Name: Amrit Maghera questionnaire

WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO BECOME AN ACTOR?

I started as a dancer, then went into modelling and did a lot of tv commercials, which then led me to
acting as I realised how much I loved it. I've always loved performing and have done so since a young age
and so I think it was a natural progression.
DID YOU ALWAYS WANT TO BE AN ACTOR OR DID YOU DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT BEFORE?
I was a commercial dancer initially, so I was dancing in music videos and on stage in the UK. Then I was
in a girl band for a couple of years and had a contract with EMI France. After this I moved to India
(Mumbai) and I worked as model. It took me a while to realise what it was that I wanted to do but I knew
it was in the area of performing.
TELL US ABOUT THE JOURNEY
It's been a crazy, unpredictable, roller coaster of a journey so far. There have been major highs and lows,
times when I felt impatient etc....difficult moments, but the highs make it all worth while. I feel very
lucky that I have been able to see different parts of the world, whilst doing a job that I really love.
WHAT IS A DAY IN THE LIFE OF YOU LIKE WHEN YOU ARE NOT WORKING?
I find it quite hard to sit still and chill out but I'm getting much better at this as I get older! I'm slowly
understanding the importance of sitting still for a bit and recharging. I love hanging out with my friends
and family, watching inspiring films, reading, I've also just started learning to play the guitar and my Dad
is my teacher, so I'm trying to practice whenever I get a moment and learning lines of course!!!
WHAT HAVE BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES SO FAR BEING IN THIS INDUSTRY?
I think living in another country (India) and being so far away from my family and friends, was a real
challenge. Now it's like my second home, but initially it was very tough as I didn't speak Hindi when I first
arrived and there were a lot of things that were very different from England.
HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES? WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHERS?
I overcame it probably by remaining positive, speaking to my family and friends on Skype loads. I made
really good friends in Mumbai and they became my family in India. I was determined to stick it out and
to make the most of my time there.
HOW DO YOU KEEP MOTIVATED THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES?
I think by just remembering that things have somehow always worked out for the best even if it was
different to what I wanted at the time. It has also slowly dawned on me that my own measure of success
is what's most important, rather than other people's. I have a really supportive group of friends and
family who also get me through tough times.
WHATS YOUR FAVOURITE QUOTE?
'To Thine Own Self Be True'. - Shakespeare
WHO INSPIRES YOU? DO YOU HAVE A LIFEPHILOSOPHY?
I have met a lot of people a long the way who inspire me both in and out of my family. I get inspired by
people who aren't afraid to show their quirks, individuality and weirdness, people who make me laugh
and those that are positive and hard working, who go for what they want, passion! I get inspired all the
time actually. My life philosophy I guess is just to live, really live out loud!
BRIEFLY TELL US ABOUT YOUR ROLE IN AIG AND DO YOU RELATE WITH IT?
I play Joanna Mendes. She's an actress from the UK, half Goan, who is trying to make it in Bollywood.
When you meet her in the film, she's going through a tough time and facing lots of challenges that
happen with in the industry. I relate to her because she's a dreamer, a hippy at heart and passionate
about her craft. I was able to bring in some of my own experiences as well as a lot of my friends.
Obviously I have first hand experience about what it's like to be from abroad and working in Bollywood,
it was amazing to be able to use that. She's a very pure soul and I admire her.
ANY LAST THOUGHTS ABOUT AIG AND WHAT SHOULD WE WATCH OUT FOR?
I feel so blessed and lucky to be a part of this film. It was such a pleasure to work with all the other
actresses and learn so much from them. I think it's quite rare for an actor to be able to bring their
creativity to the table and here we were encouraged to do so. I have so much respect for our
director...he has not only made a film about women but a realistic portrayal of what it is to be a woman.
It's not just any old film for us, it's our creation and we are all more than passionate about it.

Get in touch
Website: www.amritmaghera.com
Twitter: @amrit_maghera
Facebook Fanpage: Amrit Maghera Official
Insta: amrit.maghera
Amrit Maghera
Spotlight: http://www.spotlight.com/8419-6756-1269
Twitter: @amrit_maghera

Deep in their roots, all flowers keep the light Theodore Roethke .

A lot of us today dont realize the importance of our roots, our traditions and move
away in search of light, forgetting that they lie always in our roots.

This profound realization is what exactly led Abhijita Kulshrestha to begin her
association with Gemstone Universe, a platform of end-to-end service to patrons who
sought error-free Planetary Gem Therapy and fine natural Jyotish Gemstones. Her
strongest belief is that we have a veritable treasure trove in the form of ancient
knowledge and practices but are increasingly getting obscured by a culture that is in
a flux with global influences.

Sharing with us on what drove the start of Gemstone universe, she explains, The
core idea behind Gemstone Universe was to be a change driver first, to make a
difference in the way the gemstone industry, especially the colored gemstone sector
has operated, by incorporating standardization, certification as well as transparency.

It also intends to be a positive agency of change using the ancient wisdom of Vedic
Astrology and the power of precious natural gemstones to create a positive impact
on life of the individual who chooses to implement planetary gem therapy.

Currently operating out of a boutique in Indiranagar, Bengaluru, Gemstone Universe

was initially launched as a brand and entity in 2006, before which it operated as a
part of the parent company Astro Journey from 1995.

Why the new start then?

In 2006 they felt that this offering of providing Natural Gemstones and Astrology
related to Gemstones should be a specific niche that required specific expertise and
skill sets and hence they decided to make Gemstone universe to be that exclusive
brand and identity that would help them achieve these twin goals.

