November 19, 2004

Evergreen actress gets big break

By Matthew Adamski
Staff Writer

Evergreen native Aditi Doshi recently obtained her first big acting break as the lead role in the film “PyarVyar.com.” The film will be released this month on DVD.

“In the film I play a young woman named Maya Bhansali who has been with her boyfriend for three-and-a-half years,” explains the 24-year-old actress. “He proposes to marry her, but in his approach he shows a different side of himself.

Doshi plays the lead role of Maya Bhansali in the movie “PyarVyar.com” about the woes of using an online dating service.

He’s rude and possessive. As a result she ends the relationship.

“She then becomes depressed,” continues Doshi. “Her friends help her by directing her to a dating Web site called PyarVyar.com. So she uses the site, but she keeps getting bad dates. For example, they are married, psychotic or hair freaks. I don’t want to give away the ending. I will say there is a twist at the end of the movie.”

She explains the film’s title. “The first word Pyar in the film title means love, while the second word Vyar has no meaning. It just rhymes with Pyar. Indians like to rhyme things.”

Previously, Doshi had a supporting role as an FBI agent in the film “Lethal Intentionz” released world wide in December 2003. “’Lethal Intentionz’ had the same director [as “PyarVyar.com”]. It led to my second film role. Having a small role in ‘Lethal Intentionz’ helped a lot.”

She says taking on a character or role different from herself is what she enjoys most about acting, yet becoming someone totally different is also her biggest challenge as an actress. Take her role in the film “Lethal Intentionz.”
“The FBI role was not like me because it was crazy and emotional,” explains Doshi. “It’s difficult to be what you’re not.

I showed a lot of emotion, and I was crying a lot. It’s tough. People are watching you and waiting for you to show emotion.”

Her first film required five to six weekends of work, whereas the second film was very hands-on. “I wanted to know the story well. I shot in every scene. I was involved in post-production. I wanted it to be the best it could be,” she says.
Managing multiple careers

In addition to acting, she is also a co-host of India Post TV, an Indian Lifestyles program. She became a co-host because, “my mom wanted me to enter the Miss 2002 San Francisco India Pageant. I was third runner up and won the Best Formal Wear Award. It built up my confidence.

“There was a banquet following the pageant and I went to it. While I was there, I met the co-host of India Post Television, and we hit it off so well. I then joined the television show. My on-screen experience built up my confidence even more. The director said he liked my talent.”

Aditi Doshi (right) interviews Usha Uttup, a popular multilingual Indian singer, for India Post TV at a fundraiser for the American Indian Foundation.

She also does modeling for freelance photographers and make-up artists.

“I’ve worn wigs and gothic makeup. I’ve done underwater shoots. It’s different,” says Doshi. “It’s fun to be another person for a while. Modeling is similar to acting in that for a time being, you are someone you are not.”

Doshi is also a dancer of various forms of dance including Bharatnatyam, Garba/Raas, and Salsa. She has received six first prize awards at nationally recognized Neema Sari Palace competitions and performed in several dance productions for Shri Krupa Dance Foundation.

“I’ve been dancing since the age of four,” says Doshi. “I’m still performing. One type of dancing I do is Bharatnatyam. It is expressional dancing that depicts emotions. I learned how to express emotions more effectively because of that. Learning that form of dance has definitely helped with my acting.”

How does she manage to pursue her multiple professions? “When you love something, it’s definitely a true passion,” answers Doshi. “It’s something you make time for.”

Fluent in multiple languages including Hindi and Spanish, Doshi says her language skills have been an asset to her career. “Knowing pronunciation helps,” acknowledges Doshi. “My character was Indian. The music video for the film is in Hindi. Since I know Hindi, it helped me understand what it means.”

She began performing in high school class plays during her sophomore year at Silver Creek High School. Previously, she attended Norwood Creek Elementary and Quimby Oak Middle School.

Doshi is a San Jose State graduate with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting. Among her many interests are sewing, swimming, football, roller-skating and baseball.

You can buy or rent the “PyarVyar.com” DVD at www.indiaplaza.com or locally at India Junction (formerly known as New Indian Mart) near Wells Fargo Bank at Aborn and San Felipe Roads.