Twin tales

Call it a double whammy. A pair of twins, aged 10. One loves singing. One loves dancing. Both act. They were born two minutes apart — Ashoi (purity) and Anaushka (eternal love) Dantra. They are not identical but have "same speak” often, much to the annoyance of Ashoi who with the enthusiasm of a child tells her sister. "I’ll say, I’ll say. You say after me.” After Ashoi has had her say, Anaushka holds forth — articulate and definite in her views.

In Bombay most girls of 10 go to school, play, watch television and go for tuitions. Ashoi and Anaushka do that in addition to maintaining a strenuous schedule that includes acting for Hindi films like Guru and Help, shooting for commercials like Britannia Tiger biscuits, Reliance Mutual Fund, Himani Cough Syrup, Amul Butter, Horlicks Lite… and walking the ramp for UK’s Peacock Garments. They think nothing of learning a song between midnight and 2 a.m. so that they are prepared for a shoot the following morning. They both insist that they enjoy this right now, but have kept their future career options open. Ashoi says, "I am going to become a pilot. When we grow up we shall see…” Ana-ushka is uncertain whether to be an astronaut or a gynecologist because she loves babies! They both love history, geography, science. What do they read? Akbar-Bir-bal tales, The Panchatantra, geography books and travel.

Their mother Rukhshana is obviously the moving spirit behind their current career. She started them off young at age three and then let them continue in the entertainment business when she realized they enjoyed themselves. "I used to do modelling but had to discontinue when I married into a family which was not happy that I continue.” The former model knows how the business functions, though she admits to learning the ins and outs on the job. Her husband Boorzeen sails and travels all over but keeps in regular touch.

(Top) Twins Anaushka (left) and Ashoi Dantra (Right) Ashoi featuring in the Britannia Tiger biscuit advertisement

When the twins are asked if they are different from their fifth standard classmates at the J. B. Vachha High School for Girls, they simply say "a bit.” Mature in some ways and girly in others, Anaushka pleads with her mother for more sweet biscuits while Ashoi asks her to show a picture of her with a boa at the zoo in Singapore from where they have just returned. Ashoi declares she loves snakes and urged her twin to hold the boa as well. She reveals, "Ana-ushka was scared at first but then I made her touch the snake and she was not frightened. I love snakes.”

Equally talented is their younger brother, six-year-old Keyan, a student of St Mary’s, ICSE. Also interested in acting, he has already lent his face for three commercials. In fact he was only seven months old when he featured in a television advertisement for BPL mobile. "É facial expressions maa chhokrioné phori jai (his facial expressions far surpass his sisters’),” explains Rukhshana.

Zoroastrianism is a serious commitment here. The twins pray before every assignment — an Ashem, a Yatha. A touching practice is that they place their earnings first at the prayer table before banking the cheques. The girls are proud of their heritage — they speak fluent Gujarati and regret they can’t read it well.

Their mother shared that she was at first apprehensive about the twins acting in Hindi films as the family talks in Gujarati and English. She exults that hers are the first twin girls from the community to enter the film industry and do modelling. "Twins are easy to get in,” she says. In the film Guru, they sing a song for their dad (played by Abhishek Bachchan) as he lies paralysed in hospital. Intimidated at being surrounded by a crowd of extras, Bachchan had the room cleared of all hangers-on so that it became easier for the duo who gave the first shot, first take.

The twins with (far left) parents Rukhshana and Boorzeen and brother Keyan; (center) with Abhishek Bachchan and (above) with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Their proud moment was when noted film director Mani Ratnam picked them up and complimented them on being the "superstars of tomorrow.” They argue about who was picked up first, each one claiming it was the other. Anaushka said, "I had butterflies in my stomach... At first I was wondering why he came to me — had I done something wrong?” Ashoi’s recollection was different. She had asked for water and was wondering why Ratnam was coming to her instead, when she realized that he was picking up the six-year-olds to congratulate them.

When asked "What do you think of child labor?” there was hardly any hesitation. Both were sure acting is not child labor. Their consent had been taken and they enjoy what they do. They are selective and see to it that all their requests are conceded to…

They even agreed to act in a horror film, Help, working 16 hours at a stretch. The promos of Help show them as young Pia and Dia. Dia dies and returns as a ghost. Ashoi plays Pia as a child while the older Pia is played by Mugda Godse. Anaushka plays the ghost of Dia. As part of a scene, Anaushka had to stand all alone in the forest where leopards are said to prowl. She was not too perturbed, but her mother was very fearful. No drama happened in real life, and the shoot went off like a breeze. Anaushka said she stood still as she knew Behram Yazad would protect her. Ashoi covered her ears, "I don’t want to see it. And mum, only show the promos, don’t show everything.”

The twins seem to know when to act, with whom, and how much. As they find their space on the screen they seem ready to reel ahead at their own pace.