MUMBAI: Like co-star Shashank Arora in “Titli,” Shivani Raghuvanshi was born and brought up in Delhi and did her honors in botany at Delhi University. She always did plays in college, including street plays, and had directed one when she was in the ninth standard. While traveling in the city’s metro, she was spotted by a coordinator, who got her a Vodafone ad. A long time later, that ad was seen, and it got Raghuvanshi a call for an audition from Yash Raj Films, the producers of “Titli,” with Dibakar Banerjee Productions.
“I was raw, and they wanted real,” smiles Raghuvanshi. “But I was shortlisted, and different workshops were held in Mumbai before I was chosen.”
Raghuvanshi was always sure of being in films, despite her orientation towards science. “My parents barely took us children (I have a brother and a sister) to films, and yes, I admit that my own aims kept shifting to IAS, doctor et cetera. In cinema, I was interested only in acting and directing, and, when I was in the eighth standard, I watched “Devdas” and would fantasize about the sets, characters and costumes. My middle-class parents — papa was in government service — wanted me to complete my education first, and I did that, because they knew best about my welfare.”
Lauding her parents for being very particular yet broad-minded, Raghuvanshi talks about her kissing scene in “Titli” that was told to her later. “I called up my mom in a panic, asking her what to do, and she actually told me, ‘Acting has been your dream since you were in school. You see what to do. You may not get an opportunity like this again, and a kissing scene may have to be done anyway in some later film too!’ Her words gave me all the confidence!” she smiles.
The process of being Titli’s wife, who has her own agenda and also supports her husband against his family, has changed Raghuvanshi deep inside, says the actor, “This has happened only because of my journey with the character I play, as I felt her pain. I have done the role from deep within my heart, not just by acting it out. It is important to connect with the emotions of your character. I have, for example, stopped being judgmental about people now. And I had to learn to detach from your character after work.”
After doing “Titli,” Raghuvanshi is clear about what she does not want to do by way of roles and movies. “I want to do entertaining and intelligent cinema,” she says.
