Latest news with #Mridula
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Mridula Oberoi: I came to Mumbai with no godfather and no plan
Mridula Oberoi from Punjab took an unusual path to acting. She balanced work and family, starting as a teacher. Winning Mrs. India in 2016 changed her life. It led her to Mumbai in 2017. Actor Mridula Oberoi 's path to the entertainment industry was different from the rest. Raised in Pathankot , Punjab, she began working early and balanced family responsibilities with her career. 'I started working very early in life. I got married young and lived in a small town where opportunities were limited,' she shares. Her first job was as a kindergarten teacher, a role she held for 10 years. 'Since my son was small, I chose to stay in the education sector so I could give him time and raise him well. Once he grew up, I joined a corporate job which I had to quit owing to health issues," she recalls. The turning point came in 2016 when she participated in the Mrs. India pageant and won the title. 'I never imagined that this moment would be a gateway to Mumbai and a completely new life. I came to Mumbai with no godfather, no plan—just faith and determination in 2017,' says Mridula. She adds, 'Everything about my life has transformed—but my core remains the same: honest, hardworking, empathetic. I am grateful for the opportunities that got me here in life.' Mridula has been part of TV shows like Appnapan – Badalte Rishton Ka Bandhan, Yeh Hai Chahatein and Kumkum Bhagya. Apart from TV, she has featured in Bollywood movies like Jug Jugg Jeeyo and Love Aaj Kal 2.
Hans India
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Mridulais a character full of layers: Srinidhi Shetty on ‘HIT 3'
Ahead of the pan-India release of HIT: The 3rd Case on May 1, heroine Srinidhi Shetty shared insights about the film and her role at a recent press meet. Talking about her character, Srinidhi said, "I play Mridula, an independent character with multiple layers. Arjun Sarkar, played by Nani, is violent and intense, but when it comes to Mridula, he is very protective. You will understand Mridula's significance only after watching the film." When asked about the weight of her role, she explained, "In investigative crime thrillers, heroines usually have limited scope. But director SaileshKolanu has beautifully blended the heroine's role into the story. In HIT 3, my character has a strong connection to the plot." On working with Nani, she said, "He is such a grounded and natural performer. He made me very comfortable on set, and that reflected in my performance." Srinidhi also revealed that she dubbed for herself in Telugu. "Though initially a dubbing artist recorded for me, I requested the director to let me try. He liked my voice, and it felt amazing to have my own voice in my first Telugu film." Speaking about the film's genre, she added, "There is violence in HIT 3, similar to my previous films like KGF. As the dialogue says, 'I don't like violence, but violence likes me' (laughs)." Praising the technical team, she said, "Mickey J. Meyer's music is thrilling, Shanugaru's visuals are brilliant, and overall the technical standards are top notch." On her rumored casting in KGF 3 and Ramayana, Srinidhi clarified, "I auditioned for Sita's role but wasn't selected. The final call was with the filmmakers."
The Hindu
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
A Bharatanatyam guru's initiative to provide performance opportunity to her sishyas
There is no dearth of talented dancers, but many find it a Herculean task to find platforms to showcase their art. To support young talents from her school Sridevi Nrityalaya, founder and guru Sheela Unnikrishnan has set up SDN's Kriya, a trust that provides an opportunity for young artistes to research, conceptualise and present a margam, and also supports them with a financial grant. Among the first beneficiaries was Mridula Shivakumar, who had to work on the compositions of K.N. Dandayudhapani Pillai. The dancer chose five of his compositions. She began with a jathiswaram, danced with precision and filled with dynamic movements. But it would have been more graceful if Mridula had tempered her pace. Vibrant footwork 'Adi sivanai kana asaikondenadi thozhi' — the Thodi raga varnam dealt with a pining heroine beseeching her sakhi to fetch her lord. The theermanams explored varied rhythmic patterns and Mridula's clarity of footwork revealed her sense of rhythm. The depiction of Ardhanaari, which was incorporated into a jathi, saw her transform from male to female with ease, and made for an appealing addition. The dancer addressed this aspect of love with a combination of Sringara and Bhakti bhava, and the sancharis explored the familiar poetic imagery through relevant ideas. The dance picked up momentum in the charanam lines 'Mathe yarukakilum bhayama' and the chittaswaras that followed. Mridula could do well with a little more attention to the delineation of emotions by maintaining the sthayi bhava. The padam 'Muthamizh cholaiyile' is not frequently presented on dance platforms. It speaks of the heroine's mood and incorporates references to poets Avvaiyar, Elango Adigalar and Thiruvalluvar. The finale was a thillana, originally choreographed for Kumari Kamala for the Hindi film Chori Chori (1956). This complex composition, filled with a lot of calculation and poses, is challenging, but Mridula rose up to it with finesse. Chitrambari Krishnakumar provided melodic support on the vocals. Guru Bharadwaj's flourishes on the mridangam charmed, and Sashidar on the flute and Anantanarayan on the veena provided adequate support. Nattuvangam was by Kausalya Shivkumar.
