Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s magnum opus, Heeramandi, is hitting the headlines for its larger-than-life portrayal of the life of courtesans against the backdrop of the Indian Independence movement. Every character in the film, from Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, and Richa Chadha, left a long-lasting impression on the audience with their performances.
However, it was Pratibha Ranta who once again shone bright with the portrayal of 'Shama', Waheeda’s daughter. Pratibha Ranta was previously seen in Kiran Rao’s film, Laapataa Ladies, in which she played the role of one of the brides who gets lost during a train ride. With her latest appearance in Heeramandi, social media is searching for every detail about this Shimla-born actress.
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Pratibha Ranta is a film enthusiast and always wanted to be an actress. Let us look at Pratibha’s journey from the captivating hills of Shimla to Mumbai’s silver screen.
Born on December 17, 2000, Pratibha Ranta was born in a small village near Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. She did her schooling at the Convent of Jesus and Mary in Shimla. In an interview with PTI, Pratibha once talked about her unique connection with Preity Zinta and said that she studied in the same school where Preity Zinta also studied. While everyone in the school used to call her Preity Zinta and teased her, she decided to become a star like her.
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Pratibha recalled how every member of her family told her that everyone’s destiny was not like Preity Zinta. In an interview with Indian Express, Pratibha elaborated on the same and said:
“For the longest, we only had Preity Zinta who made it to the industry from there and my family would often say, ‘Sabki kismat Preity Zinta jaisi nahi hoti.’”
Pratibha came from a small village called Rodo, 100 km away from Shimla, where her parents look after their apple orchids. Raised by her grandparents in a matriarchal family, Pratibha shares a close bond with her dadi. After completing her schooling, Pratibha went to Mumbai to pursue Filmmaking at Mumbai University.
Pratibha’s charm was first recognised when she participated in a beauty pageant and won the title of Miss Mumbai in 2018. This feat opened many doors for Pratibha, who bagged her first television show, Qurbaan Hua. Her performance in the show got her many accolades, and she became a household name.
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Within just six months, Pratibha bagged her first TV show, and it was a big thing for her parents, who never thought she would be able to accomplish her dream within a short span of time. Recalling how it became a big news in her hometown, Pratibha shared:
“From where I come from, TV culture is stronger than films, because one has to travel really far to catch it on the big screen. So my TV debut became a big news. ‘Ranta ji beti TV pe aa rahi hai‘ was the sentiment and my family got major validation, which I needed back then. When you love away from your family, there are low days. When you are rejected after an audition, you come back to your empty house and crash. Eventually you have to sacrifice, and my sacrifice was family time. But I knew I wouldn’t be able to make it big if I didn’t do that.”
Pratibha Ranta began auctioning for films when she realised her growth was limited in the television world. The actress and her father are big fans of Aamir Khan, and when she auditioned in front of the legend, she became a bit nervous but considered herself lucky to be performing in front of her icon. However, her talent was prevalent, and she bagged the coveted role of 'Jaya' in Laapataa Ladies.
Pratibha Ranta had just finished shooting and post-production of Laapataa Ladies when she got a call for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi. The actress plays Shama, the daughter of a courtesan, 'Waheeda', played by Sanjeeda Sheikh. Interestingly, Pratibha Ranta’s sister, Abha Ranta also appears in the series as a young Manisha Koirala.
The road ahead for Pratibha Ranta is promising. She has carved her own path and made a name for herself with just two films. With her talent and hard work, she has made an undeniable mark in the industry.
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