Actors who wear their dancing shoes are popular on TV shows, particularly on special occasions like Christmas and New Year. Celebrities who specialise in dance are in great demand as they can floor viewers with their dancing skills.
Shamna Kasim a.k.a. Poorna is one of the most popular dancers on the small screen, whose performances have captivated the audience. “Dance is my life and nothing can take me away from it,” she says, adding, “It is through my dance that I got recognition as an actor. Both acting in films and dancing on stage are going fantastically well for me. I have learnt a lot through dance, and it has empowered me with confidence. Dancing involves talent, passion and commitment, which are also the most important requirements for an actor. So, my first preference is always dance. In fact, the audience has accepted me as both an actor and dancer,” says Shamna.
Shamna believes that the demand for her as a dancer never had repercussions on her career as an actor. “I don’t think doing dance or stage shows on television, creates a smoke screen for my acting. I have no regrets about doing stage shows. There is no limitation or a framework to prove your talent. Many actors started their career on the small screen and moved to films. And people have accepted them, unlike in the old days when people had difficulty in accepting small screen actors on the big screen. Now they openly ackÂnowledge them. It is the same for dancers-turned-actresses.”
Interestingly, these dancers-cum-actors are in great demand for their acting in other languages like Tamil and Telugu even if they were unable to cash in as actors in Mollywood.
Shamna Kasim is going great guns in Tamil and Telugu movies, but her success as an actor in Mollywood has been elusive. “When people hear my name, first thing that come to their mind is my dance, which is a good thing. I am busy with films in Tamil and Telugu. You don’t see me in Malayalam films frequently, only because I am looking for an offer that will give me scope for performance too. Despite my hectic schedule, I still nurture my passion for dance, thanks to these television shows.”
Actor Mahalakshmi, another professional dancer who made her debut in Mollywood, is also getting more offers from other film industries. These dancing queens deny they are typecast because of their dancing talent. “I believe my dance improves my acting. For me, acting and dancing go hand in hand. Dancing on stage gives me immense happiness, and I do it without fear of being typecast. In fact, I do dance shows as a mark of respect to the art form. It gives me exposure and helps people recognise me when I act in films,” says Mahalakshmi.
In complete agreement with Mahalakshmi is another classical dancer Malavika Wales. “For a dancer-turned-actor, acting skills should be sustained in some way. Dance shows help us retain our passion for our dance. Besides, in films, people do not get a chance to see our dancing skills. These shows help us showcase our potential in dance.”
