Anusha Mani, a voice familiar to Bollywood, Kollywood, and Tollywood fans, recently surprised her audience by debuting as an actress in the web series Hai Junoon. Known for hit songs like "Gulaabo," "Lazy Lamhe," and "Tera Rastaa Chhodoon Na", Mani's move into acting marks a new chapter in her artistic journey.
Mani never aspired to be an actor. The opportunity arose unexpectedly, with her management and husband encouraging her to audition during the lockdown. The singer-turned-actor credits filmmaker Abhishek Sharma and her husband, composer Sangeet Haldipur, for catalyzing her evolution. She explains that their faith in her and her husband's long-held dream of seeing her on screen motivated her to take the leap.
The experience of acting in Hai Junoon has been "life-changing" for Mani. She feels fortunate to have worked with exceptional artists, writers, and crew. She acknowledges learning a great deal about filmmaking and the craft of acting. More importantly, she says she discovered a lot about herself as an artist and as a human being.
Hai Junoon, a musical series centered on a talent show, felt like stepping into both familiar and unknown territory for Mani. Her musical background helped her understand her role as Charu, a vocal coach. However, being on set presented a different challenge. She found the sensory overload of having so many people around, including the art department, sound and lighting teams, and the director's crew overwhelming. In contrast to the contained studio environment she was accustomed to, keeping calm and focused on her lines amidst the activity was the biggest hurdle. However, she found that she resonated with her role. She felt that Charu's fight to find her voice is something many people can relate to.
Mani is keen to pursue acting further, but music remains her first love and priority. She is currently recording new singles while also attending meetings and auditions. While she acknowledges that balancing two demanding careers requires careful time management, she is embracing the challenge. During shooting, she would use any downtime to practice her singing.
When asked about potential judgment as a musician entering acting, Mani recognizes the prevalent criticism in a world where "singers are acting and actors are singing". However, she asserts that this won't deter her from living life to her full potential, emphasizing the importance of her own feelings and the opinions of her loved ones.
Mani's journey has been unconventional. With a foundation in Indian classical and Carnatic music, and a career launched by a chance meeting with Shankar Mahadevan, her rise has been a mix of talent, timing, and tenacity. She has lent her voice to various projects, from Bollywood productions to indie projects, exploring diverse languages and genres. She even penned lyrics for tracks like "Dil Mein Jaagi".
Looking back, Mani cherishes meeting Shankar Mahadevan and receiving a call the next day to sing for Johnny Gaddaar as a particularly memorable moment. She also values the lessons learned from disappointments and failures, which have taught her patience, perseverance, and gratitude.
Mani advises aspiring artists to stay true to themselves and not get caught up in trends. She emphasizes the importance of following one's own voice and doing what brings happiness.
