Singer Shweta Pandit adds yet another colourful feather to her cap. She has recently scored a plum role with Anil Kapoor in the popular television series, 24.
Says Shweta, “I play the role of Radhika, the daughter of Sivam, an LTFE supporter who takes Jai Singh Rathod (Anil Kapoor) hostage in his house by his friend Ravindran (The leader of LTFE). What happens next? Well, you’ll have to watch it on Saturday, December 14th 2013 on Colors.”
Speaking about sharing screen space with Anil Kapoor for the first time, Shweta tells us, “I got a call from the team of 24 after they saw my work in Bejoy Nambiar’s David. However, they tested me for another role and not the role of Radhika. This other role required me to keep almost a whole year free for shooting. But that wasn’t possible since I already had singing commitments with A.R. Rahman. As you know, I’m singing in his live shows and concerts.
Abhinay Deo (the director) told me that since he was very keen on having me on the show after he saw my test, he offered me Radhika’s role. The exciting part is that my scenes are with Anil Kapoor and its a very thrilling and action oriented sequence, filled with twists and turns just like one would expect.”
And how was the experience of working with Bollywood’s famous Mr. India? Shweta elaborates, “Anil Kapoor is such a legendary actor who has worked for almost four decades in Bollywood, what more can I ask for? After the shoot, I asked him if I had managed to pull off my character convincingly and he told me – ‘You have pleasantly surprised me with your immense talent of acting. I always knew you as an amazing singer! I think you are the female Kishore Kumar.‘”
Shweta reveals that Anil Kapoor has heard her singing at A.R. Rahman concerts a couple of times in the past and hence, he called her the female Kishore Kumar.
Adding to her experience about working alongside Kapoor, Shweta confesses, “He is one of the most humble and focused actors to work with. Its been an unforgettable experience.”