THE DILIGENT BEAUTY Elli AvrRam

A Stockholm girl with a bag of dreams leaves her beloved country to travel 4,000 miles into the world of her dreams. Filmy as it sounds, Elli AvrRam (EA) came to the city of glamour with arms full of talent and belief that nothing could stop her. In an exclusive conversation with Wedding Affair, our cover girl speaks about her past, present and future, and the how one foreign girl Indian at soul found place in Bollywood with her perseverance.

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Bollywood attracts many dreams, having the power to realise them. When did you start dreaming?

EA: Yes, during my teenage years, for the first time, I watched a full-fledged Bollywood film, 'Devdas'. And it was love at first sight. The television had broadcasted seven different films over a week that had obviously glued me to the screen. Growing up, watching a Bollywood film broadcasted on Swedish television was a luxury. The brimming halo of Bollywood superstars in one frame, sharing dances with opulent backdrop setups, swayed me into dreaming of myself in their places. I still remember I was drowned in the weekend's slumber when I heard my parents screaming my name in excitement, "Elli! Elli! Wake up!" because they knew how much I loved Bollywood. I jumped out of bed and watched the film on a tiny television set up in my room. Watching Aishwarya and Madhuriji dancing and emoting was charismatic. There was much mystery and expression in every frame. I knew my calling when I correlated with the larger-than-life character representation of Bollywood. Mr Sanjay Leela Bhansali, my dream director, instilled the idea of dramatic arts and sketching that coupled with my connection with Greek mythology, my father is Greek. The drama, passion, and the death of love, everything spoke to me. I knew it in my heart; this is what I wanted to do. And it wasn't far when I began planning my steps ahead.

Once I knew that Bollywood was my ultimate dream, the hatching had to begin. I began searching for contacts in the film industry; being a foreigner, I had no sources. I was born with profound self-belief. Irrespective of anyone telling me how they perceived me, I did not have space for self-doubt. Not for a moment I have questions about how I would reach my dream or whether it would happen. I was serious about my research and saving resources so that I could fly with my wings to India one day, and here I am.