Deccan Herald - Hannsikaa after the Surroor

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Hannsikaa after the Surroor

Though I am a switch on-switch off actor, I want to reach a stage where I can get roles and perform at the level of a Rani Mukherjee in Black and a Shah Rukh Khan in Chak De India, Hannsikaa Motwani tells Rajiv Vijayakar

The Surroor (intoxication) of her hit debut Aap Kaa Surroor - The Moviee is over. Hannsikaa (please note the spelling) is moving on. The child artiste of so many ad campaigns, soaps like Kyonki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Des Mein Nikla Hoga Chand, Hum 2 Hain Na and the blockbuster Koi…Mil Gaya, the rape victim in Jaago and the photosensitive teenager in Hum Kaun Hai has evolved into a petite leading lady who stood her ground in the Himeshathon and also co-starred with two Southern superstars.

Hannsikaa’s quite different from the breed as a candid chat reveals. For starters, she has done a T-Series video after achieving stardom.

Excerpts from an interview:

After a successful lead debut, why have you done a music video, normally the field of models and struggling starlets?

There were two reasons why I did it - one, that it was produced by T-Series, and two, that in a way, it was a female set-up. Though the album Phir Bewafaai, which is a huge hit, is sung by Agam Kumar Nigam, Sonu’s father, the video was directed by Bhushan Kumar’s wife Divya and this song Ishq na karna has Tulsi Kumar, Bhushan’s sister as Agam’s co-singer. I am also partial to soft, melodious songs and I also loved the concept of the video, about a manipulated photograph causing misunderstandings between lovers.

This has been a boom year for you, with the Telugu hit Desamudru- your actual debut as a heroine.
Yes, the film is still running after crossing the 175-day mark - it was released on January 12. Allu Arjun is my hero and Puri Jagannath, my director, is a superstar himself.

Any other South Indian conquests?

I have completed Bindaas, a Kannada film with Punit Rajkumar. My director Rajinder Babu is a mega-star too. But I will be doing very select South Indian films.

Why the spelling change?

HR (That’s the way Hannsikaa refers to Himesh Reshammiya) and my mom suggested that it was a better spelling in terms of numerology. I know that they wish me the best.

But your work has worked too along with your talent.

How religious are you?

I try to read a paath from the Granth Sahib every day. I have a lot of faith in Ganesh and Guru Nanak. I also go to the gurudwara and temples sometimes.

You are said to be quite a social worker for a teenager.

I am a happy person, so I like to see others happy too. My mom and some others have been involved in a school for street children that began with two children and now there are over 70. Some of them come over and we spend time together. I also visit a neighbourhood old-age home and spend time with the inmates. They have so many things to talk about and so much pain that they cannot share even with each other, but they confide in me.

What’s the secret of your happiness?

I do not believe in keeping stress. I know that my God will always be with me. I enjoy life and everything I do. Stress spoils everything - including your health.

My mom is a skin specialist and she too says that a healthy mind is the secret of a good complexion and fitness. In my school too, there are classes on this.

You must be missing school for your film shootings.

I am lucky to be in Podar International School in the IB Section that looks at the overall development of a child. My principal is very cooperative. I am now doing my ‘A’ levels and we have four subjects whose syllabus is divided over two years. So with my one-film-at-a-time schedule I can manage very well.

If I am here, I wouldn’t dream of missing even a day of school - the subjects and the teaching are so much fun - they really make us enjoy school.

What are your academic plans? And arising from that, is acting going to be for life?

I want to complete my graduation in Mass Media, for that is related to my profession too. As for acting, I hope that I can remain an actor all my life. Though I am a switch on-switch off actor, I want to reach a stage where I can get roles and perform at the level of a Rani Mukherjee in Black and a Shah Rukh Khan in Chak De India.

What about your next Hindi film?

I have signed a film with a very big banner, but I do not want to say anything about it. Maybe I am superstitious, but let them announce it first!
Yes (Smiles). I am thankful to all my fans, to mom and HR, and to my God.

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