"Acting gives me the power to know myself better" – Jannat Sorathia
Her discipline and dedication not only to her art but her life is contagious. Jannat Sorathia tells us what it takes to sustain and achieve success in showbiz
Which city are you from?
I was born and raised in Mumbai. I am a true Mumbaikar; I love this city for its spirit and the opportunities it has to offer.
How did you get in to modeling?
I have wanted to be a model since my childhood days. When was in my first year of graduate school, (I was studying B.Com) I participated in a show on Channel [V], and to my surprise, I was one of the highest voted from Mumbai. That gave me a boost to start my career in modeling.
Who were your favorite movie stars while growing up and did you follow any particular actress?
I was always mesmerized by Helen jis dancing and style. As a kid, I used to go gaga over her songs. According to my mother, no Bollywood movie was ever complete without a Helen song. Besides Helen ji , I follow Jennifer Lopez. Her versatility as an actor, singer, business woman and mother is remarkable. Currently my favorite actress is Priyanka Chopra. I admire her and desire to be like her. From Bollywood to Hollywood, PC is everywhere. I respect an artist who can make our country proud.
What do you prefer- modelling or acting?
Modeling comes naturally. I love being photographed. It’s the world I fit in. Acting always fascinated me. Acting gives me the power to know myself better. I m still learning the art to act. I love the film industry and I would always like to explore more and keep learning.
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What’s your favourite pass time?
I love reading especially when I am traveling. So my time is spent on my favorite authors including Sydney Sheldon, Paulo Coelho, Vikas Swarup’ Six Suspect which I can read anytime and I love El James. Besides that, I enjoy watching world movies and TV series. I’m a hardcore shopaholic and love going shopping in my free time. However, the most important pass time for me is spending quality time with my close friends, family and loved ones. Nothing can beat that. Being with people who love you and admire your work keeps you going.
Which has been your most memorable shoot so far?
It was shooting for a film Chitrakar, in which I was playing three lead characters. Two of these characters were imaginary angels and the other role was that of a middle class wife. For the wife’s role, I had to put on three times more weight than what I actually weigh, I had to wear really short hair (boy cut short) and I had to have a darker skin tone. A body suit, lots of make-up, wigs and a painful process later I looked the part and it was very difficult and hence I can say it was the most memorable and painful shoot so far. When I saw the film during post production I was quite happy with the results. All shoots have been special to me. I feel proud to be associated with good concepts and films.
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What are you currently working on and what are your future projects?
My Hindi feature film Khel Mantra, directed by Manoj Dawra, will be releasing end of this year. I play the lead in the movie and my role in film is very glamorous and versatile. The character is negative and that was very challenging. I love my job so I am not complaining. Right now, I’m working on a story board for my own script. I always wanted to try my hand at direction. By 2016, I’ll direct my film title Khidki which is targeted for festivals.
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