This Friday, Aadar Jain, Elnaaz Norouzi and Jackie Shroff will embark on an adventurous journey with their gorilla friend, in Excel Entertainment’s Hello Charlie on Amazon Prime Video. The film also marks the acting debut of Shlokka Pandit, who is beyond excited to step into Bollywood. “I have been waiting to do this, it has been a seven-year struggle and finally I am here,” she exclaims.
Talking about how she got into acting, Shlokka says that she has had that bug since childhood. “I was always into singing, dancing, acting or simply taking the centre stage. I was never a shy kid, lurking in the corner. I had the knack of making conversations with people from age five to 50. I really wanted to be a part of films as it is such a beautiful world. And if you love what you do, it makes it more special,” she gushes, adding that in her seven years of struggle she learnt a lot about what goes in filmmaking. “I was training for seven years constantly. I started at the age of 16-17 and worked as an assistant director, in a casting office and everything from ground zero.”
Recalling the story of how she bagged the role, Shlokka states, “I was generally auditioning at a casting office that was coincidentally also casting for the film and I was lucky to be selected. The film excited me as it had a big dancing number for my character and I have always loved dancing. I don’t think it was my choice to choose the film, rather the film chose me.”
As for her love for dancing, Shlokka is seen grooving to Kanika Kapoor’s voice on the recently released song “Sohneya Ve” from the film. And the story behind the song is more interesting. “The song was a fantastic yet challenging experience. We were shooting during peak Covid in last July. It was a complete lockdown and we shot for three days. I had 103 degrees fever along with bronchitis and I was on heavy medication. Luckily it wasn’t Covid. We were quarantining out of our homes in a hotel for 10 days. So, it was a lot. The arrangements were amazing on set though with constant sanitisation, oxygen sheds and a doctor on standby, as we were among the first to start shooting. The environment was very strange and it was a tough shoot but we managed. Now, I just want everyone to love and appreciate the song,” she says hopefully.
On working with the legendary Jackie Shroff, Shlokka says it was a fantastic experience. “I just wish I had more scenes and screen space with him. He was so encouraging, warm, affectionate and a dream to be around. Even during the trailer launch, he praised me and Elnaaz to the media and that boosted our confidence a lot,” she shares, revealing that she also took a promise from him while working together. “I told him that he has to make me meet Tiger. Due to Covid, I couldn’t yet, but I am going to hold him to his word. Tiger is a fantastic dancer and I would love to work with someone who could challenge me in that zone,” she says.
Talking about her other co-stars, Shlokka is all praise. “Aadar is a great co-star. He really held my hand through the whole shoot. And contrary to popular belief that two actresses can’t be friends, me and Elnaaz really bonded a lot. As for Rajpal Yadav sir, comedy and Rajpal sir go hand in hand. He is such a sweetheart. I had a couple scenes with him and he was always guiding me,” she recalls. And what about the most special co-star, the gorilla? “It was so different, unique and a fresh concept to have a gorilla as a character. Excel left no stone unturned in making sure that we have a real-life gorilla and that he was treated well with handlers around. I am an animal lover and believe that the animals respond with the same energy you give to them. So, we just gave lots of love and positivity,” she smiles.
Working with Aadar, did she get a chance to meet the Kapoor clan? “I met his parents, brother and sister-in-law and they were absolutely fantastic people. But with the whole lockdown and Covid, I couldn’t meet any other member of their family,” Shlokka informs.
With her debut film releasing digitally, does she miss the experience of being launched on the big screen? “I do but I am just counting my blessings that my film is coming out in this time of a pandemic and it will reach across 240 countries,” she asserts.
Shlokka also goes on to share her priority list for her next co-stars. “I am obsessed with Ranveer Singh and he is at the top of the list. I also love Siddhant Chaturvedi and I want to work with Hrithik Roshan as well. Even one small scene with him will do for me and I will be extremely happy,” she gushes.
Image Source: Instagram/shlokkapandit10
Image Source: Instagram/shlokkapandit10