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Women are complicated beings: Angela Bassett (IANS Interview)

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By Sugandha Rawal
Paris, July 29 (IANS) Don’t waste education on acting — this was the initial reaction that Angela Bassett got from her family when she announced her decision to step into showbiz. But she didn’t see it as an impossible mission.

Be it “Black Panther” or the recently released “Mission: Impossible Fallout”, the Oscar nominated actress is always seen in a strong position in the narrative. And Bassett says all the characters she has portrayed have been a “natural part” of her personality.

Asked whether there was a ‘mission impossible’ in her life, the actress laughed and took a brief pause, before admitting her initial struggle.

“I remember one of the first things that an aunt said to me was ‘Don’t waste an education on acting’. The whole idea of being an actress or an actor seemed impossible to someone of her generation. But to a young 19-year-old, it didn’t seem impossible,” Bassett told IANS in an interview during the “Mission: Impossible Fallout” global junket here.

“You are full of wonder, determination, spirit, drive and passion and with those things, nothing is impossible,” she added.

Bassett has made a place for herself with projects like “The Jacksons: An American Dream”, “The Rosa Parks Story”, “American Horror Story”, “Master of None”, and earning an Oscar nomination for “What’s Love Got to Do With It”.

She has entered the “Mission: Impossible” universe as a no-nonsense CIA director Erica Sloan. The Paramount Pictures movie is distributed in India by Viacom18 Motion Pictures. It opened in India on July 27 in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

Talking about her roles, she said: “I think they resonate with me… Who I am and from where I come from… You know from the south, from a single parent and an African-American. There are struggles that you have to overcome.

“I think you have to have a great deal of strength and resilience to be able to take that journey and to take on some of these experiences and not be disillusioned or discouraged.”

She feels she “brings a lot of that” to her work.

“The roles that I have played, they are just natural part of me. I think I have been able to use that in roles especially because it is something that I like to say in the world about what we as women are capable of.”

What are women capable of?

“We are capable, we are strong, we have a voice — and that we can be all those things and more. We can be mysterious, beguiling, brilliant, vulnerable and no-nonsense. We are complicated beings.”

The 59-year-old feels that the doors leading to a shift in things for women in Hollywood and the world has opened thanks to the discussions around women empowerment and gender parity.

“I think this dialogue, this discourse upsets the status quo, and what is being going on is good. It is a wonderful thing and I think once you crack that door and once we see what we have seen, we can’t unsee it and we can’t close and lock that door again.

“It will just broaden and that is good news.”

(The writer was in Paris at the invitation of Viacom18 Motion Pictures. She can be contacted at [email protected])

–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

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