| Deepshikha, along with daughter Vedika and a bunch of friends, was on a spiritual sojourn last weekend, when she visited the Vaishnodevi shrine in Kashmir.
"This was my first visit to the revered temple, and I still can't get over it. I have a major hangover; the Devi darshan is a singularly unique experience. I feel I suddenly have the power within me.
Fortunately, the weather was extremely pleasant. We went to both Vaishnodevi and the Bhairavnath temple, and I feel totally rejuvenated."
Bulawa
The actress says that more than a decade ago, she had an opportunity to visit Vaishnodevi, but couldn't make it. "I was shooting for Mohinder Batra's serial, Ajnabee, in Jammu.
After a hectic shoot schedule, the director and some members of the cast were proceeding to Vaishnodevi. At that time, I preferred to go back home to Mumbai, as I was exhausted and the weather was not too good. Later, I regretted it. Perhaps, at that time, Mata ka bulawa nahin aaya tha."
| | | Deepshikha with her daughter Vedika at Vaishnodevi in Kashmir | The bulawa finally came when Parritosh Painter, the director of Deepshikha's Hindi play, Yeh Tedha Ghar Yeh Medha Ghar, was planning a visit.
"He was going with his sister Sejal Painter, a film editor, and a choreographer friend, Seemaa Desai. As I knew all of them, this time I simply had to go, and took my daughter along. My next visit will be with my son, Vivaan."
Totally awestruck
Describing the five-hour trek to Vaishnodevi, the actress says, "Climbing those steps and chanting Jai Mata Di is a haunting experience. You feel tired but there is a force that pushes you to climb ahead.
Going through the cave, the darshan and finally making it to the Bhairavnath temple, which is at a greater altitude… my daugther, too, was totally awestruck."
Deepshikha says she is a firm believer in the power above. "Whenever I am shooting in the south, I make it a point to visit Tirupati. I also visit Shirdi, but Vaishnodevi is truly overwhelming." |
| Acting front
Has shot for Kishore Shahane's Marathi film, Motyachi Renuka, in which she plays an NRI at a call centre. "Everyone thought, 'will Deepshikha manage to speak Marathi?' But hey, I am Mumbai-bred and can speak and write in Marathi. I had taken Marathi in school, and not French. As the role is of a NRI, I can get away with the pronounciations."
Features in Vinod Pande's film, Red Swastik, in which she plays a magazine publisher.
Appears in the Pakistani serial Kuch Gap Kuch Sach Hai, on Geo channel.
Seen in Parritosh Painter's Hindi play, Yeh Tedha Ghar Yeh Medha Ghar.
Has shot for the Sony thriller, CID, which will be telecast in the new one-hour format on Friday. | |
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