9 hours agoAuthor: Virendra Mishra
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Shalini Pandey became famous all over the world by playing the role of Arjun Reddy's girlfriend Preeti in the Telugu film 'Arjun Reddy'. Shalini Pandey has worked with Ranveer Singh in Yash Raj's film 'Jayeshbhai Jordaar'. Shalini Pandey's younger sister Pooja Pandey also followed the footsteps of her elder sister and chose the acting profession. Pooja Pandey has also worked with Naseeruddin Shah's son Vivaan Shah in the film 'Kot' and with Vineet Kumar Singh in 'Siya'.
Recently, Pooja Pandey had a special conversation with Dainik Bhaskar. Pooja Pandey told that if elder sister Shalini Pandey had not run away from home and come to Mumbai, it would not have been easy for her to enter the industry.
Read the main excerpts from the conversation with Pooja Pandey…
Sister ran away from home, parents stopped talking
Acting profession is still not considered good in middle class families. Pooja Pandey says- We are from a middle class family. Just dreaming about acting was a big thing. Papa wanted the elder sister to become an engineer, but she was not interested in engineering. Papa was against his acting profession. Didi ran away from home and came to Mumbai. Relatives used to talk about all kinds of things. Parents had stopped talking to sister. When Didi's film 'Arjun Reddy' was released, parents felt that she was on the right path.
Both sisters dreamed of becoming heroines together
In childhood, both the sisters were obsessed with becoming heroines. Pooja Pandey says- I am very inspired by Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit and Tabu. Used to watch all his movies in my childhood. At that time it was not known what an actor was. Both of us sisters used to think about becoming heroines. Everyone has the right to dream. Both of us sisters used to act in front of the mirror. My elder sister used to act as Kareena Kapoor and I used to act as Karisma Kapoor.
Pooja Pandey-Shalini Pandey
Papa had set a condition before doing theatre.
Pooja Pandey's father Chandra Bhushan Pandey was an officer in the Gun Garage Factory, where cannons are made. Now he is retired. Pooja Pandey said- My father's friends used to run a theater group. When the elder sister expressed her desire to join theatre, father put a condition that her studies should not be disturbed. If I don't get good marks, I will leave the theatre. Due to that greed she used to get good marks. When my sister joined theatre, I also did it, but father did not put any such condition before me.
Learned classical dance from mother
Pooja's mother Maya Pandey was a music professor before marriage. After marriage, she left her job and taught dance and music to children at home. Pooja Pandey says- I also learned classical dance. After coming to Mumbai, she went to Karnataka for a dance show. Then I got a call for the film 'Coat' that I wanted to cast in the film. As soon as I heard that Sanjay Mishra is in the film. Said yes immediately.
Sister treated like mother
Pooja Pandey's sister had got a big opportunity in the South. Pooja says- The entry of my elder sister into the industry made the path easier for me. Sister had got work in the South film 'Arjun Reddy'. When I came to Mumbai, my family had no objection. I came in the end of 2017 and I got my first film 'Coat' in 2018 itself. Sister got a lot of support in Mumbai. She treated me like a mother. Stayed with him for the first two years. While watching the film 'Siya', I thought that I have to live alone. After that I decided to live separately.
There was a reason to leave my sister and live alone
Pooja Pandey says- I had seen my sister's journey. There have been many ups and downs in his life. I decided to live alone so that I could feel my responsibility. Sister stopped, but wanted to strengthen her self-confidence by living separately. However, right now we both live together.
Will be seen in the film 'The Bird'
Pooja Pandey's web series 'Gutter Goo Season 2' has been released recently. Pooja says- My film 'The Bird' will be coming in which I have a very mature character.