Sudha Chandran is a successful Bharatanatyam dancer and an actor in Indian films and television. Born in 1964 in a Tamil family, Sudha Chandran started her dance education at the tender age of 5 in Kala Sadan, Mumbai. She earned her B.A & M.A from Mithibai College, Mumbai.

At the age of 16, she met with a tragic accident and lost her right leg. That however, didn’t deter her from pursuing dance.

She has acted in more than 30 movies in different languages. She was honored with various awards for her stage performances in Europe, Canada and the Middle East. She also runs Natya Mayuri Sudha Chandran Dance Academy in Mumbai.

She was in Kuwait recently to attend 'Jhoomte Sitare', the annual dance jubilation of Dancing Divas. IIK’s Young Reporter D.R. Pratyusha held an exclusive chat with Ms. Sudha Chandran, the all in one dancer, actress, teacher and social worker. Here is an extract from the chat.

Pratyusha: At what point of time in your childhood did you realize that you were inexplicably bonded to dance?

Sudha Chandran: I think it would be wrong to say I was born to dance; rather my parents decided to make me a dancer. My mom was a classical singer. Hailing from a south Indian family, she always considered art to be a very essential part of culture. My mother always wanted to be a classical dancer but she was never given the opportunity to become one. She decided that if she were gifted with a daughter, she would definitely make her a dancer. As per her wishes, after her marriage a daughter was born. That's how I became a dancer.

I began dancing when I was three, and no three year old can decide what she wants to do in life. It’s the parents who decide for her. I would give this credit to my mom and dad.

P: Some people perceive dance as their companion, while others take it as a means of diverting their attention from their stressful and mundane lives. What is dance to you?

S: Dance is my existence. When I started dancing, it was just a part of my curriculum. But as I keep telling the younger generation, you never know when your hobby becomes your bread and butter.

Also, only when something is snatched away from you do you realize its importance. After the accident, dance became the most important aspect of my life. Today, I truly cherish dance.

P: What is the secret behind your graceful gestures that fetch you fans and fame even today?

S: I think it's the ability to lead my life in a very positive way. When people meet me they are energized.

We waste a lot of time in introspection. There’s no point in asking-Why did it happen? How was it done? Because these are questions, for which we have no answers. Push away these doubts and move forward. Always ask- what’s next? That has been my mantra and that's the reason people are inspired by me today.

P: Amongst the various equally challenging and beautiful dance forms in India, if you are asked to choose any three, which would you choose and why?

S: Well for me it has always been Bharatanatyam, because Bharatanatyam is a blend of Abhinaya and Nritya or- expression and footwork. I am not demeaning any other art form. I pursued Bharatanatyam, so 1, 2 and 3 have always been Bharatanatyam for me.

P: What are the factors that have inspired you to take up the roles that you so wonderfully play in the daily soaps?

S: I really don’t know. When I started my career with Mayuri I had this very next-door girl image. Only after I played a negative role did people actually start recognizing my potential.

Besides, I think it’s very important as an actress to explore yourself. There are two types of actors. The first type includes people who are only comfortable working with the genre that they belong to.

Then there are those actors who want to break the mold every time, and I belong to the second category.

Being repetitive leads to monotony. Imagine going on set every morning only to mouth your lines and cry in the episodes! After a point of time I get bored and start experimenting. On the daily soaps, the most flamboyant makeup and outrageous dressing will be mine, but it will be within the parameters of my character.

P: Though today you are a very well acclaimed, did you at any point of time in your career feel that the feedback from the audience wasn’t great?

S: Yes. When you try to revolutionize something, there will always be a plus and a minus. I was judging a dance reality show-Super Dancer, which aired on Amrita TV. For the first time people actually stood up to the fact that judges can also dress differently, because I had worn feathers and other heavy ornaments.

Initially people found me very garish, outspoken and loud, but if you switch on the T.V, everybody is following the same trend!

You have to have the patience, guts and courage to stand up to your convictions.

If you give the audience time, it will eventually accept these new styles.

P: What drove you to take up this profession even after the horrific incident in which you had to forgo your right leg?

S: Just to prove a point. I wanted to show the world that I would certainly dance and nothing was going to stop me.

P: You are a source of inspiration to many, but who or what has been your inspiration?

S: Failures. I have never kept anybody as a role model in my life, but I've always kept failures as my stepping-stones to success. When somebody tells me that I can’t do something, I go out of my way to challenge myself and prove the person wrong. That’s what motivates me.

P: Even today, many women strive to leave their mark in this world. What is your advice to the women of today?

S: Women have a lot of strength. Unfortunately, they don’t want to tap it. They are scared of facing opposition from the society and their own people.

I think it’s very important to understand yourself, understand the strength within you and stand up for your rights within the parameters of a family life. You must not do anything that defies the norms of a family.

P: You are a very busy person. Yet, you balance both family and professional life effortlessly. Can we know the secret behind this success of yours?

S: I haven’t balanced my family; my family has balanced me. My family has done everything for me. I'm very lucky to have a wonderful father and a wonderful husband.

My family has always supported me. I never feel like an outsider, because each time I come back home I’m always pampered. When I feel I need them, they travel to be with me. At no point of time am I ever lost.

One's family life has to be very balanced and happy for one to be truly successful.

P: Listed amongst the top ten specially abled, known as India's Wonder Girl and Natya Mayuri, Ms.Sudha Chandran, did you ever meet a friend with a story as awe-striking as yours?

S: I haven’t come across stories, which are similar to mine but have definitely come across stories that are worse than mine. The very same people have become successful in life by doing fantastic things. When I meet such people in reality shows or elsewhere, I am humbled. I feel that what I’ve achieved is a tiny drop in comparison to the ocean of their achievements. I keep reminding myself that there are a lot more things to do. What I’ve done so far is just the tip of the iceberg.

P: What are your plans for the future?

S: I don’t plan my future. I live for today.

P: Can you tell us more about your association with voluntary organizations?

S: Seeing is Believing. When I met with the accident there was no role model whom I could look up to for inspiration. Today, I lend myself as a