Ashique Banaya Aapne is as important as Chocolate: Tanushree
Noreen Aslam

BOMBAY—Ashique Banaya Aapne is as important to me as Chocolate is,” says Tanushree Dutta. The film marks the sexy former Miss India’s debut this week and sees her share space with Emraan Hashmi and Sonu Sood. But, if things had gone on schedule, her debut would have been Vivek Agnihotri’s Chocolate, starring Anil Kapoor, Suniel Shetty, Arshad Warsi, Emran Hashmi and Sushma Reddy. Unfortunately, Chocolate has been pushed back for release later this month.
Want to know more about this gorgeous woman? Read on!
I was born and brought up in Jamshedpur. High school was in Pune. I come from a very conservative middle class family and have no connections with the film industry. Becoming an actress was a childhood dream I told no one about. It was only when I came to Pune and started modelling that they understood what I really wanted to do. I came to Mumbai when I was 20.
I’ve always wanted to be Miss India. I would watch beauty pageants as a child, wanting to be part of one. When I came to Mumbai, I decided to give Miss India a shot.
Winning the title was an amazing surprise. I don’t think I was prepared for it. It seemed so unreal for days after I won. Slowly, I realised my responsibilities, as I had to represent my country abroad. My trip to the Miss Universe pageant was also good. I came in the top ten but didn’t win. It was disappointing because I had really worked hard for it.
When I finished my Miss India commitments, Chocolate came along.
Initially, acting was more difficult than participating at a beauty pageant. You have to loosen up and really emote. But I am comfortable with it now.
Aashiq Banaye Aapne is a love story between Emraan Hashmi, Sonu Sood and me. It’s a triangle. Emraan has become a friend now, because we’re doing two films together.
As for Chocolate, it is about seven people and certain incidences that shake their lives. It is set in London. Chocolate is not a typical commercial film, so I am not paired opposite anyone. There are no romantic songs either. I play Simran Chopra, a shrewd, ambitious character. She wants a lot from life and is not willing to compromise on anything. She’s very manipulative.
Anil Kapoor is extremely nice and professional. I learnt a lot from him. The kind of discipline he follows in life and work is something one should learn. It explains why, despite being in the industry for so many years, he still shines.
Sometimes, Suniel Shetty would help me with my scenes when I would get nervous.