The key to making this happen was to source and provide authentic, untreated,
flawless natural gemstones of Jyotish quality which we are very proud to state is our
specialty, proudly claims Abhijita.

With a move to expand and make the experience of gem therapy interactive and user
friendly, Gemstone Universe launched the online store in 2006 to enable clients to
seek advice / recommendations, select gems / talisman designs online and transact
over the web with utmost ease.

There is generally a wariness among the general public when it comes to buying
gemstones as they are not equipped with the knowledge to choose the most suitable
and quality stone for themselves. Acknowledging this, Abhijita tells us, Fine
Gemstones that are natural and certified come from diverse geographies and require
special skill sets to buy and are not generally available at the jewelers also. Gemstone
Universe has empowered clients to choose the finest Gemstones and buy gemstones
online with confidence and no guess work involved. Gemstone Universe currently
offers consultation & advisory services in the area of Vedic astrology, gemstone
recommendation, gemstone therapy, appraiser services in the field of gemology and
related services. We provide natural, unheated, certified gemstones that are certified
in reputed & recognized labs to our discerning patrons globally in their pursuit of
gem therapy. We are sure this has made the gemstone buying process unchallenging
for customers worldwide.

Jyotish gemstones or rare and precious gemstones are a very specialized department
and Gemstone Universe can surely boast to be one of the few who happen to be
experts on this. Explaining to us about this niche segment, Abhijita says, We refuse
to allow any inventory that does not measure up to the mark of being a Jyotish
gemstone rare, precious, durable, fully natural and flawless (devoid of flaws/
doshas mentioned in sacred texts)- even if it means non-availability of gemstones in
a certain category for some time. When you want to be the best, you settle for
nothing but the best! We have a million plus visitors but we cannot provide a
Gemstone to each of them because natures capacity to produce fine gemstones is
limited and we have several criteria before we pick a gemstone that gets classified as
a Jyotish Gemstone.

Gemstone Universe goes beyond a gem business or an advisory firm. For Abhijita, it
is a way of life and a craft she strongly has an alliance with. The core principles of
Gemstone Universe, as she likes to call them are more about the customers than the
gems themselves. They are:

Respect for the querent: it takes anyone a lot of strength to step up and ask

for help, bare their hearts and say honestly that they want a way forward

Empower people: Abhijita doesnt believe in either fanning the fears of people

or converting them to her viewpoint. Each one to their own! The core idea is to
empower people, there is no greater satisfaction than to see another human life
blossoming, and that you had something to do with it!

Shifting the focus from Gemstone Universe, Abhijita tells us about her typical day My
day usually begins with intention setting and after I have seen my children off to
school, it is an hour of yoga thrice a week. On other days, it is usually intensive
reading usually on the nuances of astrology, gemology, energy healing and Vedic
wisdom astrology in itself is such a wide discipline that mastering it in a lifetime is a
lofty goal! Then it is putting nose to the grindstone till the evening I meet people
from all walks of life, listen to their concerns and work towards arriving at the best
solution for them to achieve all round progress. Evening time has an hour reserved
for my prayers and spiritual practices, post which it is family time. There is more
reading or art, before calling it a day! I love art, reading and writing with a passion.

Running a niche company has its own challenges. Running a niche company as a
female entrepreneur would have its own variety of challenges. The people have
been so disenchanted by conmen, by fly-by-night operators who have exploited the
vulnerability and fears of those who have tried to implement gem therapy by palming
them off fakes and lowest grade mineral specimens in the name of gemstones. Who
would be happy paying a significant sum from their hard earned money only to find
that neither is it a gemstone, nor are any results delivered! Rebuilding trust,
handholding at every step, informing and educating the buyer has been a tough but
big milestone achieved. And then there is also the reservation about being a woman
astrologer defying the familiar pattern I practice traditional Vedic astrology which

is a domain where men have prevailed. I can proudly say that I have made a decent
go of it, reveals Abhijita.

She has handled the challenges pretty well; Gemstone Universe has always
maintained a very strong business ethic. To arrive where it is today has involved back
breaking dedication. The organization is committed to quality whether it is
procurement of gems, quality of consultation, manufacturing of a custom talisman or
delivery thereof!

Her customers are her biggest source of new business, Abhijita tells us. Good work
speaks for itself. For Gemstone Universe, word of mouth has been the most powerful
tool. People believe in real tangible results and outcomes, and when they see them,
more of their family, friends and known people get drawn to give it a try.

Gemstone universe also has a strong social media presence. The Gemstone Universe
community on Facebook is a very active community where on an average 3000-8000
people are talking/ engaging on a particular day. The Gemstone Universe Blog is the
ultimate confidence booster to the client as it has a database and description by
Gemstone experts of 1500+ shipped out precious gemstones of high value.

On a personal note, Abhijita tells us that her biggest motivators are books and
prayers! There is nothing like a good book or a retreat into your inner world that can
offer a sanctuary of calm.

Her advice to budding business owners would be that everyone has a unique journey
and there is no one size fits all mantra. What is important to remember though is
that one adjustment somewhere it could be anywhere in your ecosystem will
spark off a need for adjustments in several areas. While common sense says that you
have to be flexible to the outside influences, your ethic, your quality of work/ output
and timelines should be sacrosanct! No adjustments there.

A person with a very profound background, she bases her business philosophy also
on it. Karma is transaction. So is business. In the process, if you can do a world of
good and earn your living too, its all worth it! she tells us. Sharing with us her

favourite quote , All those who wander are not lost., she also confides that she is
inspired by nature, good poetry or writing, art, children, silence, gem therapy, the
power of prayer and many other such small wonders of life. Heres wishing a
glittering, glorious future to Abhijita & Gemstone Universe!