You’ve probably heard of Akansha Ranjan, who has usually been in the news for just being Alia Bhatt’s bestie or hanging out with a certain sportsperson. But now she is under the spotlight for her acting debut in a music video. Touted as the ‘monsoon anthem of the year’, the romantic ballad Tere Do Naina is composed by the Bollywood composer duo Gourov-Roshin and sung by the versatile Ankit Tiwari.
With parents — actor-director Shashi Ranjan and the founder of The Indian Television Academy, Anu Ranjan, and model-actor sister Anushka, it was only a matter of time till Akansha owned the screen.
“I wanted to be a part of this (the entertainment industry) even before I knew what it was. I remember when I was little and my parents’ friends came over, I used to perform for them by imitating people I saw on TV. Acting has been in my zehen,” says she.
Coming from such an accomplished family, Akansha says she doesn’t look towards them for career advice. “I don’t overthink things. I’m not that sort of a person. I’m spontaneous. Even for taking up this music video, I did not think too much or ask my parents or sister what to do. In fact, my dad always says that your journey is your journey and my journey is my journey, each one’s journey is different. I don’t put too much effort into anything, I feel it ruins the process,” she says.
Since this was her first stint in front of the camera, Akansha learnt how it isn’t as easy as it looks. “There’s a major dance sequence in the video because my character becomes a dancing sensation overnight. That was very strenuous and hectic. We had to shoot it over two days. I performed a lot of dance forms that I haven’t explored before, like hip-hop, popping, and stuff like that,” she says, adding, “There was this one sequence which had to be cut in the song where we choreographed a 10-second piece and recorded it on the spot. I just came in with my costume and make-up and I learnt the steps and we got it done in a snap.”
The song is also right down her alley. “I think if you hear the song, you’ll know how it hits the spot. It has that romantic feel. You can play it on long drives and stuff. If you’re a drama queen, like me, this is the kind of song you imagine yourself playing the lead in your own music video in your head,” she says.
Though she might be a newbie, Akansha is serious and ready to take up any challenge that comes her way to make a name for herself in the industry. The music video, she says, is a stepping stone to Bollywood. “I’m just at the threshold of the film industry with this (music video). Of course I want to be a part of Bollywood, 100 per cent,” she says. But when asked what plans she has of conquering the industry, she prefers to remain tight-lipped and says, “I can’t talk about it now. But more information on this will be out soon.”
But in the meantime, the actress is already garnering praise for her performance from the industry. “We got the cut two days before the video was released and we sent the video out to a few people. They were all like ‘Oh my god! This is amazing’. When the video released and viewers liked it, we were happy that it was like we hoped it would be,” says she.
