Jhataleka Malhotra, the first runner-up of Femina Miss India 2014 recently made her Bollywood debut with the film Tuesdays and Fridays, produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and T-Series. For the young actress, it was a dream come true and she believes that it happened because her mother always told her a famous quote by Walt Disney that she abided by throughout her life, which says, ‘If you can dream it, you can do it.’ While the promising debutant has impressed all with her acting prowess and is enjoying all the appreciation, TMM asks her the experience of working under the perfectionist and how the beauty pageant changed her life.
How and when did your love for beauty pageant happen?
I think I grew up in an environment where beauty pageants were quite relevant. My grandmother had been a beauty queen herself at some point. My mother always wanted her daughter to be part of a beauty pageant. So there definitely was that influence. However, I think for me, I was very inspired by Priyanka Chopra and her journey from being Miss India to Miss World and then of course her journey as an actress. I always knew that I wanted to take part in a beauty pageant and Miss India is the queen of them all. Not in my wildest dreams did I fathom that not only would I get selected but also win! My mother always told me a famous quote by Walt Disney, ‘If you can dream it, you can do it.’ I abided by this and the rest is history.
It is often said that beauty pageants change your life. What changes did Femina Miss India bring in your life?
Well for me, I wouldn’t call it a change. It was more like me stepping into adulthood and being independent. I was only 18 and it was only after Miss India that I stepped out into the world of pursuing my dreams and aspirations for the very first time all by myself. I felt like suddenly I was not my parent’s little girl but an independent woman navigating her way through it all.
You recently made your debut in Bollywood with Tuesdays and Fridays. Was acting always on the card?
It is the only thing that has ever been on my mind and with a passion. I’ve never had a plan B. Pageants and everything came later. Acting came first and still continues to be. I have lived to act and this is all surreal and exciting to me. I consider myself fortunate and blessed to not only have won the pageant but also to be able to pursue my passion and make that my career, it truly is a gift that I am grateful for.
Tell us about the first-day experience of shooting for the film.
It was surreal. I was nervous and I didn’t know what to expect. But I remember how happy I felt being on set and in front of the camera. I share a special relationship with the camera. I was not conscious at all and I feel like the camera was an old friend that I am reuniting with or that I have always known. I guess I had waited for the first day of the shoot for so long, that when it finally happened, I had to pinch myself to believe it was all real.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali is a perfectionist. How was the experience of working under his production house?
The experience was huge. Obviously, it’s a massive opportunity for a newcomer to have a debut with Bhansali production. To have had the opportunity to interact and spend time with sir before the shoot was very helpful. He is a genius on so many levels and truly a master of film-making that simply being in his presence was a blessing, as one can learn so much by just observation.
If given a chance to work with a megastar, with whom you would like to work and why?
I want to work with everyone!!! I mean as an actor, just to be able to share screen space with experienced actors is a huge learning and I am definitely looking forward to that. I do not look at the term star and megastar, for me actors are actors and counting the names of actors on my wish list will take pages!
What are your interest areas, apart from modeling and acting?
I love cooking, baking and reading. I have been doing a lot of that during the lockdown. I have taken this time as an opportunity to learn, to read, attempt new recipes, as pursuing my hobbies is what keeps me positive as well.
What are your future plans?
I am taking it as it comes. One day at a time. First 2020 and now 2021 has taught me that nothing really ever goes as planned. So I am making a conscious attempt to let go and not plan too much. I will continue to go with the flow and see where it leads me!
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