Delhi girl Anya Singh is all set to prove her mettle with Qaidi Band. YRF’s next ‘it girl’ talks to Angela Paljor
As the release date of Qaidi Band draws near, the new face of Yash Raj Films, Anya Singh, is confident about her debut opposite Ranbir Kapoor’s cousin Aadar Jain. Though an unconventional debut, Singh has her priorities clear. “I just wanted to act and be a part of this industry. When I met Habib sir for the second time, he narrated the story and asked me if I liked it. And we could start with the auditions subsequently. And I had no reason to refuse,” said she, handling the promotional tour rather well.
“Qaidi Band is a pure performance-based film and what better way to have your debut,” she told us, adding conventional romantic films would always come to her.
Singh was a greenhorn when she was tested for the film. “At that time I had no idea about the difference between an undertrial and a convict. I was also unaware about my role in the film which had a social message,” she shared.
“I had never been on a set before and it was only when I started working that I realised the amount of effort that goes into putting a scene together. We attended workshops for months on a daily basis with Habib sir. I had a diction teacher. Besides the body language of my character Bindu was different.” The fact that the film was a musical meant an enhanced skill set. “We spent hours with Arijit Singh and Yashita Sharma to understand their body language and how to hold the microphone. We were on a diet so that we would look drawn as jailbirds. At times we were not allowed to wash our hair or apply any make-up.”
Reminiscing her first day on the set, Singh said, “I was very nervous and when I am in this state I tend to cry. I remember that Aadar, Michael and Peter had promised to come on the first day of the shoot as it started with Bindu. I was in my vanity when the AD came and said ‘we are ready for you’ and they were running late. But when my Chief AD called out on the set, the three came running in and I was like a mother who hadn’t seen her children for ages. I teared up a little but the shoot went great.”
Talking about her character Bindu, Singh said, “She is an independent and strong go-getter. She has survived in the rough and never forgets to dream big.”
The film also stars Aadar Jain who is the grandson of Raj Kapoor. So talk of nepotism was bound to surface. But the newcomer handled the subject quite deftly. “Nepotism is prevalent in other industries too. But it is only being highlighted in the film industry because it is easy eye-grab. I won’t disagree that it exists but only in the sense that it gives younger members of an established family accessibility. But today talent is the only criteria that is being accepted by the industry and the audience. An entry doesn’t mean stardom.”
Though new to the industry, she carefully tackled the topic of the comparison between the two films Qaidi Band and lucknow Central. “If two people can be hungry at the same time then why can’t two people have the same ideaIJ I’m not sure how similar the two storylines are but we have worked really hard and so have they – I wish the best to both the films.”
Anya’s first film in a theatre was coincidentally Yashraj’s Dil to Pagal Hai. The songs and dances completely stuck to her mind though she had trouble relating to the emotions. Those days she was at Mayo – a boarding school in Ajmer. “Being in a boarding school, it is next to impossible to watch films. But music was something I always had and that’s what connected and later drew me closer to Bollywood.”
Being a classical dancer and having an interest in theatre, she wanted a profession where she would be on stage for the rest of her life. Though it took long for her to admit to it and also due to the stereotypical attitude of the society, she kept herself away from the camera. “After getting myself together, I approached my parents and the first reaction was ‘No.’ They thought it was a passing phase but ultimately they gave me a year to follow my dreams,” she said.
Anya came to Mumbai without any formal training in acting. Nor had she been a part of any acting workshop. Nevertheless, she was prepared for the horror everyone goes through– from making contacts to getting into long queues for casting. “The initial period of getting auditions and to be aware of the ‘fake auditions’ was really tough. Finally I started to get the calls,” said Singh, who was almost on the verge of giving up. But then her mother encouraged and strengthened her resolve.
However, the wait and the grimness got over when she met Shanoo Sharma. later, she met Habib Faisal and auditioned for him. “There were times when I was skeptical. Those were the times when I would ring up Shanoo who really believed in me and was always there to give the push that I needed. I am not sure what she saw in me but she gave me that chance that numerous people wait for in Mumbai.”
The talk of her being the next face of Yash Raj Films hasn’t made a lot of difference on the personal front. “People still don’t recognise me. At the end of the day I go back home which I share with four other girls – make my own bed and cook food. I think this brings me back to reality and keeps be grounded.”
While the excitement rises on how the film will compete with Farhan Akhtar’s lucknow Central, Anya has three more films to look forward to with YRF.