One is from London, the other from Coalaba in Mumbai. Nikhil Advani discovered both Maya Sarao who plays Manmeet the bride in Rishi Kapoor's Sikh family, and Simi Melwanu who plays Ashpreet the mousy bespectacled girl who wants to marry a Gora in Patiala House, after rigorous auditioning.
More than a dozen girls were rejected for both the parts.
Maya is quite a global citizen. She was brought up in Delhi then boardingschool in Dehra Dun.She studied acting in Scotland and is London-based. Maya is now hoping to make a career in Bollywood.
"Yeah you can call me a global citizen, " Maya laughs. "It was great fun working in Patiala House. We were actually like one big family.
Rishi Kapoor Sir, Dimple M'aam, Akshay Sir, Anusha Sharma and the rest of the actors ...we were all a part of a real family. That is why the family looked real."
Maya is impressed by the kind of films being made in Mumbai. "It's a privilege to be part of a film like Patiala House.Yeah, I think I can fit into Hindi films.It's a good time for a well-travelled global girl like me. So many kinds of films expressing such different modes of angst are being made. I love it!"
Equally zestful in her approach to the Bollywood dream is the Bollywood girl Simi Melwani who plays Ashpreet, the mousy Miss who doesn't have the guts to tell the patriarch Rishi Kapoor that she has British boyfriend.
Ms Melwani has been named after Simi Garewal. "My father was a big fan of the beautiful actress.So I was named after her.I hope I can convey at least some of her elegance on screen."
Simi is all set for a Bollywood career. "Patiala House gave me a chance to be noticed.It is a small role. But every actor gets a voice in the narrative. So do I. I am hoping Patiala House will lead to bigger things."
