'I want to do everything!'

Sometimes, life has a tendency to take you down a road you never thought you would tread. Such has been the case with South Indian actress and singer Ester Noronha.

Born in Bahrain, Noronha, 23, whose paternal family has its roots in Goa, began showing an interest towards music at a very young age.“ I used to sing and dance to film songs when they came on TV and was always encouraged by my family,” she recalls.

After returning to their hometown in Mangalore, Noronha was enrolled her for classical piano, Carnatic singing and Bharatnatyam dance classes and continued to impress at competitions both at school and in the diocesan competitions and soon began performing professionally.

But it was after shifting to Mumbai to pursue Social Studies at St Xavier's College, that she was noticed by noted Bollywood choreographer Saroj Khan.

“Saroj Khan recommended that I give films a try. However, I was still in 12th standard and entering films had never crossed my mind. Plus we didn't have anyone in the industry and I thought that films were not for me,” remembers Noronha. Khan then invited her to join her dance school where she learnt Kathak and Bollywood dancing and also suggested that she join Anupam Kher's acting school. It was after performing a play at the school that a few film industry again advised her not to let go of her talent.

Deciding to give acting a shot after all, she signed on to a film Baromas which Khan was choreographing. Ever since, the offers have not stopped coming and Noronha has since worked on films in different languages like Telugu, Kannada, Tulu, Tamil, Marathi and more recently Konkani. “ I know of actors who have worked for years in an industry and don't know a word of the language. However, I always make it a point to learn the language of the film that I am working on as it is easier to work on once you know the language. Plus it is easier to interact with the team too,” she says.

Talking about her contribution to the award winning Konkani film Nachom ia Kumpasar, where she lent her voice to the song Meu Amor, Noronha says that she is glad that this has brought her closer to the Goan people. “In 1970s there were some good Konkani films that came out, but the quality faded after that. It is only after Nachom ia Kumpasar that things have picked up again,” she says. Her stint in the film also secured a few shows and Noronha did her first show in Goa in November 2015 at Kor Kantar, in Taleigao. “ Goans truly love their music and they are attached to the culture which is necessary for Konkani as a language to survive and grow,” she says. Following this, Noronha has also received quite a few offer for roles in Goan films. “ I have two Goan films coming up and I will be singing in them too,” she reveals. Apart from this, she has also finished shooting for Marathi film 'Majhi Aashiqui' and Telugu film 'Nagrik'. She is also working on her first Kannada feature film Local Train and has finished shooting for Konkani film 'Nashibacho Khell' which also stars Goan actor Prince Jacob. All, while still pursuing her MA from University of Bombay.

“ I've learnt that you can't plan for the future. You can only live for today and make the best of it which is what I am doing,” she says, adding, “ I want to see myself as a complete entertainer. I can't be only a singer or only actor. I can't be one without the other. I want to do everything.”