Actress Unnati Dawara is excited about playing a warrior

Actress Unnati Davara a beauty pageant winner, and model, was last noticed in the Punjabi movie ‘Yoddha’. And now, the pretty actress is excited about her role in ‘Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi’ starring Kangana Ranaut. In an email interview with Bombay Times, she discusses about her role and her experience of working with the talented Kangana. Excerpts…

Tell us about your role in ‘Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi’?
I'm playing a role of a fierce warrior, named Mundar, who doesn't talk much, but has a very strong appearance.She is always right next to Laxmi bai, as one of her strongest alllies. Mundar is extremely loyal towards her duties. And all the information that has to go to Rani, goes through my character. Maybe, that’s why Rani trusts her completely and confides in Mundar as a friend.

How did you get this role?
The producer Kamal Jain kept me in his mind and straight away offered me the role of Mundar. We have known each other since a couple of years. The only question that he asked me before signing the film was, that do you know how to ride a horse, since it's a role of a warrior! And I said, ‘Yes’! Although I knew riding but I always had a fear inside me. I have eight to 10 stitches in my head because as a child, when I was learning to ride a horse I’d met with a terrible accident. And now after years I was offered this film on the basis of my knowledge in horse riding.

How about your training for the same?
Before the shoot began, we were extensively trained in sword fighting and horse riding by Hollywood stunt director Nick Powell and his team in Hyderabad. But again after all the training, it wasn’t easy for me also because of my previous experience of accident. A day prior to my shoot I got a shocker that I won’t be riding the same horse! Since I’m a rider, so I can say, one needs to build a good compatibility with the horse before riding. Finally, I met Alex. One of the stunt guys said, ‘Madam daro mat ye Amarendra Bahubali ka ghoda hai, Unki kismat badal gai thi iss ghode pe baith ke. Aap ki bhi badal jayegi’. I simply smiled and hopped on to the horse.
The people on the set thought I was riding the horse but my soul only knows that it wasn't the case.

Would you like to share your experiences of working with a star like Kangana?
Honestly, Kangana was also one of the reasons why I signed the film. I love her as an actor, and the way she brings so much to every character in all her films. I was excited to share my screen space with her as Jhansi ki Rani; and that too as her strongest ally. She's extremely hardworking and clear on what she wants and want she doesn’t, which, is wonderful. To see her energy and enthusiasm towards her role made me grow as an actor. Of course, off-set, we have shared our laughter and experiences. We used to click pictures, talk and the best part was that she used to guide me like a friend. She’s an amazing person to work with and I also look forward to working with her again.