And the twains shall meet when Anita Peter dons the role of an orphan Brahmin girl in the upcoming film Haviss directed by Sharadhamani. Anita, a multi-tasker based in Hyderabad, is the quintessential modern girl who loves dressing in western clothes and has a very modern outlook on life. But when she plays the role of Gayathri in Haviss, she will be transforming her real life persona to make way for her reel character. Though diametrically opposite, Anita and Gayathri have one trait in common — an inner strength that makes them stand up and fight for their beliefs and to break free from set conventions. It was late actor-dancer Monisha’s mother Sreedevi who informed her about the role in Haviss.
The film is set in the 1950s and looks at the beliefs, customs and superstitions prevalent in the Brahmin community. Anita says, “I found a lot of elements very attractive when I heard the story. I am not supposed to apply any make up in this film. See for me, acting is about playing a strong role rather than standing in one corner in a commercial film. This film will give me a chance to explore myself and my character at a deeper level. I play a Brahmin girl who goes through trying situations but she is not meek.”
The beautiful woman is ready to go to any lengths to add authenticity to her character — including shaving off her lovely locks for the film. She reasons, “For the theatre audition for the role of a mad woman; I ate a plantain- skin and all to add authenticity. I believe that as an actor, I should deliver what is required for the role. I am not Anita in the film, I am Gayathri and if it is required, I will go bald. In fact, I was adamant that I will shave my hair off if required rather than adopting any artificial means.”
A talented dancer, Anita has always been naturally inclined to arts right from her schooldays. She is also an ‘accidental model’, “I was standing by a road in Bengaluru and a jewellery owner came to me and asked if I could be part of an international ad. After getting the go-ahead from my husband, I said yes and that’s how I became a model.” Anita has also acted in a serial and a telefilm. She is also a theatre artiste. “The response you get is instant and I am very serious about theatre,” she reveals. Incidentally, Anita was also a part of the Mrs Kerala contest where she was amongst the top 10 contestants and won a sub-title. Acting is no doubt the icing on the multi-layered cake.
