Actor, anchor and dancer Ssumier Pasricha takes to devotional music

Mona

If you have missed Pammi Aunty, well, looks like you got to wait for some more time. Dancer-actor Ssumier Pasricha has turned a singer, and a devotional one at that! The actor, who was seen in Sasural Simar Ka and Tenali Rama, won the netizens’ hearts with his funny videos as Pammi Aunty. Ssumieris enjoying the move to Delhi from Mumbai, courtesy the lockdown, and is happy juggling family business; acting assignments and working towards bringing Pammi Aunty back soon enough!

Changing tracks

I set out to become a singer to begin with. I trained in Hindustani music for 13 years. But I hit a road bump and turned my attention to acting as well as dancing. It’s after 22 years that I recorded a song; the music industry has undergone a complete change. I left singing when there used to be live orchestra in recording, now everything is on computer. When it comes to devotional music, T-Series is the boss and I feel fortunate to begin this journey with them. The response is amazing. With the blessings of God, I would love to do more in this genre only, but contemporary music is not my cup of tea at the moment.

Missing Pammi Aunty

I am touched how phenomenally Pammi Aunty grew. In my head, I am always thinking of all kind of acts that I can do. But I moved to Delhi during the lockdown, and in between my business and acting assignments, so getting back to the Pammi Aunty has been tough. I am hoping to do so soon enough though.

Back to dance

I recall being mesmerised by Hema Malini’s ballets, though I couldn’t tell one classical dance from another. By sheer luck, I was paired with Yamini Reddy in a school dance performance at Modern School, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi. She encouraged me and spoke to her father, and I learnt under Raja and Radha Reddy and Kaushalya Reddy ji. Now that I am back in Delhi, I have started my Kuchipudi training once again.

A pronounced Punjabi trait

Tough to give one – khana-peena, mauj-masti, shorsharaba – I am a 100 per cent Punjabi. But if I had to pick one, it would be my tone and how I pronounce certain words. I recall that once on sets of Sasural Simar Ka, the dialogue had the word ‘Aanand’ and I went overboard screaming ‘Anand’, leaving everyone in splits. My accent and pronunciation are still Punjabi.

Acting curve

I am working on two projects; one a web series and another is a film. But I have never got an offer for a Punjabi film! My mother teases me all the time for that. I hosted Zee Punjabi show, had Gurdas Maan and Binnu Dhillon; no one, even for courtesy sake, offered me a Punjabi film!