Child actor from city to play Aamir’s daughter in ‘Dangal’

Neha Saini

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 27

For six-year-old Ananya, facing the camera is something she thoroughly enjoys.

After being complemented as a ‘one take actor’ by Nitesh Tiwari, director of Aamir Khan-starrer ‘Dangal’, Ananya, who plays the youngest daughter of the character played by Aamir in the film, is on cloud nine.

“He was happy that I never gave many retakes and remembered all my dialogues,” shares the chirpy child actor, who just returned to the city after the 28-day shooting schedule in Ludhiana.

Ananya even managed to give a lesson or two to Bollywood’s ‘Mr Perfectionist’ Aamir Khan while at it. “During a scene, Aamir kept on forgetting his dialogues while I had to just lie asleep on his lap. So, after several retakes, I told him that he needs to attend the same classes as mine for a sharp memory,” Ananya shared another anecdote.

Accompanied by her mother Sweety, who is a teacher at Springdales Senior Secondary School in Amritsar, Ananya was shortlisted from 150 child actors from Punjab to bag the role in the highly anticipated movie. Sharing screen space with Aamir and Sakshi Tanwar in Dangal, Ananya was the youngest and obviously most pampered actor on the sets.

“I used to get chocolates from Aamir sir and went shopping with Sakshi ma’am. She also introduced her to her family,” she says.

Her mother Sweety too was surprised to find her daughter so comfortable in front of the camera.

“She was facing the camera for the very first time and was so confident while doing her scenes. Even during night schedules, she was the most energetic person on the sets, hopping around while repeating her lines,’ says Sweety.

The talented Ananya is a complete package with singing, dancing and acting as her favourite activities.

“She joined Remo D Souza’s dance academy in Delhi at the age of three and later when we moved to Amritsar, she continued with her dancing and singing. She also won the title of ‘Little Champ’ at the talent hunt competition in Amritsar and recently got selected as the only entry for reality show ‘India’s Best Dramebaaz’, by enacting Kareena Kapoor’s train scene from Jab We Met,” said the proud mother.

Her mentor Pankaj Vig also says that Ananya was a spontaneous and confident performer. “She is like family to me and excels in all genres of dance at such a young age.”

Balancing her talent and her education comfortable, Sweety homeschools Ananya when she is busy shooting or competing in talent shows.

“We have a good team as mother-daughter and she is the easiest child to handle. So far, we are doing great,” says Sweety.

As for Ananya, she is waiting for the film to release and give autographs to her friends.