Once there was a girl who made it to the big screen in Pollywood. She starred in Punjab Bolda with Sarbjit Cheema and this is the story of her experience with her first big movie premiere. Oh, and the girl is me if you haven’t guessed by now! 🙂
12 days out from the premiere and I board a plane with my bags and land in Punjab – a place with the most beautiful people, colors and sights. We want to spend the next few days letting everyone know about the film and we have only 12 days to do it!
From colleges to political rallies to malls, even radio and television stations Sarbjit Cheema and I would do everything from giving speeches on the role of youth in today’s India to giving live performances of hit songs from our film like Teri Meri Jodi and the title track Punjab Bolda.
Therefore it was a brilliant idea to wear an exceptionally, beautiful, Indian dress for my music launch: A very pretty, bright pink/orange long Anarkali dress by Nishka Lulla, which was playful and cute and I felt super amazing! But it wasn’t time to rest, the promotions weren’t over yet.
I had one unforgettable experience at Khalsa Lyallpur College in Jalandhar! The moment we entered the college, thousands and thousands of students cheered in excitement! It was so overwhelming and powerful that in that very moment I realized what huge influence film or media has on our generation today! We can do or change so much in our country, just by at least inspiring them to do the right things.
After a whirlwind 11 days, we ended up performing for over 10,000 people and gave countless interviews – but now it was the night of the premiere and the stakes could not be higher.
I walk into the hotel to get ready for my premiere. I have 2 full hours to pamper myself and look gorgeous! I go to the front desk to collect my dress which should have reached from Mumbai. Then suddenly… sweat pearls start forming on my forehead.. Oh God!! My premiere dress hasn’t reached yet!! Where IS it? Aahhh!! 2 hours are left only for the Premiere and I have no dress to wear! Frantic calls to the delivery boy don’t help either! Think Anisha think!!! I quickly run up and empty out my 2 suitcases and throw everything on the floor! Something else needs to do the job.. Nervousness kicks in – just 45 minutes left! I take out each and every dress and t-shirt, try to mix match it… No hope.. 20 mins left.. I start receiving calls asking where in the world I was. Oh God! 10 mins left. Suddenly I hear a knock on my door! I open it and tadaaa! My beautiful, super-gorgeous dress by Nikhil Thampi has ARRIVED at the very last moment! Pheewww!!! I take it out and immediately fall in love with the black/golden embroidery on top and layered style! WOW! Anyways, no time to think now, I wear it and get ready quickly.
Last look in the mirror: make-up, set! Hair, set! Dress set! So jet set go!
I was on time for my own premiere! Thank god! All eyes on me… click click click… photographers and media everywhere. Wow this is it! We are entering the theatre, last prayers. It would all come to an end today. This is the moment where the audience is either impressed or depressed by my performance! I’m sitting in the theatre my name “Introducing Anisha Pooja” pops on screen and the audience starts applauding loudly and I get goose bumps.
Finally the film is over as well as my fear of disappointment. I did it! YES! People were impressed. Phew!
And after all this limelight and glitter, Once the film and premiere is over, you kind of come back to normality… to your normal daily routine. But It was an experience of a lifetime! I do have to say when all eyes are on you and everyone wants a photo or an autograph of you, you feel that YES, I’m finally earning the fruits of my hard earned and long awaited harvest.
Thank you God, life and everyone in between who has been a part of my journey till here!
Facebook: anishapoojaofficial
Twitter: @anishapooja
Instagram: AnishaDixit