Shravan, a star in the making

Not every small-town youngster can say they’ve starred in a movie but 15-year-old Shravan can.

The Dannhauser teen recently starred in a local production called Free State, where he played the role of the lead cricket player.

In the scene, Shravan had to go for a big shot, getting caught in the process. While he walked off the pitch, the lead character in the movie, played by former Mr South Africa, Andrew Govender, gives him advice and tells him to remain positive.

Though the scene seems relatively easy, it had to be shot over and over again, from different angles, to get the right effect. Shravan had to be on set from just after 5am till 2pm. Despite the long hours and constant shooting, the day was also great fun.

Shravan was surrounded by cameras capturing his every move as well as by beautiful make-up artists who ran onto the field to ensure he looked the part.
“It was a once in a lifetime experience,” he said.

Shravan also got to meet and interact with his more established co-stars and picked up valuable tips from them. “I learnt new things working with them and made friends in the process. I also have a new appreciation for how movies are made.”

Excited about his first taste of showbiz, Shravan is keen to get into movies again, but behind the camera this time. With his new-found appreciation of how movies are made, he’s eager to direct his own one day.

Ironically though, Shravan didn’t know about the movie and wouldn’t have been a part of it, if not for his sister, Suvana.
Suvana, a former Miss India NKZN Second Princess, signed him up for the movie, a decision he couldn’t be happier with.

Free State tells the story of an Indian man and Afrikaans woman who fall in love in South Africa during Apartheid.

It will be released next year and Shravan, as well as his family, can’t wait to see the finished product.