Singer/Actor Anuja Sahai Is Ready To Mark her Debut With Her First Hindi Film 'Albeli' Which Is Seeped Into Rajasthani Culture

The long cherished dream of Anuja Sahai is finally coming true. Singer, Actor and VJ Anuja Sahai will be soon making her debut in a film titled 'Albeli - Fame Is Not The Fate of Every Artist' in which she will be seen playing the role of a Rajasthani folk dancer who is no less than a fighter and a survivor in herself.

Anuja Sahai is super excited for her debut film 'Albeli' as not only the setting and story of the film is unique and different but also her role is also quite interesting, challenging and pathbreaking in many ways.

Talking about her new path as a Hindi film actor, elated Anuja Sahai said, "As a singer and dancer, I have acted in many music videos. I have also been a VJ and TV host so I never had inhibitions regarding acting in films. I think subconsciously, it had always been my dream to work in movies. Having said that, I would specially like to thank Satyendrra Chauuhan sir, the writer and director of the film, from the bottom of my heart. He was the one who showed immense faith in my acting capabilities. He was quite sure that I am a cut out for films and he continuously persisted me to mark my debut with his film based on a very unusual subject. He could convincingly see me playing the role of the protagonist in the film. The entire experience of working in the film was extremely enjoyable and unforgettable for me".

She further added, "I would also want to specially thank renowned critic and friend Girish Wankhede who's first words for me were - 'I see you as a main lead actor in movies and not just as a singer'. His encouraging and profound words instilled a lot of confidence in me".

It is interesting to note that Anuja Sahai and the director Satyendrra Chauuhan have known each other for around 10 years and have been good friends since then. Anuja says, 'Satyendra sir always used to tell me that I have a face that needs to be presented in the movies. But I was always inclined towards singing, and never took it very seriously. Honesty speaking, taking such a big leap in my career was undoubtedly a dream come true."

She further says, "As Satyendra sir always used to say that he always saw a typical 'Rajwara/Rajputani' side of my personality. He always used to tell me that my features and personality resemble and ooze royalty. Soon I will be seen acting in one of his other film which is also deeply seeped in Rajasthani culture."

Born in Assam and raised in Rajasthan in her initial years, Anuja Sahai was always fascinated with Rajasthan's royal culture. Anuja informs that not being originally from Rajasthan itself was not a hindrance in playing the part of a Rajasthani girl as she had spent substantial years of her childhood in Rajasthan and did her schooling from Rajmata Krishna Kumari, the establishment of Jodhpur's Royal dynasty. Hence for her, it became easy to understand the sensibilities of the film and her character. Her roots in Rajasthan helped her immensely to play the character perfectly.

She says, "The story of the film revolves around a folk dance form of Rajasthan named Kalbeliya and I am playing the character of a Kalbeliya dancer in the film. The music of the film is very intelligently and creatively designed by superbly talented Umesh Giri, who has kept the raw element intact giving you the original feel of this art form. Kalbeliya is the folk dance form of Rajasthan which requires high level of flexibility in your body. They dance on plates, they place pots on their head and show their dancing skills and while dancing they also play with fire. I had very tough dance sessions before the shoot began. The choreographer of the film Yagnesh Maaru trained me very well and I give full credit to him for my dance performances in the movie. It was rigorous and hectic for me to try these dance forms but I was thoroughly overjoyed while dancing and playing my part for the movie. We are very thankful to our director of photography Faisal Siddiqui for visualizing each and every frame in the most scintillating manner".

Anuja Sahai has recently returned to Bombay after completing the month long schedule of 'Albeli' in Rajasthan. Anuja Sahai says that the tagline of the film 'fame is not the fate of every artist' really attracted her towards the script and also the film as a whole, which actually led her to make up her mind and do the film.

Anuja says that its an emotional and heart wrenching tale of a folk dancer who not only fight back for her survival but she also fights back to prove her worth against all the odds stacked against by her own family and society. Anuja said, "The film is full of twist and turns and it will give lump in your throat. I am really proud of making this debut through such a meaningful and wonderful film. I am sure that audience will highly appreciate this meaningful cinema and also my strong character in it !