“When I shifted to Vadodara in 1997, I didn’t know a single Gujarati word”, says Sonaalee Lele Desai , whose performances in recent Gujarati films have endeared her to the audience. The Maharashtrian architect-turned-actress, who was recently seen in Mithada Maheman and is married to a Gujarati (Tanuj Desai), adds, “I never thought I will do Gujarati films one day! The state is my karmabhoomi now and it has accepted me with open arms. Now, I am fluent in Gujarati but initially, when I would talk to people in Hindi, they were more eager to help when they realised that I didn’t know the local language. Gujaratis are always ready to help and their hospitality is unmatched. Just after shifting to Vadodara, when I didn’t have a garba outfit, a new friend offered some of her outfits so that I could enjoy the festival. Gujaratis are always very accepting of everyone, irrespective of the background you come from. I remember putting in great efforts to make sure that I learnt Gujarati. Initially, I made mistakes and people made fun of it too, but I did not give up. It is such a sweet language!”

She adds, “I have been lucky to play different kinds of roles in Gujarati films. The industry is growing and given the great pool of artistes and makers we have now, you can sense that something really big is around the corner. Things are getting better with each passing day and it is really heartening to see the kind of content being explored now.”