By Rajesh Ahuja
Kangana Ranaut may be making news for her role of Rani Lakshmi Bai in her forthcoming film ‘Manikarnika’ but another actor to watch out for in the film will be Femina Miss India (East) Unnati Davara, who plays rank Lakshami Bai’s loyalist in the period film.
Actress Unnati, who was last seen in the Punjabi film “Yoddha, will be seen playing the key role of Named Mundar, a close loyalist of the freedom fighter.
In an interview to UNI, Unnati, who was seen in films like ‘Neerja’ and Bengali films with actress Rituparno Sengupta and national award winner Ananya Chatterjee, said, ‘I’m playing a role of a fierce warrior, Named Mundar, who is quite close to Laxmi Bai, as her strongest ally.
Mundar is extremely loyal towards her duties, as all the information that has to go to Rani , goes through her. May be, that’s why Rani has a corner that trusts her completely and confides in her as a friend.’’
Asked as to how she got this role, she says,’Producer Kamal Jain, whom I have known for a couple of years, had me in his mind and offered me the role. The only question that he asked me before signing the film was, that do you know how to ride a horse, since it’s a role of a Warrior !! And I was like, Yes!! ‘
Rising the horse for the role, however, proved to be a tough challenge for the actress.
‘Although I knew riding but I always had a fear because I have 8-10 stitches in my head which I got in my childhood when I had an accident while I was learning to ride a horse. That was the last time I rode a horse. And here I was offered this film on the basis of Horse riding! Before the shoot began, we we’re extensively trained in Sword fighting and horse riding by Hollywood stunt director Nick Powell and his team in Hyderabad. However, a day prior to my shoot, I got a shocker that I won’t be riding the same horse. Since I’m a rider, so I can say, one needs to build a good compatibility with the horse before riding.
Finally after Alex, one of the stunt guy told me that this was the horse on which the hero who played Amrendra Bahubali, I simply smiled and hopped on. Trust me, people in the set thought I was riding the horse but my soul only knows that it wasn’t the case,’ she said.
Unnati is extremely excited to have worked with Kangana.
‘’Honestly, Kangana was also one of the reasons why I signed the film. I love her as an actor, and the way she brings all the character in every film is so commendable. I was excited to share my screen space with her as Jhansi ki Rani; and that too her strongest ally,’ she said.
Unnati said that sharing screen space with Kangana helped her grow as an actor.
‘’She’s extremely hardworking and clear on what she wants and want she doesn’t , which in a way, is amazing. To see her energy and enthusiasm towards her role made me grow as an actor. Of course, off Set, we have shared our laughter and experiences, unlike any other girls we used to click pictures, talk and the best part she used to guide me like a friend! All I can say, she’s an amazing person to work with and I also look forward to work with her again,’’Unati said.
Besides films, Unnati has done several advertisements, including an commercial advertisemnet for Titan watches with Aamir Khan.(UNI)
