Life of actors may look perfect through Instagram filters, but the real story can be completely different. Born Natasha Hassanandani in a conservative Sindhi middle-class family, Anita Hassanandani led a very simple life. With a strict father keeping a close watch, she wasn’t even allowed to stand by the window as a teenager. Wearing western outfits was a dream, and a 7 pm curfew was the norm. Her relationship with her father was strained due to his alcoholism and his wish for a son instead. Back then, Anita thought she would be married off at 19 or 20, like her sister, who had two kids by the age of 20.
From Receptionist to the Silver Screen
Things changed when Anita lost her father at the age of 16. To support her family, she began working as a receptionist at Manoj Kumar’s office. That job became her doorway to the film industry when Manoj Kumar’s son spotted her and suggested a photoshoot. This led to her auditioning for roles, facing multiple rejections along the way. Her first break came with Subhash Ghai’s Taal in 1999, where she played Aishwarya Rai’s best friend. Recalling the experience, Anita said, “It was a small role, I wasn’t sure how it would turn out. Subhash Ghaiji had told me not to worry, he would help me. On set, I followed whatever instructions were given, and that’s how my journey started.”
After Taal, she got her first TV show, Kabhi Sautan Kabhi Saheli, produced by Ekta Kapoor. Anita confessed she had failed the audition initially, breaking down while attempting a long monologue. “Somewhere, Ekta and Nivedita Basu were so sure that I fit the part perfectly. Ekta brought the script to my house and gave me three days to learn the entire thing and audition again,” she said, according to India Express.
Anita worked in popular TV shows like Kavyanjali, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Yeh Hai Mohabbatein, and Naagin 3. She also did Tamil, Kannada and Telugu films before she quit due to casting couch and body-type discrimination. In Bollywood, she did Kuch Toh Hai, Krishna Cottage and Koi Aapsa. Producer Ekta Kapoor supported her during her low phases including her battle with depression after Koi Aapsa flopped.
On the personal front, Anita’s relationship with Kavyanjali co-star Eijaz Khan ended on a rough note. She said he wanted to change her, something she couldn’t accept and so she walked out of the relationship.
Facing Judgement After Motherhood
Anita married Rohit Reddy in 2013, and the couple has a four-year-old son, Aarav. After a five-year break from television, she returned to work but faced a new challenge — assumptions about her availability post-motherhood. “People are very quick to judge once you become a mother. On TV, getting back after a break is a problem. The industry is already assuming things after you become a mother. So even before you can say you don’t want to work, they assume that you will be busy and you won’t take up work. People think that work has taken a backseat, and you wouldn’t want to get back.”
With age also influencing the kind of roles offered, Anita has been willing to compromise on fees to make her way back into the industry. She is currently seen in the reality show Choriyaan Chali Gayi on Zee TV.