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| THE PORTRAIT OF A STAR MAKER |
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What have Jackie Shroff, Sunny Deol, Dimple Kapadia, Naghma, NagarjunA, Chandra Chud Singh, Aryan Vaid, Akshay Kumar & Kangana have in common? They were all trained by Asha Chandra the Star-Maker, a Pioneer of Acting School in India, an Institution in her own right.
Interestingly, once she herself aspired to become a film star. Unfortunately, her father, like many other people of the old |
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school, did not take a very charitable view of the acting profession. She however said adieu to the Ferguson College and joined the Film Institute in Pune. Her father was furious. “He even caned me for that,” “She remembers. “But I told him, “Look this is my life and I’ll do what I wish”. Later on her father understood that it is better to let her select her own profession rather than force any profession on her. Asha shall always be grateful to him for that. |
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The year she entered Mumbai her parents expired. The young girl was alone in the tinsel town friendless and penniless. But this damsel was never daunted by distress. She struggled hard.
After one year of toil and trepidation, she got an unusual break : to teach acting to Rishi and Dimple for ‘Bobby’ People |
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wondered 'How could one teach acting’, says Asha. I myself wondered but carried on.’ |
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Her efforts paid dividends. ‘Bobby’ was phenomenally successful, a rage. With the movie, her fortunes also rose. And she continued teaching acting.
In order to maintain her reputation, she adopted a practical approach and pragmatic methods. "Ours is a result-oriented TRAINING CENTER", She says. “I teach the subjects taught in Pune but avoid what I feel is unnecessary. For instance, they also tell about the Russian method of acting and other high-sounding things. Of these, we have no use in India-at least, not in Mumbai. So, we don’t waste time in such things."
Instead, she emphasizes upon training young people about the actual working conditions on the sets of a movie. "You should be ready to adjust to a lot of change. Your approach should be very flexible". This is the constant refrain of Asha Chandra.
In 1983, she opened her own institute.
“MINISTERS, TOP BUREAUCRATS BUSINESSMEN, INDUSTRIALISTS ACTORS/PRODUCERS & DIRECTORS CALLED ME UP TO TRAIN THEIR CHILDREN FOR BOLLYWOOD,” She says. Needless to say, her venture was successful, she made a niche for herself. Prominent producers and directors sought her help. Yes, she was successful. She has everything-affluence as well as the goodwill of all the top producers, directors & actors of the Indian Film Industry. |
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