Tollywood actresses gear up to shake a leg at awards shows

With the awards season going full throttle, T-Town���s leading ladies are a busy lot, hopping from one venue to the other. And no, we aren���t talking about those who are award show-hopping to sweep away all the big trophies this year; but the ones who are busy winning a lot of hearts, (and a lot more moolah) as they shimmy and shake on stage at award shows across multiple cities.Performing live on stage though, is no simple song-and-dance affair. There���s a lot of sweat and blood, and nerves, that go into putting up a kickass eight-minute gig on stage, they tell us. ���And that���s why it���s such a high,��� admits Charmme, whose hit numbers make her a hot favourite for live stage shows.
Love it live
���Dancing for a live audience is a totally different feel. I love it, ���cos I can be myself. It���s Charmme that you see there on stage; not some character... And that���s why you���ll see me smiling and enjoying myself thoroughly. That instant feedback from the audience is all the more gratifying. That���s not something you get when you do a film,��� says Charmme.
Charmme isn���t the only one who loves the raw vibe of performing for a live audience. Adah Sharma, who recently danced to a medley of hit numbers at a filmi function in Hyderabad says, ���I am a professional dancer and I can tell you, there���s no greater feeling than being on stage performing for a live audience. I���ve been dancing since I was three, and I���ve been in love with the stage since then. When your audience is sitting right in front of you, you establish an instant connection. That apart, as actors, these shows give us a chance to showcase a different side of our persona.���
Big bucks, Big buzz
There���s another reason why these busy girls think dancing for award shows is totally worth their time ��� the moolah is big. The budgets that organisers set aside to rope in A-listers to perform at shows is eye-popping. Sample this: ���Top actresses with hit numbers to their name are paid as much as Rs 30 lakhs for a 7-8 minutes gig. It depends on how big the show is of course, but even smaller shows offer anything in the range of Rs 3 lakh to Rs 15 lakh. For a couple of days of work, that���s more than a decent trade-off,��� says a source in the know.
However, there is a catch. Actress Sanjjanna reveals, ���If you are popular and have few hit tracks to your credit, you���ll get invited to perform at a lot of shows. The money is good, but not many know that your performance is judged by the organisers. And if anything goes wrong, the remuneration is cut accordingly.���
But the moolah ain���t all. such high-profile events are perfect to grab eyeballs, get written about, and basically make some buzz. Scarlett Wilson, who has danced in quite a few item numbers over the past few years, confesses that the most important take-away for actresses from such events is the publicity. ���To be honest, we can make a lot more money dancing at big weddings or events; however, the kind of attention you draw at a dance show in a filmy award function is totally worth the effort. All those who matter will be there, watching you. So it���s a win-win situation,��� Scarlett says.
A bundle of nerves
Surprisingly, it���s not all a breeze. Actresses admit to grappling with stage fright throughout their gig. After all, there are no retakes here! Recounting an experience at a recent event, Adah Sharma says, ���Bang in the middle of my performance, my earring flew right into the audience! And then, my anklet came undone. You have to just go with the flow, no matter how uncomfortable you are.���
Even Mumait Khan, who is a seasoned stage queen with scores of hot numbers to her credit, confesses that she���s constantly under pressure at stage shows. ���I get very nervous before performing on stage because everyone expects a lot from me. I have to walk that extra mile to deliver my best. Thankfully, I haven���t buckled under pressure so far. Tocuh wood,��� she says.
Tollywood���s current favourite item-girl, Hamsa Nandini confesses that her biggest fear is that she might fall or trip on stage. ���I had to do a sequence on a chair, and throughout, I kept thinking ���what if I fall?���. It was unnerving, but it���s the fear that keeps me on my toes. And all that dancing keeps me fit too. So, I never say no to dance shows, no matter how nervous it makes me,��� she says, laughing.