Here’s a new feature on missmalini, a weekly artist/actor/celebrity spotlight exclusively for you! I picked Manasi Scott first because she’s charming, friendly, gorgeous and not afraid to push her own brand. Sometimes that’s just what it takes. I also remember her for radio interviews where she’s extremely particular about people getting her name right. Not Mansi but Manasi. She told me it means the ideal woman, “my parents got it from an Avum Indrajit play where Manasi was the central character playing 9 roles somewhat linked to the many facets of womanhood.” (Hey isn’t Priyanka Chopra doing something like that now? They should name her character Manasi too!) So here’s a peak into everything from a day in her life to her love story.
Name: Manasi Scott
Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
Occupation: Singer/Songwriter/Actor
A day in my life:
“Begins with my biggest blessings – waking up next to the man I do and my son, and then can go into work-space madness from studio recordings to live show work or an off day with back to back movies and loads of gelato. Either way Ive become a workout junkie since Jan so can’t do without it to start or end the day!”
3 things you didn’t know about me:
“1. I am a complete softy – the outer facade has been cultivated as a defence mechanism really, to not be hurt. I cry at movies, get very hurt with criticism and am always for the underdog.
2. I am intrinsically shy – being on stage, singing or acting is my escape mechanism really, besides being a blessing as well. I get to be so many people I can’t imagine of being in my day to day life!
3. I can’t play any instrument and I’ve never trained in any form of singing or music making – being a straight A student, academics were always a priority for me, so between getting Software Engineering Degree, a Post Grad degree in film and Television production and a myriad of National Level sporting events, singing was only my hobby that I never dreamed would become a profession.”
Word to working moms:
“Wow there’s so much to share I could write a book! As you can see I’m not a woman of few words!!!
The working will keep you sane!!!! I know being a mom is a 24/7 job and most of us with careers end up feeling really guilty about the amount of help we take from nannies and family in raising our children but honestly its fine! Spending quality time instead of quantity time is better for you and your child and all your relationships.
Exercise! It’s a major outlet for post-partum depression, motherhood blues and all the ups and downs of raiging a child through sicknesses, school, tantrums and so much more. Yoga, running, waliking, gymming, there’s so much you can do to alleviate stress.”
My love story:
“Is quite a cliche really. I said I’d marry Craig the day I saw him and I ended up doing just that. So in essence we got to know each other AFTER we got married as our courtship lasted a mere 3 months which is how long it took us to get our wedding in place. I’ve grown with Craig, learnt who I am and he’s is my partner in crime in everything from us making this beautiful baby boy Zephan, to making our home to making our careers.”
My best friend(s):
“Are all women I’ve known since school, college and my first job. I love you all … Ekta, Raya, and the list goes on….”
My all-time favorite song lyrics:
“(2 songs actually)
Bruce Springsteen’s Secret Garden and Rob Thomas’ Ever The Same”
SECRET GARDEN
Bruce Springsteen
She’ll let you in her house
If you come knockin’ late at night
She’ll let you into the parts of herself
That’ll bring you down
She’ll let you in her heart
If you got a hammer and a vise
But into her secret garden, don’t think twice
You’ve gone a million miles
How far’d you get
To that place where you can’t remember
And you can’t forget
She’ll lead you down a path
There’ll be tenderness in the air
She’ll let you come just far enough
So you know she’s really there
She’ll look at you and smile
And her eyes will say
She’s got a secret garden
Where everything you want
Where everything you need
Will always stay
A million miles away
EVER THE SAME
Rob Thomas
We were drawn from the weeds
We were brave like soldiers
Falling down under the pale moonlight
You were holding to me
Like a someone broken
And I couldn’t tell you but I’m telling you now
We would stand in the wind
We were free like water
Flowing down
Under the warmth of the sun
Now it’s cold and we’re scared
And we’ve both been shaken
Hey, look at us
Man, this doesn’t need to be the end
Just let me hold you while you’re falling apart
Just let me hold you and we’ll both fall down
Fall on me tell me everything you want me to be
Forever with you
Forever in me
Ever the same
Call on me
I’ll be there for you and you’ll be there for me
Forever it’s you
Forever in me
Ever the same
You may need me there
To carry all your weight
But you’re no burden I assure
You tide me over
With a warmth I’ll not forget
But I can only give you love
Family Photos:
“My super-trooper son in Leh, Ladakh he came up with us to 14000+ feet without batting an eyelid at Khardungla Pass and took to the little snow around with the curiosity of a seasoned traveler discovering new things!”
“The one with Craig and the other with Zephan (just a couple of days after his 1st birthday) were at the Jim Corbett National Park where this elephant ride got us to see a tigress in the wild just a few meters from us and Zephan and I discovered the pleasure of enjoying the cool breeze on a river bed besides the water he constantly wanted to keep jumping into!”
“Jatin Kampani, doesn’t shoot just me beautifully but my entire family! He is so good with capturing moments on his camera that all you have to do is be yourself and its uncanny then to see your soul bared on film.”
“The last one is South Africa last year, while shooting a live show of mine for Kal Kisne Dekha my most exciting moment ever… to pet a living, tiger cub!”
What I’m up to now:
“Working on mixing and mastering my new album which Ive composed and written myself for the first time. Awaiting the release of my song in Acid Factory again composed, sung and written by me, its called Khatti Meethi. Making my silver screen debut for which I’m shooting in London the whole of August. Playback singing for a whole bunch of films with music directors I’ve wanted to work with for quite a while.”
More on her website manasiscott.com, Blog and Facebook. Since she dabbles in a lot of stuff her L’oreal Glamorous episodes, Sony Pix hosting etc. are all on YouTube. (See what I mean about good self promotion?) As she mentioned her movie ventures hit the big screen next month, including Sanjay Gupta’s Acid Factory for which she’s composed, written & sung “Kabu mein rakhna dil” – with an exclusive video shot by Sanjay Gupta with her performing the song on screen as well. Playback singing of the title track for UTV Spotboy’s Peter Gaya Kaam Se for Sajid-Wajid, Haiyya Haiyya for Saurabh Shukla’s Pappu Can’t Dance, the title track for the Arjun Rampal – Sunny Deol starrer The Fox, Loot, Tom Dick and Harry Rocks Again, but most importantly again for Rohit Roy’s Love Story for which she’s composed, written and sung Tere Pyaar Mein.
*Studio pictures designed by Gavin Miguel, styled by Ekkta Rajani executive Fashion Editor for Harper’s Bazaar, make up by Tanuja Dabir and stills by Jatin Kampani.