Mumbai has given me a lot, says Neetu Chandra, who never even dreamed of landing in India's city of dreams
Mumbai has given me a lot, says Neetu Chandra, who never even dreamed of landing in India's city of dreams. From tiresome paying guest accommodations to a posh 3BHK flat, the actress recounts her initial impressions of the city as she awaits the release of her film Apartment:
House arrest
In my upcoming film, I play the role of a mentally disturbed girl who comes from a small town to Mumbai and gets influenced by the glamour and people. The film shows Mumbaikars' large heartedness their ability to share their space with strangers.
Basically, it is a story of any other girl who's trying to earn her living in this city. And though I did my research on the character on the Internet and got into detailed discussions with my director Jagmohan Mundra, relating to the role wasn't difficult as I'd been there, done that. I too was an outsider to Mumbai five years back.
First taste
Mumbai was a different city to me back then. For a teenager coming from Patna, Mumbai can seem a little intimidating. But I'd also heard that it was the safest city in the country and being a sportswoman (a black bet in Taekwondo), I was confident that Mumbai would give me what I wanted. On arrival, I stayed with a friend who had a 1BHK.
I piled on them for a month and they would crib in jest. But then I moved to a PG accommodation and that was an unforgettably bad experience. I stayed in a small room in JPVD with two other girls. I was pretty naive then and the landlady was so heartless that she would demand Rs 10 just for a cup of tea and wouldn't allow us to enter the kitchen!
However, I've been lucky to come across equally kind people. There was an old couple staying next to us who were very friendly. Till date, they pray for my well-being and call me up or message me the moment they lay eyes on any article written on me.
Finding ground
Today I live in a posh building on the backroads of Lokhandwala in a big, beautiful house that has a huge balcony overlooking the sea. There's also a peaceful joggers park that I frequent and sweet Gujarati neighbours that keep feeding me dhokla.
It is a very positive city and I can't stay away from it for long. So you see, Mumbai has given me so much that now it's payback time. I am UNICEF's youth icon for Maharashtra and we are trying to fight against AIDS and cancer.
WHO: Neetu Chandra
WHAT: Talking about her love for Mumbai
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