Although the innovative Big B starrer ‘Shamitabh’ has met with mixed responses, for its unconventional subject, dainty debutante Akshara Haasan is already ‘making waves’ in the filmy waters and is expected to sign on more movies shortly. Seasoned cinebiz directors opine, that it's not easy to make an impact on screen, when you have legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan and southside heart-throb Dhanush as your co-stars-- and yet Akshara stands out.
According to noted outspoken cine-trade analyst Komal Nahta, the light-eyed Akshara “makes a confident debut but needs to improve her dialogue delivery. She looks pretty but her hairstyle (with her hair often covering almost her entire face) is an irritant”. On the flip side, a section of the gen-now college-going students feel that the cascading strands of straight hair partially covering her face adds to the mystique allure of her enticing green-eyes.
Initially when she plunged into showbiz, Akshara had confined herself to behind-the-camera activities working mostly as an ‘assistant director’. With her illustrious lineage of acclaimed actor-parents Kamal Hassan and Sarika, it was a foregone conclusion that ultimately she would ‘face’ the camera. Not surprisingly, the renowned star-maker director, Mani Ratnam had already approached her for a regional movie ‘Kaadal’ which did not materialize. Eventually it was R. Balki who managed to get her on board for his ‘Shamitabh’.
Call it an uncanny coincidence that in her debut film she extended her real-life stint and played an ‘assistant director’ on screen as well. Interestingly, Akshara who admits that she was constantly in awe of her formidable co-star Amitabh almost shares her birthday (Oct 12) with the iconic actor (Oct 11).
Enthuses the newbie actress, “Working with Amitji-sir is such an honour, a humbling and a learning experience. Although he has acted in hundreds of films, I found that he displayed the kind of passion and dedication, as if ‘Shamitabh’ was his first debut movie,” insists Akshara, whose ‘secret dream’ is to work with Shah Rukh and Ranbir Kapoor in future and emerge a versatile actress-dancer.