Page 46 - MASALA Vol 8 Issue 6 June-July 2017

to my raised eyebrow. “Actually it’s nothing to do with looks. Yes,
you need to look good behind a camera, but it’s really about what
you bring to the table. You’ve got to be con dent and let your
character shine through. And you have to go after the top lms
and top directors. A bit like at a job interview, you have to connect
with your interviewer, do well at the audition, be right for the part,
give it all you’ve got. Luck plays a role too, and obviously if you
have a supporter inside the industry, which I don’t, you de nitely
have an advantage.”

While the nude lip gloss she has chosen is applied, I ask Aushima
if she has had any ‘if I only could have’ moments. “Looking back,
I think I could have been a lot more successful if I hadn’t been
as nice, if I hadn’t just accepted anything that was given to me,
you know? But it simply isn’t part of my character to be unkind.
Also, I might have been better known if I had done TV rather than
lms, but I just loved Bollywood. I still do! My parents never really
approved of my acting ambitions because of the stigma attached
to this line of work, but they were always supportive and stood
by me. My mother once made a good point: ‘Do TV, not lms; get
into people’s living rooms and more people will know you.’ But
seriously, I have no regrets at all. I’m not like that. Every part of my
journey was important, and helped to make me the happy person
I am today.”

The nal lip coating is applied, and Aushima congratulates the
makeup artist on her work. Just a tad of blush now and she is
ready for the shoot…

Aushima, I ask her, ever thought of what you might have become
if you hadn’t caught the Bollywood bug? “Oh yes!” she replies,
and tells me how she would have probably been a chef. What,
exchange the pageant swimsuit for a starchy apron, I ask! “Yes,”
she laughs. “I’m a really good cook and would have maybe liked
to open my own small café or restaurant. As most of my friends
know, I love getting busy in the kitchen, and cooking risotto, “Aushima’s Thanksgiving dinners are famous! Really, they’re
biryani, lasagne, pork ribs, all sorts. In Australia, where I was that good!” Swanti says as she completes the blush. She
studying, I managed a restaurant and really enjoyed it.” starts packing up the tools of her trade, as Aushima admires
her completed look. “You really are good!” she tells her, as I
sneak in a couple more questions.

Asked if it would be alright if her children were to take after
her, and one day say, suitcase in hand, “Mum, I’m o to
Bollywood!” Aushima replies, “Absolutely, it would. They could
do anything they liked and I’d be proud of them. I don’t think it
matters what you do as long as it makes you feel good about
yourself and you maintain your self respect.”
And nally, what, I ask Aushima is the one thing that nobody
else knows about you? “I think most people know that I love
life, that I’m a big kid at heart, oh and that I am a big soppy
romantic and an animal lover, but there is one thing — I’m not
sure that I want you to write this down though — I was a mean
child. I used to bully my sisters to death when I was young.”
Guilt is written all over Aushima’s face, but is soon replaced
with something like mischief. “Yeah go on, write it, why not?
I guess I’ll get it back one day anyway because I’m a rm
believer in Karma, that what you give is what you get. I’ll get a
lot of ak for it the in meantime though!”

46 | Masalathai.com