Raveena Tandon: My father didn't believe I could be an actress

Raveena Tandon, who was a top star in Bollywood from the nineties to the 2000s, has said that her filmmaker father Ravi Tandon didn't believe she could be an actress, because she never had any formal training in acting or dance.

"My father didn't believe that I could get into acting because I didn't attend acting or dance classes before entering films. After finishing school, I immediately faced the camera, so he was bit shocked. I think he was pleasantly shocked and happy," Raveena recalled her father's reaction on seeing her on the screen for the time, while interacting with the media at the third Entertainment Trade Awards in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Ravi Tandon made films in the seventies and the eighties, and his notable works are "Majboor" (1974), "Khel Khel Mein" (1975), "Waqt Ki Deewar" (1981), and "Khud-Daar" (1982). He was given the lifetime achievement award at the Entertainment Trade Awards.

On the work front, Raveena Tandon is one of the judges on season nine of the dance reality show, "Nach Baliye", being produced by Salman Khan. "It's a coincidence that I worked with Salman in my debut film ‘Patthar Ke Phool', and now I am judging ‘Nach Baliye' which is being produced by his production house. It's a superhit show. I am thankful to the audience that they have appreciated our show. I would urge them to keep loving the show so that we can entertain them," said Raveena.

Every year Raveena Tandon celebrates Ganapati Festival at home. Asked what she would wish from Ganapati in this year, she said: "I never wish for anything from Ganpati Bappa. I am just grateful for whatever he has given me. When I go to any religious places -- be it a temple, a mosque or a church, I only thank God for giving me everything. Coincidentally, whenever Ganapati Bappa arrives at our home, good things happen to us."

Raveena urged people to celebrate the Ganapati festival in an eco-friendly manner. "I want to urge people that now our mother earth is in danger. I feel people shouldn't bring statues of Ganapati Bappa that are chemically painted and which are made from plaster of paris. I think Ganapati Bappa himself wouldn't want people pollute to earth. We are spreading poison in our seas and lakes, so I feel people should celebrate the festival in an eco-friendly manner," she said.

More Bollywood stories and picture galleries

For all latest news and updates, stay tuned to our Facebook page