Tanusree Shankar: Dance is my medication and meditation
I was lucky to have been brought up in an Army household, as it shaped my mind and vision very differently. You see, we Army children grew up in an atmosphere of unity, enjoying every festival together. But as I grew older, I realised there was not a 'doctor bone' in my body. I gravitated towards movement, and when my father was posted in Kolkata, a great opportunity entered: he was a great admirer of dancer-choreographer Uday Shankar and Amala Shankar — who later became my in-laws when I married their son Ananda — and got me admitted in the Uday Shankar India Cultural Centre. Here, I learned Bharatnatyam, Kathakali and Manipuri dance. And I had fantastic gurus: Guru Gyan Prakash ji for Bharatnatyam, Guru P Raghavan ji for Kathakali, and Guru Tarun Singh ji for Manipuri. Their nurturing way of teaching still remains with me.
I came from a humble background so my goal was to do school, college, marriage and then become a housewife. But when I met Ananda, life took a u-turn. From a disciplined Army household, I entered this almost 'bohemian' household, which was creative and free-flowing. Though our age gap was over 13 years, I fit right into the family. My husband told me to work, saying, 'If you have talent, you must share it with the world'. When I look back, maybe he was pushing me because he had a premonition that I needed it in the future. And because of that, I stand on my own today.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Karan Johar congratulates Rani Mukerji, Shah Rukh for National Awards, calls it 'full circle moment'
New Delhi, Filmmaker Karan Johar congratulated his friends and Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji for getting the National Awards in the best leading actors categories and called it a full circle moment. Karan Johar congratulates Rani Mukerji, Shah Rukh for National Awards, calls it 'full circle moment' Shah Rukh was named the Best Actor for his role in "Jawan", and Rani won in the Best Actress category for her work in "Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway" at the 71st National Awards, which took place on Friday. Karan shared the poster of both films on his Instagram handle on Saturday and added a throwback picture alongside the actors. The 53-year-old filmmaker penned a lengthy note as he congratulated the actors. "Taking a pause in our celebrations to celebrate my friends for their cinema!!! @iamsrk has been 33 years in the making and I can't help but beam with pride. Redefining Indian cinema with every role you take on...'Jawan' and all your other films are only testament to what an exceptional actor you are, to light every screen you walk in with your swag, charm and "Me and the entire world is rooting for you, celebrating you & supporting you for everything you do. There is no one like you, congratulations deserve this and more. And like you abhi baaki hai mere dost," the post began. He added, "My dearest the queen of every screen she is in. Your performance hit everyone like a punch in the gut, making everyone feel every last feeling with you. Very less can do that, but have always been the best at it. Congratulations and I speak on behalf of everyone - we can't wait to see what you do next!!!! Biggest shoutout to @emmayentertainment for backing such a powerful story and congratulations! @madhubhojwani @onlyemmay @nikkhiladvani." Karan made his directorial debut with "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai" in 1998, which starred Shah Rukh, Kajol and Rani in the lead roles. He won his first National Award for the film in Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment for it. In the latest edition of the National Awards, the filmmaker was also named the winner in the same category for his film "Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani". "P.s - fun fact!! I won my first national award with these two & Kajol by my side for 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai'. If this is not full circle, what is," he concluded the post. "Jawan" was directed by Atlee Kumar and featured Vijay Sethupathi and Nayanthara alongside Shah Rukh. The film went on to earn over ₹1000 crore at the worldwide box office. It had Shah Rukh in the dual role of Army officer Vikram Rathore and his jailor son Azad. Rani's "Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway" also starred Jim Sarbh and revolved around Debika Chatterjee , an Indian woman staying in Norway with her family, who fights to regain custody of her children after she is separated from them by the Norwegian authorities. Directed by Ashima Chibber, the film was released in March 2023. Karan's "Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani" starred Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh in the lead roles. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
News18
a day ago
