Chasing the reel dream

Pallavi’s Story Of Dreaming Big And Staying Resilient

Manya Gupta, XI C & Aditi Mishra, XI D, AIS Noida

Pallavi Batra, a film and advertisement actor, television host and voice-over artist has established herself as a promising Bollywood actor with dreams to make it big in tinsel town. She shares with GT the snippets of her journey.

Lights…
My passion for acting was ignited in sixth grade when my English teacher introduced me to the world of theatre. I participated in almost all school productions and went on to attend workshops at the National School of Drama which became my stepping stone in professional acting. Luckily, I have supportive parents who always encouraged my dreams. My first big release was Kuku Mathur ki Jhand Ho Gayi (2014).

Camera…
One of my earliest exposures to how cinema works is how I had auditioned for a Yash Raj film with a broken foot! I had to climb many stairs and dance to the song Bahara Bahara. I was just a kid in school. Looking back, I can now laugh at this experience. I landed my first feature film when I was 14 with director Abhishek Sharma, but my professional breakthrough came in 2018 with Raazi, directed by Meghna Gulzar. Working with such a brilliant director taught me how much precision and dedication filmmaking requires.

Action!
Theatre has always been my first love. I have performed in over 500 live shows of India’s first musical - Zangoora. Theatre is about finding the truth in every role you play. Even if you’re playing a negative role, you must be true to your character. Similarly, the thrill of being in front of a film camera is unmatched. When I am doing a film scene, I feel like this is where I belong. On OTT, however, there’s a lot more creative freedom. While working on a Netflix show, Leila, I improvised a scene by spitting on a shoe before polishing it. The director, Deepa Mehta, loved this and kept it in the final cut. Whichever medium it is, one must follow the director’s vision.

No cuts to success
The biggest challenge in this profession is to learn patience. Once, I had to wait on the set for 16 hours straight, only to be sent home. But one just needs to stay resilient and keep trying. Auditions are a creative outlet for me. They sharpen my skills and help overcome creative blocks. As they say, “A winner is just someone who tried one more time.”

Message for Amitians
You should do what you love but remain true to your values. As long as you’re diligent, you don’t have to worry. Secondly, you always must be ready to grow and be open to change.

Indo-Japan alliance

Bridging Culture And Empowering Minds

AUUP

In a significant step toward fostering international collaboration, a delegation from Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan, visited AUUP on January 23, 2025. The visit aimed to strengthen ties between Indian and Japanese institutions and industries, focusing on talent development, cultural exchange, and technological innovation.
The delegation included key representatives from renowned Japanese companies and organisations, such as Kazuaki Ikeda, director, International Affairs Division, and Akihito Kimura, senior specialist, Hokkaido Prefecture; Aki Minusa, senior official, Economic Strategy Promotion Division, Economic and Tourism Bureau; and Satoshi Sasaki, manager, Sapporo Industry Promotion Foundation. Business leaders from top Japanese firms, including Takatoshi Hayashi, president, Yamako Industry Co Ltd; Eiki Satomi, president, Media Magic Inc; Osamu Watabe, executive officer, Daiwa Industrial Co Ltd; and Kiyotoshi Araki, manager, Sekisho Corporation, attended the event. Ryoichi Tomita, president, Sekisho Career Plus Co Ltd; Keita Shimizu, supervisor, Sekisho Career Plus Co Ltd; and Seko Hidehiro, project formulation advisor, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) were also part of the delegation.
The alliance between AUUP and Hokkaido Prefecture primarily focused on enhancing global collaborations for talent development, aligning with India’s vision of becoming an innovation-driven economy. It also provided students with comprehensive support systems to enhance their adaptability and cross-cultural communication skills. This holistic approach aims to nurture global leaders who can effectively contribute to India’s international objectives.
During the visit, Kazuaki Ikeda, director, International Affairs Division at Hokkaido Prefecture, shared his enthusiasm for the collaboration. He expressed high hopes for the cultural and educational exchange and encouraged Amitians to actively participate in this initiative.
Prof (Dr) Balvinder Shukla, vice chancellor, AUUP, highlighted the university’s longstanding commitment to global collaborations. She praised the efforts of Dr Anjani Kumar Bhatnagar, head, Amity Technical Placement Centre (ATPC), in forging this partnership. Further, she also acknowledged the visionary leadership of Dr Atul Chauhan, Chancellor, AUUP, who inaugurated the Japan Desk at ATPC to facilitate international engagements.
The visit of Hokkaido Prefecture and the Japanese companies to Amity University was facilitated by Anupam Singh, assistant general manager, ATPC, who initiated the outreach and acted as the program convenor for the event. ATPC has been working closely with the Japanese Government and its various prefectures to provide opportunities to Amitians. The Japan Desk, inaugurated earlier, has played a pivotal role in facilitating this collaboration with Hokkaido Prefecture.
The visit marks a milestone in the growing relationship between the two nations. This collaboration is expected to open new avenues for students, researchers, and professionals, fostering a spirit of innovation and cultural exchange. As both nations continue to strengthen their ties, initiatives like these will definitely play a crucial role in shaping a globally connected future.