‘I give my best to whatever I do’
Srabanti Chakrabarti chats up Amritsar di kudi Sudeepa Singh, who has found a slot for herself in the small screen

Sudeepa Singh, a humanities student from Shahjada College, Amritsar, is all set to rock Mumbai. This award-winning NCC cadet always wanted to be an IPS officer and make a difference to the country. However, destiny had other plans in store for her.

“Things changed when I decided to participate in the auditions for Zee Antakshari being held in our college. That is where I met Gajendra Singh. Though I am a trained singer and can sing reasonably well, Gaj-ji suggested that I take part in Zee Cinestars Ki Khoj that was being held that year. As luck would have it, I came third in the contest,” says Sudeepa, lead star of Kabhie To Nazar Milao.

“I come from a religious family — we are descendants of Baba Hardev Singh and believe in nirankar. I believe in giving my best in whatever I do. I was a topper throughout my student days,” says Sudeepa.

“I was an introvert girl and never dreamt of making it to the glamour industry. But Zee Cinestars Ki Khoj changed everything for good. The way we were groomed during the show was unbelievably good. It helped us gain a lot of confidence through the different sessions. I owe everything that I have achieved today to the show,” says the stunning Sudeepa. “My friends could not believe I was the same Sudeepa as I had changed much after the contest,” she says.

Post-Cinestar, Sudeepa started getting a number of offers from the television industry. “I was offered roles in serials like Ada and Palki. Though I felt tempted to take up those offers but I felt I needed some more time to prepare myself before taking up offers.”

Meanwhile, in her process of maturing and getting used to the industry, Sudeepa started taking up modelling assignments. “I endorsed Tide. Big Bazaar, Mentos and Teleshopping and even did a music video and a Punjabi film with cinematographer Manmohan Singh.”

Then came the offer of Kabhie To Nazar Milao. “UTV (the producers of the serial) was looking for a fresh face for the role of Sunaina, the female lead. But I was not in town when the audition started.”

After Sudeepa came back, a friend told her about the audition. “But I was dilly-dallying and finally I decided to go. And I got the role smoothly. It was as if the role had fell in my lap.”

Sudeepa plays the role of Sunaina — a visually challenged girl who impresses everyone wherever she goes. “It is very difficult to play the role of a visually challenged girl in your first serial. As it is, controlling eye movement is one of the toughest parts in acting. I had to really work hard for this role and spent a lot of time with students in a school for the blind to learn about their gestures and mannerisms. I even took a crash course in Braille for this role.”

When asked about the prince charming in her life, Sudeepa says diplomatically, “I want someone who will understand me and is ready to adjust to my work schedules. Unless you are very understanding and accommodating, it is difficult to have a spouse working in this industry.”

Sudeepa’s favourite serial has been Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin and favourite actor in the television industry — Smriti Irani. “Jassi has changed the entire creative concept of Indian television. It proved that a serial could be successful even without being a typical soap. I must, however, add that my favourite actress is Smriti Irani. No one else has the crowd-pulling capacity she has.”

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