Fresh Honour

Mohindra is a force to reckon with in Punjab’s art arena. A veteran of theatre and Punjabi cinema,she is also a teacher of fine arts. Mohindra began her acting career with a movie,Kaya Taran directed by Sashi Kumar. She has acted in many Punjabi movies like Dil Apna Punjabi and Jag Jeondeyaan De Mele and admired for her histrionics in plays like Buhe Barian. Her directorial skills have passed the test with Jis Lahore Nahin Wekheya and her role as Maharani Sada Kaur in Doordarshan’s ongoing TV serial Maharaja Ranjit Singh has established the versatality of her acting prowess. Her forthcoming films include Nishchay Kar Apni Jeet Karoon,directed by Puneet Issar,Ik Kuri Panjab Di and Ik -noor to be released shortly.

Her dedication and professionalism strikes a rare chord in today’s commercialised world where art itself is being monetised. Theatre guru Barry John wrapped up Imago,his acting school in Delhi a couple of years back,contending that theatre as an art form was now dead in the Capital. Are such shifts indicative of the fact that the performing arts are dying? “Not at all. Rather,this is the best time to be a performer as the performing arts have received a fillip thanks to a robust media,a trend not there when I started out in the late 1970s. Theatre then didn’t get the publicity it gets today. This leads to more work for theatrepersons. John’s move could perhaps be a result of the stiff competition the National School of Drama offers to just about any acting school in Delhi,” she says.

We ask Mohindra if she intends to impart formal training in the performing arts. “It gets tedious for one artist to do so. Small-time schools that have mushroomed all over these days are doing more harm than good because I believe it is not possible to either teach or learn acting in 4-6 months,which is generally the duration of these acting courses. It is a lifelong process,rather a worship,” she says. And is she eyeing any other award after the long list of laurels she already boasts of? “Honestly,I didn’t even expect this one coming my way,” she laughs.