Actress Tanishaa Mukerji has joined the cast of Akshay Kumar's Marathi production venture "Adhantari" and says she has chosen to do it for her mother, Tanuja and grandmother Shobhna Samarth.
"This was something I wanted to do for my mom and my grandmom. Our family history is steeped in Maharashtra and Marathi cinema has been an integral part of my family. So it was something I really wanted to do. It is a part of my heritage," Tanishaa told IANS in an email interview.
One of the reigning actresses of 1950s, Shobhna Samarth started her career with Marathi cinema, but she is best remembered for her portrayal of Sita in "Ram Rajya". Her daughter Tanuja is known for her roles in "Jewel Thief", "Haathi Mere Saathi", "Anubhav" and Marathi movie "Zaakol".
A decade ago Tanishaa entered Bollywood with horror thriller "Sssshhh..." and did a handful of films like "Tango Charlie", "Sarkar" and "Neal N Nikki", but she couldn't replicate the success of her sister Kajol.
Daughter of Tanuja and late filmmaker Shomu Mukherjee, she also did Tamil movie "Unnale Unnale", Telugu film "Kantri" and even tried her luck in Bengali cinema with "Mukti". Now, she enters Marathi filmdom.
Talking about her role in "Adhantari", she said: "It's a very contemporary role of a working woman of today. She is very clear about her life path and life partner. She is, like any girl today, making her life in a world surrounded by western influences contrasting with an Indian traditional upbringing," she said.
The actress is busy shooting in London at the moment.