- News18
Ibrahim Ali Khan's Sarzameen Had 'Loopholes', Says Director Kayoze Irani: ‘But The Audience Was Forgiving'
Sarzameen director Kayoze Irani responds to criticism over Ibrahim Ali Khan's role and narrative flaws. He admits changes he would make and says audiences were forgiving. Ibrahim Ali Khan's second film, Sarzameen, premiered last month on JioHotstar, marking another major step in the star kid's early career. But much like his debut Nadaaniyan, the film has triggered a flurry of mixed responses. While some have praised the film's emotional ambition, others have pointed to narrative shortcomings and uneven performances. Directed by Kayoze Irani, son of veteran actor Boman Irani, Sarzameen is set in the fraught landscape of Kashmir and explores the moral conflict between a father and his radicalised son. In a recent interview with Hindustan Times, Kayoze addressed the polarized feedback with refreshing honesty. 'I'm extremely happy with the audience reaction to the film. I think that the (viewership) numbers are doing very well. The overall audience perception and the feedback that I've been getting are good," he said. 'There have been some criticisms. There have been some reviews that are critical, which is fair. What is important is to learn from it and move forward, but I'm genuinely overwhelmed. I feel that if it's managed to touch a few people, I can't be happier than that." The filmmaker added that while he naturally hopes for glowing reviews and unprecedented success, he's realistic about the learning curve. 'Ideally, you want every review to be five stars, and you want the box office collection to be unheard of. But this will not be my only film. There's something that I can learn from it, and I will apply that in the next one." Kayoze also acknowledged the flaws that critics have pointed out. 'Are there a few loopholes in the film? Maybe! Are there a few things that could have been done differently? Maybe. But the important thing is that the film worked on a larger level, and they were forgiving of a few of the issues." When asked what he would change if he could revisit the film, Kayoze candidly shared, 'One thing that I would have done differently with Sarzameen was bringing Ibrahim into the film a little earlier, and I would have had more of the cat-and-mouse chase before he is discovered. These are the two things I would have done differently." Sarzameen follows the story of an Indian Army officer—played by Prithviraj Sukumaran—whose worst fears come true when he learns that his estranged son, portrayed by Ibrahim Ali Khan, has joined a militant group. The film attempts to explore generational trauma, ideological conflicts, and fractured familial bonds against the backdrop of a volatile region. Kajol also stars in the film in a supporting role, which has drawn its own share of criticism for its underwritten arc. Despite its imperfections, Sarzameen seems to have found a niche audience. As Kayoze Irani puts it, 'If it's managed to touch a few people, I can't be happier than that." First Published: August 02, 2025, 17:58 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hans India
a day ago
- Hans India
Acting always feels like my first job: Randeep Hooda
Actor and filmmaker Randeep Hooda has opened up about the emotional and psychological challenges that come with his craft. Despite his years in the industry, the actor admits that acting never gets easier and that each role brings with it a renewed sense of fear and uncertainty. Speaking about his mindset before taking on a new role, Randeep said, 'If you're not uncertain and you're not feeling like, 'Oh my God, this time they're going to discover that I don't know anything about acting,' then you're not doing it right. That is what keeps me on my toes. It always feels like I'm doing my first job.' When asked what he finds more powerful — an actor's spoken lines or the silences in between — Randeep reflected, 'Whatever you say are just your thoughts. And most of us try to hide our thoughts or don't completely say what we mean. Speaking is the last form of any communication between two human beings.' On the film front, Randeep is set to headline the upcoming war drama Operation Khukri, based on the book Operation Khukri: The Untold Story of the Indian Army's Bravest Peacekeeping Mission Abroad by Major General Rajpal Punia and Damini Punia. The film will depict the real-life rescue of 233 Indian soldiers held hostage in Sierra Leone in 2000. Randeep also has a key role in Matchbox, an American action-adventure comedy directed by Sam Hargrave and inspired by the popular toy brand. The film, set for a fall 2026 release, stars John Cena, Jessica Biel, Danai Gurira, and others. With both national and international projects in the pipeline, Randeep Hooda continues to push boundaries — with the same nervous excitement that marked the beginning of his journey.
