From LA to Delhi

New York based actor cum advertising professional, Poorna Jagannathan has thoroughly enjoyed her stint in Bollywood. A comparatively late bloomer in B-town, this mother of a five-year-old talks to CS about her passion for acting and her Delhi Belly experience:



Better late than never
I started my acting career very late. Though I was always an amateur artist in school and college, I didn't know how to make it my career. So for survival, I took on advertising. I got the best job, but there was something missing. I initially enjoyed what I was doing, but over time I realised that there was this vacant expression on my face that refused to go. That's when I decided to go back to college and get an acting degree for myself. The leap wasn't easy but I am happy I made it.

Belly dance
Delhi Belly happened by chance. I happened to be in India for a wedding when I bumped into a friend who was doing costumes for the film. He knew me and my work as an actor in LA and said I would fit the role of Menaka in the film. I auditioned and got the role. The shoot was pretty long and since I am not based here, I found it difficult to shuttle between the two cities. My idea of Bollywood till now had been late shoots, ineffective deadlines and starry tantrums. I was pleasantly surprised to find everything on schedule.

Star struck
Shooting in Delhi and Mumbai was fun. While I didn't know much about either of the cities, acquainting myself with them was a great experience. And I had no idea that Indians would be so crazy about their actors. Once we were shooting a night scene in Delhi when I was amazed to see a never-ending sea of people lining up to watch us, especially Imran. In that huge crowd I spotted a woman holding probably a three-month-old in one hand and a two- year-old toddler in the other. I had no idea the fans here loved their actors so
passionately.