness
I have felt that Indian cinema, specially Bollywood has given an altogether different shape to fitness. If you are a little plump, you don’t get roles. What I feel is that body shapes and sizes have no relationship with fitness. Fitness means an overall feeling of happiness and wellness. Shapes and sizes are personal choices , some women fail to be what they aspire to, due to some illness . Do not be rude or insensitive to anyone's incapacity or illness . I felt this back then when I was training people in my institute through my aerobic sessions , just before coming to cinema.
Q. With your NGO, you stepped into social entrepreneurship. What motivated you for this.
This is infused in my senses as I grew up with these values. My parents never allowed anyone who visited us to leave empty handed. Humanity is a basic instrument to help people around you and it must come organically. Once I started earning, I began contributing to charitable trusts but I had no idea where the money was going . I then started my own NGO and 20 percent of my earnings go there . My brother and I along with our family members often visit the slums in Mumbai and distribute things of basic necessities to people.
Q. What are your upcoming projects ?
A couple of films I have signed, out of which one is by my favourite Director, Jay Prakash, who directed Monisha Koirala's Market.
Apart from it some movies are stuck due to pandemic , hoping that they would soon be released for screening .
Q. What message would you like to convey to those who want to pursue acting career .
There is risk on every step. You have to be very careful and family guidance is extremely important . It works as a shield in the beginning. Never compromise with the innate voice of your soul.
Q What is our mantra in life.
Think about others too and don’t be selfish. There are millions who are in miserable state and tiny gestures of kindness can make the world a better place to live.
Meghna Patel joined National Congress Party . Earlier she was associated with BJP. She has received awards for her regional films, including the Aap Ki Awaz Award, Nehru Award, Aiwaa Award, Gauravvanta Gujarati Award, Global Cinema Award, and the Roshan Sitare Bollywood Award.
She believes in spirituality and stays keen to share her goodwill with the world.
This is our Podcast , featuring her .
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