British-born Actor and choreographer, Kashmira Sunni, was introduced to the world of dance at the age of 3, first learning Bharatnatyam and Indian Folk dance and soon adding Ballet and Kathak to her repertoire.
She did her first stage performance at just 4 years of age and by 17, was choreographing dances for public stage performances.
A week after graduating in Psychology, Kashmira was invited to audition for her first Bollywood Film. The film took her to India where she worked for several years as an Actor & Choreographer in films and television.
Returning to London in the late noughties, she now runs her own performing arts company - KASHAK Arts - and has been invited to perform in front of various dignitaries such as the Prime Minister of India - Narendra Modi, and the High Commissioner of India, UK and has worked on large-scale events such as RISE - the opening ceremony for BRENT 2020.
Which place, or city or country do you most feel at home in?
Both London and Mumbai feel like home. London is where I was born and brought up, I understand its intricacies, unwritten rules and etiquettes. But London is the home that was gifted to me at birth. Mumbai is the home I created for myself - it’s where I really came into my own.
2) What are your proudest achievements?
Surviving in Bollywood. It was one of the most cut-throat industries in one of the most cut-throat cities in the world. So I consider it a great achievement not only to have got work there but to have lived there and maintained my career for several years.
3) What inspires you?
I love seeing creative work that steps out of the boundaries - which is not always easy when working with Indian Classical and Folk dance forms which date back centuries. But to see such dance forms used in a unique way or in collaboration with a seemingly contradictory style is what really excites me!
4) What has been biggest obstacle in your career?
Culture. It’s starting to shift, but when I was at school, The Arts were considered a hobby, not something you turned into a career - it just wasn't academic enough. And I think this stifled my progression and caused the delay in my arts career really kick-starting. And even today, alongside dance I work in the more ‘acceptable’ NHS.
5) Who has been the biggest influence on your career to date?
Anyone who's ever been in a Bollywood film! I grew up in a household filled with Bollywood songs and Ghazals and every weekend we'd watch films both new and old. From day 1 I was mesmerised by the stories and the drama of the acting and the expression and grace of the dances.
6) What is the best aspect about your current role?
Seeing the impact of The Arts. I've seen personalities develop, confidence grow and lifelong friendships form. And just last week I received a letter from a student who said that dancing had helped her depression and had helped her through a painful break-up. And even for the audience, for those few moments, you give them a release, an escape, a different reality.
7) And the worst?
The industry often runs on a lastminute basis - with calls for performances coming sometimes only hours before. While this can be thrilling, it's also quite stressful and can lead to hectic scrambles to get both a team and a performance together!
8) What are your long term goals?
As a teacher I want to reach and touch as many people as possible - introduce dance to them and let them avail of its numerous benefits. As a creator, my goal is to direct and choreograph a major stage production! It's a grand goal but As Henry David Thoreau said - 'go confidently in the direction of your dreams!'
9) If you were Prime Minister, what one aspect would you change?
As someone who both uses and works for the NHS, I'd realign budgets to give all NHS staff (frontline and otherwise) their due in a way that reflects the hours they tirelessly work and the risk they selflessly put themselves in. This pandemic has shone a light on this but they have risked their lives to other hazards well before Covid-19 and will continue to do so long after.
10) If you were marooned on a desert island, which historical figure would you like to spend your time with and why?
Anyone who knows me knows I live for two things - dance and Disney! So I'd choose Walt Disney. While he has been widely criticised, he was a pioneer of the animation industry and I'd love to tap into his creative mind and learn first-hand how he turned his initial ideas into a global and eternal brand.
