In a heartwarming interaction at the recent Pinkvilla Screen & Style Icons Edition 4, veteran actress Sushmita Sen extended her appreciation to young actress Nitanshi Goel for her role as Phool in Kiran Rao’s directorial venture, “Laapataa Ladies.” Released in March 2024, “Laapataa Ladies” garnered praise, featuring performances from Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastava, Ravi Kishan, and Chhaya Kadam. Nitanshi received the Best Debut Female award, marking a significant milestone in her budding career.
A video capturing the heartfelt exchange between Nitanshi Goel and Sushmita Sen quickly became a talking point on social media after being shared by a Reddit user. In the clip, Sushmita, known for her iconic role in “Main Hoon Na,” praises Nitanshi’s performance, exclaiming, “Congratulations, what an actor.” Nitanshi, clearly overjoyed and slightly starstruck, responded, “I’m a huge fan of you, ma’am.” The interaction highlighted the mutual admiration between the established star and the newcomer, with Sushmita reiterating, “You’re an outstanding actor.”
Nitanshi was visibly thrilled to be commended by someone she has long admired. She quipped, “You saying this to me has made my day,” encapsulating the excitement of the memorable encounter. Sushmita, however, took the opportunity to advise the young actress for her future journey. With genuine warmth, she encouraged, “You’ve such a long way to go, my love. So young and so beautiful.” Her essential piece of advice for Nitanshi was to “stay grounded,” a sentiment that resonated deeply with fans and followers alike.
The candid encounter was well-received on social media, with Sushmita Sen’s compliments and guidance generating quite the buzz. Some users praised the veteran’s sincerity and expressed hopes that Sushmita would mentor Nitanshi as she navigates her acting career. However, not all reactions were positive, with some commenters questioning the authenticity of the exchange, pointing out what they perceived as pretentiousness in the interaction.
Nitanshi’s mother, Rashi Goel, also shared the cherished video on Instagram, adding, “Such a beautiful feeling seeing my favorite @sushmitasen47 ji appreciating my doll @nitanshigoelofficial’s acting.” The post further celebrated the moment’s emotional significance for the young actress and her family.
“Laapataa Ladies,” co-produced by Kindling Pictures, Aamir Khan Productions, and Jio Studios, is based on Biplab Goswami’s award-winning story focused on women’s empowerment. It tells the tale of two brides whose identities become confused during a train journey, offering a strong message of resilience that contributed to the film’s recognition as India’s official entry to the Oscars in 2025, though it didn’t make the shortlist.
Sushmita Sen continues to make her presence felt in the entertainment industry, most recently seen in the drama series “Taali: Bajaungi Nahi, Bajwaungi” in 2023. Her encouragement to Nitanshi Goel reflects her ongoing contribution to nurturing new talent and emphasizing the importance of humility and perseverance in the acting profession.
