I have just finished watching She Season 1 and 2 on Netflix and am bowled over by Aaditi Pohankar’s performance. It is amazing the kind of subjects our writers are exploring and the performances of the actors. The three most significant character in the series are a prostitute, an underworld don and his right hand. The prostitute played by Aaditi is calm and unruffled. She is aware of her sexuality but does not over express it. She reminded of another actress, Antara Mali in the early 2000 who was ordinary yet attractive and sensual without attempting it. Antara quit films post marriage and nobody talked about her. Till I saw She and the similarity between Aaditi and Antara. I was propelled to revisit Antara’s old movies and consequently reread her old interviews. Aaditi Pohankar is outstanding no doubt but Antara Mali and the way she portrayed her sensuality was way ahead of her time.
Year: 2002: Antara Mali, daughter of ace photographer Jagdih Mali, made her debut in a small budget film called Doondte Reh Jaonge, it went unnoticed. Her second film, Dum Dum Diga Diga was shelved halfway, then came Telugu film, Prem Katha followed by Ram Gopal Varma’s Mast and a year later, Company. She was a good actress and the media loved her but she never misused their affection, saying, “Just because I am my father’s daughter, I don’t have to get attention, at least not till I have proved my credentials. People tell me I should not have started my career as a supporting artiste in Mast but I don’t regret the film even in my weakest moment. I loved my character Anjali and it was easy for me because I was playing my age. Company was definitely more complex but I loved playing the role.