Popular TV actor Anita Hassanandani recently shared her unforgettable experience working alongside Aishwarya Rai on the sets of her debut film, Taal, admitting she was completely awestruck by the superstar’s beauty and presence.
The Start of a Journey: Taal Debut
Anita Hassanandani made her first big splash in Bollywood with Subhash Ghai’s iconic 1999 film, Taal. In this musical drama, she took on a small yet memorable role as the best friend of Aishwarya Rai’s character, Mansi.
Recalling her initial days on the set, Anita confessed to feeling a mix of nerves and wonder. “It was a small role and I wondered how it would happen,” she shared during an episode of SCREEN’s Dear Me.
It was director Subhash Ghai himself who provided the much-needed encouragement. He saw her potential, telling her, “You are very pretty, you will do good, I will make you act.” This powerful motivation helped Anita follow instructions and embark on her cinematic journey.
Aishwarya Rai: Beyond Gorgeous
Working side-by-side with Aishwarya Rai was a truly mesmerizing experience for Anita. She was utterly captivated by Aishwarya’s beauty, describing her as “gorgeous to another level.”
What struck Anita most was Aishwarya’s natural allure, particularly noticing that she wore very minimal makeup in the film. “I was completely awestruck,” Anita confessed, still seemingly amazed by the memory.
Being part of such a grand production, with a visionary director like Subhash Ghai at the helm, made Anita feel incredibly fortunate. Despite the size of her role, she felt special to have landed such an opportunity and was determined to make the most of it.
The Shy Newcomer
Even though Anita spent a significant amount of time on set—around 8 to 10 days for her brief appearance—she admitted she was too shy to strike up a conversation with Aishwarya Rai between takes or after pack-up.
She explained that at that time, she was still “in my shell” as a newcomer. She felt “too small” and inexperienced to interact freely with the established star.
Reflecting on it now, Anita wished she had been more confident. “If I were who I am today, I would have had a conversation,” she mused. Just being in Aishwarya’s presence, however, was a special enough experience for her.
Taal’s Wider Impact
Taal was more than just Anita’s debut; it was a significant film that saw many talents emerge. She mentioned that a young Shahid Kapoor was also present on set, albeit in the background.
The film served as a major launchpad for many aspiring artists, showcasing their potential to the industry. For Anita, even a small role in such a big movie was an invaluable learning experience.
- Anita Hassanandani made her Bollywood debut in Subhash Ghai’s 1999 film, Taal.
- She played Aishwarya Rai’s best friend and was deeply impressed by Aishwarya’s natural beauty.
- Despite spending days on set, Anita was too shy to converse much with Aishwarya.
- The film also featured a young Shahid Kapoor in an early, uncredited role.
The experience of working on Taal left a lasting impact on Anita Hassanandani, setting the foundation for her successful career primarily in television. She recently appeared in the Colors TV show Suman Indori and is slated to be seen next in Zee TV’s reality show Choriyaan Chali Gaon.
