28 February,2024 07:42 AM IST | Mumbai | Tuhina Upadhyay
Anjali Anand in RARKPK
Anjali Anand, who stole hearts with her standout performance as Gayatri Randhawa in Karan Johar's blockbuster 'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani,' has not only become a beloved name in Bollywood but also television. Her skillful portrayal of 'Gayatri Randhawa,' a complex and forward-thinking character received praise from fans and critics alike.
The talented actress is not planning to slow down and is already getting ready for another exciting film. But before that, in a chat with Mid-Day.com, Anjali talked about what it was like working with Bollywood bigwigs in 'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani' (RARKPK).
During the interview, Anjali Anand opened up about her connections with Alia Bhatt, Ranveer Singh, Dharmendra, Shabana Azmi, and Jaya Bachchan.
Starting with Alia Bhatt, Anjali said, "Alia is an inspiration, and she is someone I aspire to be in every aspect - her personal life, professional life. The way she's grown, I just aspire to be somebody like her."
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Moving on to Ranveer Singh, Anjali revealed a close friendship, "Ranveer is my buddy. Ranveer is my friend; we dance at parties until people want to throw us out of the house, he's just so much fun. He's this long-lost friend that I've met during this film."
Dharmendra ji, according to Anjali, was a delightful co-star. She fondly recalled, "Dharmendra ji was a delight, he was so much fun to hang with." She recalled a fond memory and said, "We used to light bonfires and sing songs. And I just listen to her stories all day long."
Shabana Azmi held a special place in Anjali's heart, being her absolute favourite. Anjali expressed, "My absolute favourite. I have been shooting with Shabana Azmi since 2021. But now she's not in my life anymore because we're not shooting. But I feel her absence because whatever set I go on, any new project, I have done three projects with her till now, including RARKPK"
"I won't see her at the next reading room I enter or meeting I attend, new cast and crew meeting I attend. There is not going to be Shabana ma'am inside. My two cents for her is just that I miss her." Anjali added.
Jaya Bachchan, who played Anjali's grandmother in the film, surprised Anjali with her sweet and fun-loving nature. Contrary to public perception, she clarified, " Jaya Bachchan is nothing like how she is portrayed. She is the sweetest human on the planet, she is so much fun to be around. She's like this little child who loves to do masti, and yeah, we had a very good bond while shooting. She was playing my grandmother and she took care of me like a grandmother. She fed me, she took care of me, and she was just amazing."
Anjali Anand is gearing up for her return to the big screen with the film 'Bun Tikki.' This movie is creating quite a buzz as it's considered one of the most eagerly awaited debuts of the year, featuring the powerhouse duo of Shabana Azmi and Zeenat Aman sharing the screen.
Directed by Faraz Arif Ansari, the film also stars actor Jyoti Deshpande. The production is in good hands, with Dinesh Malhotra and Marijke Desouza taking charge under the banner of Manish Malhotra's Stage 5 Productions.