Securing a role in a Bollywood movie is a dream for every young girl, who dotes on Bollywood dance, film and masala. But few are lucky enough to land themselves a chance and live their dream. Simran Sidhu, the young and vivacious 25-year-old from Surrey is one such girl, who has been making waves in the media recently after winning Omni TV’s ‘Bollywood Star.’ Sidhu is now all set to take centre stage and embark on her dream career.
“Simran was a lovely dancer…but what made Simran stand out was the spontaneity she brought to the acting portion of the audition. She was natural and more than anything she had fun,” reflects Anita Majumdar, award-winning actress and trained dancer, who was a judge on ‘Bollywood Star.’ “Acting isn’t all crying on cue and ‘rona-dhona’ because life isn’t like that and the actor’s job is to portray all facets of life. So it was that comfort with the camera and her ability to inhabit a given scenario so comfortably, which made us consider Simran as a serious contender.”
Sidhu was born in Dubai, but her family relocated to Pune, India when she was quite young. During her teen years, the family immigrated to Canada, where she completed her last two years at Abbotsford Senior Secondary School. After graduating with honours, she attended Simon Fraser University and completed a bachelor’s degree in communication and public relations and is currently an employee of ICBC.
However for Sidhu, it all started with her passion for dancing which led her to train in this dance form. In 2007, she became a member of the coveted Shiamak Davar dance team in Vancouver and since then, dance has been an integral part of her life. She now teaches this art form to mentally and physically challenged people through Shiamak’s Victory Arts Foundation.
“It was through dance, that I started to understand the subtle nuances of acting. How to be body aware, emoting and being able to connect with the audience,” says Sidhu. “Therefore if it wasn’t for dance, I don’t think I would have found myself getting into the world of acting.”
She describes Bollywood as “an escape from the real world” and something she has grown up loving. On the suggestion of a friend, Sidhu auditioned for the reality show ‘Bollywood Star,’ a four-part docu-series showcasing a nationwide search for unknown talent. Moreover, the show was based on two components: acting and dance, and Sidhu despite being a novice in acting made it to the top winning the prize of a lifetime – a coveted role in a Bollywood movie.
Grown up idolizing Bollywood’s evergreen dancing diva Madhuri Dixit, Sidhu aspires to follow her footsteps and make a mark for herself in the industry.
Upon hearing of her win, she was ecstatic and recalls “It’s a hard feeling to describe. I think I couldn’t believe that my life could possibly change now and I just wanted to make sure it was real. Before I celebrated or got over-excited, I wanted to talk to my parents because they are my pillars of strength and being able
to share that news with them was the best feeling of all.”
Bollywood Star took Sidhu to places she says she could never have imagined of. Having a one on one conversation with Abhay Deol, going through Bollywood Bootcamp with Mukesh Chabra (casting director for Love Aj Kal, Rockstar, etc) and auditioning in front of a renowned director Nishikant Kamat (director of Force, Mumbai meri Jaan, etc) were all things that happened in a short while and left Sidhu feeling exceptionally thrilled.
“Overall it was a challenging, exceptional, gratifying and an educational experience. For instance, getting trained in Subash Ghai’s school, by a panel of expert actors, getting dance training from my Guru, the Guru of Dance, Shiamak Davar himself, an individual who trains only Bollywood’s superstars.”
Nevertheless Sidhu is mindful of the economics of the entertainment industry and says she will not let
it dictate her happiness. For her, it is more important to be content and happy from the inside and that success is something that follows.
“I will pursue this career wholeheartedly and let my journey take its course. Whatever road blocks are thrown my way, I will embrace them but will always remember that I am blessed to have a great support system and that I have come this far on my own –
the rest will happen.”
With regards to the details of the role, Sidhu says the production company will announce it soon and that her fans should keep checking social media for updates.
For the youngsters out there who are unsure and hesitant about their dream paths in life, Sidhu has just one advice, as she says that fears must be abandoned in order to achieve something big.
“If you are a 100 percent certain that this is your dream then just chase it. I truly believe that you only live once so why hesitate and worry about what the world will think, because that opinion will continue to change. Wish it, dream it, DO IT! But most importantly consult with your family and friends because every superstar needs a support system.”
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