Ananya: Indian Idol Junior 2 Win Will Make Me More Popular In School

14-year old Ananya Nanda from Orissa has taken the country and the music fraternity by storm after winning Indian Idol Junior. In an interview with SpotboyE.com, the teenager talks about her ambitions of becoming a space scientist, contributing to regional music and why Aamir Khan is her favourite actor. Excerpts:


What was going on in your mind seconds before the winners were announced?
My mind was totally blank. If you expect a lot, you are bound to disappoint yourself. So winning wasn't playing on my mind. However, that didn't prevent me from preparing rigorously and now I can confidently say that it has paid off.

But you must've known in the back of your mind that you are closer to the title than any of your competitors...
Not really. Because all the three judges (Sonakshi Sinha, Salim Merchant and Vishal Dadlani) used to come backstage to tell us that all of us are equally talented. We never looked at each other as rivals. Niharika, Shubhankar, Nahid and Nityashree - all of us share a thick friendship now.


Did the reality show take a lot from you academically as you may have missed several classes?
I have to go and make up for it, but I already knew the amount of time the show will take from me. So I prepared myself well in advance. I even took permission from my principal before coming here and now I'm already missing school terribly.

What was it like to stay away your parents for such a long stretch?
They'd always be a phone call away. Mum would also say, "Beta, don't think you're alone. We're always with you even if we're not physically there." That really kept me going.

Do you plan to actively pursue a singing career in Bollywood?
Not necessarily. I'd love to sing at any given playback opportunity. I want to do something for my home state Orissa, so it is very likely that I'll take up assignments in Oriya music.

What else other than music interests you?
I love studying languages, especially Oriya which is my mother tongue. I also harbour the dream to become a space scientist. So if that works out for me, it'll be fabulous. I'm surely going to prepare in a big way for it. We've a lot of books at home so I keep reading all sorts of things. I like anything that gives me an opportunity to learn.

Don't you think your popularity at school will shoot through the roof now?
I always stood first in the singing competition. Now, I am super thrilled to go back as after winning Indian Idol Junior, I'll become all the more popular in school!

Aren't you worried about other girls who'll be jealous of you in school?
That'll hamper them only. I hope I don't come across any such people. But if there are, then I can't really do much about it. I believe we should find happiness in other people's happiness to. That's the first thing I've learnt about success.

Which is your favourite Sonakshi Sinha song?
All her songs are chartbusters. I think she's lucky for Bollywood as she's delivered so many hit songs. Even her films have worked in a big way. I don't have a favourite song of hers but rather an album. I like the music of Dabangg the best. It's very soulful.

Which are the Bollywood actress, other than Sonakshi, who'd you love to sing for?
I'd love to sing for Anushka Sharma and Deepika Padukone as they are my absolute favourites. I hope I get that chance someday!

Which male actor do you like the most?
I'm a big Aamir Khan fan and though he takes a lot of time in making a film, he completes them with a lot of honesty and brilliance. If he's reading this, I'd like to tell him that I would like to meet him once. I love all his films - particularly PK, 3 Idiots and Taare Zameen Par.