Shillong: Come September, the first Khasi girl from northeastern India will be seen playing the lead female role in a Bollywood film.
Andrea Tariang is debuting with superstar Amitabh Bachchan in the upcoming Shoojit Sircar film Pink. A musician, she is currently on the sets in New Delhi with Bachchan and others for the social thriller.
Ronnie Lahiri, one of the producers of the film, was all praise for Andrea for her natural flair in acting.
“It looks like she is meant for the role that she’s doing. She is a natural; she doesn’t have to act,” Lahiri said and added that they found that she fitted the character “perfectly” during the screen test. Lahiri has produced films such as Piku, Madras Cafe, Vicky Donor.
Lahiri, a product of Shillong’s St Edmund’s School and College, said he was looking for a new face from northeastern India to be part of the film.
The film producer also said Andrea’s entry into Bollywood is “indeed a very proud moment” for people of northeastern India.
“Andrea is the first Khasi girl to be cast in a Bollywood movie. I think this will show to the world that Bollywood is open for the people of the Northeast, and that there is space for everyone. It will also give hope to others,” Lahiri added.
Andrea is the first member of the Khasi, the predominant tribal community of Meghalaya state, to have landed a high-profile film.
A Rising Sun Films production, Pink is directed by Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury and produced by Rashmi Sharma, besides Lahiri.
Speaking to The Telegraph, a Kolkata-based newspaper, Andrea said she could not believe that her first shot for the movie was with Bachchan. Although she was alongside the superstar, the first shot was done only in a single take.
“I did feel intimidated (shooting alongside Bachchan) although we met him a day before the shoot. I must say that he is a very down-to-earth person despite his tremendous fame,” she said.
Recalling her journey to the sets of the film, she said, “My dad called me and enquired whether I was interested in doing an audition for a film. Well, I did take part in the audition although I couldn’t speak much Hindi, and I forgot about it.”
That was in November-December last year. A few days later, she got a call with a positive note, saying she should be in Mumbai for a workshop in relation to the film.
The 24-year-old has no background in acting, but she has been fond of music since her childhood.
She is the daughter of famous Shillong-based musician Rudy Wallang. Like her father, Andrea also plays the guitar and performs in Mumbai, the headquarters of Bollywood She also has a band – Lavender Groove – and has been working with top pianist Karan Joseph as well.
In the film, Andrea said she is speaking a mixture of Hindi and English, with more of English.
“My co-stars are helping me a lot. It is awesome. The casting director and others in the team are giving me a lot of confidence. Earlier, I used to be very camera shy, but now I have forgotten about the camera,” she said.
Asked about her music career, Andrea said, “Music is still my number one, but I don’t mind acting as well.”?
Apart from Bachchan and Andrea, Pink also stars Taapsee Pannu and Kirti Kulhari.
Andrea Tariang (third from left) with Amitabh Bachchan and co-stars Kirti Kulhari and Taapsee Pannu on the sets of Pink. Telegraph picture