Up close with Akshara Haasan

Light-eyed, with chic pixie haircut and black androgynous attire, Akshara Haasan is not your everyday Bollywood actress. Here’s the lowdown on Kamal Haasan’s younger daughter and Shruti Haasan’s kid sis who’s making her debut in the upcoming Shamitabh, alongside Dhanush and Amitabh Bachchan.

She quit school to dance

Akshara Haasan dropped out of school when she was in class 11. She was then at boarding school in Bangalore and decided to pursue her first love: dance. She’s trained in Bharat Natyam and Kuchipudi and continues to train and practise. She regrets not being able to make it to the Lasalle dance school in Singapore, because of an accident at the time.

When Bollywood beckoned

Before she was signed up for Shamitabh, Akshara was assistant director to Rahul Dholakia on the film, Society. She also assisted her dad on Vishwaroopam. She says acting is another love and jumped at the idea of Shamitabh. She had, however, previously turned down a Mani Ratnam film.

Discovered by Balki

Akshara was spotted by filmmaker Balki when she was waiting outside a Mumbai studio. He has said she had exactly the look he wanted for the role in Shamitabh ‘minus the blue hair’ she was sporting at the time.

The right genes

Balki said in an interview that while he didn’t quite buy into the idea of genetics determining talent, he changed his mind when he saw Akshara perform in front of the camera. According to the Cheeni Kum director, she’s a natural.

The look for Shamitabh

Akshara wears her hair in a chic, one-sided pixie cut for Shamitabh. It’s unconventional in Bollywood where long, flowy hair is the norm and allows her to show off her triple ear piercing. Her wardrobe, too, is mostly black, another first for Hindi film heroines.

Like father, like daughter

Akshara says she gets her atheism from her dad. She goes to places of worship, but doesn’t pray or perform rituals.

Mr Ex.

Akshara dated Happy New Year actor Vivaan Shah some time ago. Now they are just friends.