Vidya adds spice to ‘Curry Munchers’
It’s not a blockbuster out of Bollywood, but the experience of starring in the locally made movie has made a difference in the life of young Vidya Venugopalan.
The 23-year-old South Indian beauty, originally from Tamil Nadu, is one of the leading female artistes in the locally produced movie, “Curry Munchers”, which is scheduled to hit the big screen around October.
Working with the movie has made her a more confident person, says Vidya, who now lives in Sandringham, Auckland, after more than 10 years in the West.
In “Curry Munchers”, Vidya plays Geeta, sister to lead character Siddarth (Anand Naidu) and daughter to Leela Patel (ex Shortland Street) and dad Ajay Vashist.
Ben Mitchell (TK from Shortland Street), Tarun Mohanbhai and Raj Verma also feature among the more prominent star cast.
“The ‘Curry Munchers’ experience has been valuable," says Vidya, whose day-time job is as project leader of Mental Health at a Primary Health Organisation attached to the Waitemata District Health Board (WDHB).
“I cherish having worked alongside as an experienced cast and crew. My family encourages me to pursue my interests and expect that I outdo myself every time in my endeavours.
“It's important to have dreams, a higher goal/ vision, and a plan to get there. I'm working towards my vision with every step and feel happy for the opportunities I've had in life.”
Working with the experienced actors gave me motivation,” said Vidya.
“TK was very professional in his approach and it was good to gauge oneself against that.
“Leela is so experienced, good to work with. Anand was always so collected and calm and just kept going – just great.”
Although starring in a movie was never in Vidya’s “plan”, it was an opportunity she pursued for sheer experience having stumbled upon it during recent dance performances.
Vidya also does stints at Bollyworx, an initiative supported by the WDHB primarily for South Asians to get more physically active. “It is basically grooving and working out to Bollywood tunes. I am a 'community coach' there.
"I love dance, yoga, swimming and gym, says Vidya who lived in Tamil Nadu and in the city of Trivandrum, Kerala, where her training in Bharatha Natyam began at age five.
The family moved to New Zealand when Vidya was eight, high-schooled at Rutherford College in Te Atatu.
Her mum works in a managerial role at the University of Auckland and her dad was a bank manager and later worked as an accountant. Although he has now passed away, Vidya’s dad continues to be a “role model” for the family.
Apart from her work with WDHB, Vidya is also pursuing a post-graduate Business qualification with the University of Auckland.
“I am very interested in health and hence work full-time in this sector."
For now, Vidya is confident of Curry Munchers doing well locally and internationally as it is a lighthearted look at life of immigrant families after moving to a new country.
So, does Vidya, who appears to have her feet firmly on the ground, feel Bollywood calling? (laughs) "As for Curry Munchers, I really took things as they came. This was rather an experience for me - a worthwhile one."
For now, Vidya is back to her day-time job.
Photos: Tinaz Karbhari
It’s not a blockbuster out of Bollywood, but the experience of starring in the locally made movie has made a difference in the life of young Vidya Venugopalan.
The 23-year-old South Indian beauty, originally from Tamil Nadu, is one of the leading female artistes in the locally produced movie,...
It’s not a blockbuster out of Bollywood, but the experience of starring in the locally made movie has made a difference in the life of young Vidya Venugopalan.
The 23-year-old South Indian beauty, originally from Tamil Nadu, is one of the leading female artistes in the locally produced movie, “Curry Munchers”, which is scheduled to hit the big screen around October.
Working with the movie has made her a more confident person, says Vidya, who now lives in Sandringham, Auckland, after more than 10 years in the West.
In “Curry Munchers”, Vidya plays Geeta, sister to lead character Siddarth (Anand Naidu) and daughter to Leela Patel (ex Shortland Street) and dad Ajay Vashist.
Ben Mitchell (TK from Shortland Street), Tarun Mohanbhai and Raj Verma also feature among the more prominent star cast.
“The ‘Curry Munchers’ experience has been valuable," says Vidya, whose day-time job is as project leader of Mental Health at a Primary Health Organisation attached to the Waitemata District Health Board (WDHB).
“I cherish having worked alongside as an experienced cast and crew. My family encourages me to pursue my interests and expect that I outdo myself every time in my endeavours.
“It's important to have dreams, a higher goal/ vision, and a plan to get there. I'm working towards my vision with every step and feel happy for the opportunities I've had in life.”
Working with the experienced actors gave me motivation,” said Vidya.
“TK was very professional in his approach and it was good to gauge oneself against that.
“Leela is so experienced, good to work with. Anand was always so collected and calm and just kept going – just great.”
Although starring in a movie was never in Vidya’s “plan”, it was an opportunity she pursued for sheer experience having stumbled upon it during recent dance performances.
Vidya also does stints at Bollyworx, an initiative supported by the WDHB primarily for South Asians to get more physically active. “It is basically grooving and working out to Bollywood tunes. I am a 'community coach' there.
"I love dance, yoga, swimming and gym, says Vidya who lived in Tamil Nadu and in the city of Trivandrum, Kerala, where her training in Bharatha Natyam began at age five.
The family moved to New Zealand when Vidya was eight, high-schooled at Rutherford College in Te Atatu.
Her mum works in a managerial role at the University of Auckland and her dad was a bank manager and later worked as an accountant. Although he has now passed away, Vidya’s dad continues to be a “role model” for the family.
Apart from her work with WDHB, Vidya is also pursuing a post-graduate Business qualification with the University of Auckland.
“I am very interested in health and hence work full-time in this sector."
For now, Vidya is confident of Curry Munchers doing well locally and internationally as it is a lighthearted look at life of immigrant families after moving to a new country.
So, does Vidya, who appears to have her feet firmly on the ground, feel Bollywood calling? (laughs) "As for Curry Munchers, I really took things as they came. This was rather an experience for me - a worthwhile one."
For now, Vidya is back to her day-time job.
Photos: Tinaz Karbhari
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