Did You Know? Tamannaah Bhatia was 13 when she took acting lessons from this 'Paatal Lok' actor

Tamannaah Bhatia recently unveiled the trailer of her upcoming series Do You Wanna Partner? on Amazon Prime Video. The show, backed by Dharmatic Entertainment and featuring a star-studded cast, already had attention, but the biggest surprise came from veteran actor Neeraj Kabi.

At the launch event, Kabi shared a little-known story that instantly became the talking point. He revealed that decades ago, a young girl of just 13 attended his acting workshop. That girl was none other than Tamannaah Bhatia.

Neeraj Kabi's Unexpected Revelation

Kabi, who has built a long career across films, theatre and streaming projects, is also a respected acting teacher. In a candid moment at the press conference, he mentioned that Bhatia was once his student at a workshop many years ago.

The revelation drew curiosity not only because of the teacher–student dynamic, but also because of the sheer timeline. Tamannaah, now 36, has been acting for over two decades, with her Hindi debut Chand Sa Roshan Chehra arriving when she was just 15. To know she was already preparing herself at 13 shows how early her commitment began.

The Serious Student

Kabi painted a vivid picture of those early sessions. He recalled how the teenage Tamannaah was far from a playful presence. She was serious, composed, and fully dedicated to the craft. According to him, she rarely laughed during the workshops and always had her mind focused on what she wanted to do with the material in front of her.

It is a quality, Kabi says, that has stayed with her even today. The seriousness of intent, the habit of thinking through performances, and the willingness to dive into experimentation are things he recognises in her current work as well.

From Workshop To Set

The beauty of the story lies in the full circle moment. At 13, Bhatia was learning the ropes in Kabi’s class. Today, she stands beside him as a co-actor in a big ensemble series. For Kabi, it is not just pride in seeing a student grow, but also joy at sharing space with her as equals.

He described how Bhatia, even now, constantly discusses ideas with directors, plays with different approaches, and keeps experimenting. For him, the continuity between the girl he saw at 13 and the established performer she is today makes the collaboration all the more satisfying.

Rare To Hear Tamannaah Speak So Much

Kabi also observed something unusual at the trailer launch itself. He said it was one of the rare occasions where he had heard Bhatia speak at length. Back in those early days, she was quiet and serious, rarely laughing or chatting too much during classes. Seeing her speak more openly and at ease during the event was, for him, another marker of how she has grown both as an artist and as a person.

A Career That Started Early

Tamannaah’s journey itself is an illustration of why Kabi’s anecdote feels so striking. Most actors enter workshops after years of experience or formal training. For Bhatia, that foundation began in her teens. By 15 she had already entered films, and over the next two decades she built a career across multiple languages, balancing mainstream entertainers with content-driven work.

The anecdote adds another layer to her story. It underlines how she was not only thrown into the industry young but also took the time to consciously prepare herself for the demands of the job.

The Series They Now Share

All of this sets the stage for Do You Wanna Partner?, which brings Kabi and Bhatia back together. The series is directed by Collin D’Cunha and Archit Kumar, with writing by Nandini Gupta, Aarsh Vora and Mithun Gangopadhyay, and creation credits to Gangopadhyay and Nishant Nayak.

It is produced by Dharmatic Entertainment, with Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla and Apoorva Mehta as producers. Alongside Bhatia and Kabi, the cast includes Nakuul Mehta, Rannvijay Singha, Jaaved Jaaferi, Shweta Tiwari and more.

Why The Story Matters

While the show itself boasts a large ensemble and big names behind the scenes, it is this small piece of trivia that stands out. Stories of actors reconnecting with their mentors are rare. Even rarer are moments where both come together as collaborators in front of the camera after years of distance.

For fans, it gives a fresh lens on Tamannaah’s journey, reminding them of how early she started, how determined she was even as a teenager, and how that seriousness has translated into longevity. For Neeraj Kabi, it is a chance to celebrate not just his own career, but also the joy of seeing a student rise and shine.