The future belongs to Nitanshi
caught the soon to be 17-year-old actress, Nitanshi Goel, to speak about her action-packed journey, Laapataa Ladies success, transforming her appearance for the film, having Aamir Khan as a producer and future hopes.
Tell us about the start of your sensational acting journey.
I always wanted to come on TV and perform on stage since my childhood. I would try to participate and win all the competitions, whether they were inter-school dance or drama competitions. Soon my parents started noticing my growing interest in acting. So initially, I broke into the industry as a junior artist. My family would go with me when I performed as a junior artist on film sets, so that I could see how shootings would happen. It all started from there.
Do you remember meeting superstar Aamir Khan for the first time?
The first time I met Aamir sir was on the sets of PK. He was shooting for the song ‘Love Is A Waste Of Time’. My family and I were sitting in the audience. I was sat right behind Aamir sir and suddenly he turned to look back at something – that’s when I got to see him clearly and instantly got starstruck. I even went up to him to take his autograph on a tissue paper to which he sweetly agreed.
How did you feel when you were offered a lead role in his home production
Laapataa
Ladies?
Well, later I lost that autograph and cried for three hours straight. But in 2021, when the call came up saying ‘You are finalized to play the lead in Aamir sir’s film’, it felt like my manifestation had finally come to life.
What was the experience of working on the film like?
Becoming Phool Kumari was a completely transformative experience. I did an intense prep to make sure that my performance and look, particularly, were true to a girl who is from Nirmal Paresh in 2001. I embarked on a three month journey of deliberate tanning, spending hours under the sun to adopt a rugged persona, far different from my natural appearance. It took me five months to get back to my original skin after the shoot.
What inspired you to immerse yourself so completely in the character?
I got this inspiration from Aamir sir –how at the time of Dangal he gained weight in three months and got back into shape after that. I also wanted to follow that dedication to my craft. All this was to ensure that the authenticity of the film, and my character is respected throughout.
What was the best thing you learned while working on this film?
The lessons I’ve learned while working include a memorable quote from Aamir Khan sir. He once said he doesn’t go about looking for perfection, instead, he looks for a magical moment in a scene. This perspective emphasizes the importance of authenticity and spontaneity in acting, reminding us to focus on capturing the essence of a moment than chasing an unattainable standard of flawlessness.
Will you be focusing on films from now on?
I will be focusing on good work now. I would like to portray good roles filled with challenges so that I get to explore myself and the characters.
How much do your fans mean to you?
Today whatever and wherever I am, it’s because of my fans who have always been there to support me. Whether it has been any TV show I have done, my songs, or now my film Laapataa Ladies, they have always showered lots of love on me. I am grateful to have them. My Nitanshians are like a family to me.
How did you feel crossing 10 million followers on Instagram?
I feel very good to have such a good and big social media family. I would like to express my gratitude for the support of my fans and followers. I would also like to acknowledge their role in my journey as an actress. Also, I want to reflect on the milestone as a testament to the connection I built with the audience. I will surely continue sharing engaging content and connecting with my fans in meaningful ways.
You have been working since a very young age. Do you feel like you’ve missed out on anything growing up?
I don’t think that I have missed out on anything while growing up. I am thankful for the opportunities and experiences my work has provided me. I faced some challenges of balancing work and childhood, but I have also learnt some valuable lessons and have fulfilled the aspects of pursuing my passion from a young age.