Rashmi Rekha Das
Dancer and actress Nishita Priyadarshini is a multi-talented girl who believes in sheer hard work and absolute dedication
She is a super cute girlie who can bowl you over when she smiles. She plays the role of Mani in the mega soap ‘Manini’ aired on Sarthak channel – one of the most-watched Oriya serials. The multi-talented and vivacious Nishita Priyadarshini, popular as Mani on the small screen, speaks to Orissa POST about her aims and hobbies.
Class I student of Sai International school, Nishita hails from Angul. Born to CBI officer Salil Kumar Pradhan and homemaker Tapati Das, Nishita is a known face in fancy dress, mono act and fashion competitions. Many awards have come her way.
She has wowed the audience with her acting skill and is also passionate about dancing. Dance to her is a method of expressing passion and devotion.
Asked how Nishita made her debut in acting, Tapati said: “She is a born dancer. Since childhood she used to watch dance programmes and follow dance steps. She took part in the dance reality show ‘Everybody Can Dance’ aired on Zee when she was just three. Although I taught her the basics of dancing, Saroj Sahu, an engineering student who discovered her undying passion for dance, took to grooming her. Her dancing career flourished after her performances in ‘Everybody Can Dance’, ‘Super Dancer’ and ‘Dance Odisha Dance’. Nishi grabbed eyeballs and bagged the offer to play a role in ‘Manini’. Judges offered her Mani’s role after seeing her dance steps on stage during the audition.”
Recounting a memorable experience, Nishita said: “I am popular as a one-take artiste. I was proud when director Sir said I was a born artist. You don’t require several takes and glycerin for tears. Those words of his meant a lot to me.”
“I love eating dry fruits and salads during shooting which is why my co-artistes call me the future heroine. The comment brings a smile on my face,” added Nishita, the winner of the Miss Little Heart 2015 title.
“What I like about Nishita is the fact that she is very understanding. She is a hardworking girl who has always pushes herself to achieve greatness. Her dance performances are enticing and filled with shocking steps. When she signed on the agreement paper to play the role of Mani, she was strictly instructed not to take part in any reality shows as per the television channel’s policy. She was allowed to participate in ‘Dance Odisha Dance’ after several requests. It was very hectic on her part to shoot for the mega soap and rehearse dance steps. One day she returned from shooting at 11 pm and was supposed to perform at the final round the next day. Instead of going to bed, she started rehearsing at 11 pm and continued practising till 3 am. She has inculcated a do or die attitude be it dance or study,” said Tapati.
“I was a kid when I was selected to perform in the reality show ‘Super Dancer’ held in Kolkata. I had to appear for my annual exam two days after the performance. I took up the challenge. There was just a day left for the exam when I returned home after performing at ‘Super Dancer’. I was neither upset nor worried. I spent the entire day preparing for the exam. Much to everyone’s surprise, I stood first position,” she added.
