The entertainment industry in India is evolving over time. Besides Bollywood, the doors of regional cinema have also opened for the audiences and Gujarati films, in particular, are widely known for its content. Behind every actor, is the person whom we call the casting director who identifies the true potential of an artist. Avani Soni, a well-known name in the Gujarati film industry is a casting director from Surendranagar, Gujarat. At the age of 22, she entered the entertainment industry and since then, she has been rewriting history with her impressive works. Having worked with more than 100 celebrities, she has worked for films like ‘Tamburo’ (2017) and ‘Chhutti Jashe Chhakka’ (2018).
Before getting into the world of films, she was into the corporate sector but sooner Avani realized her passion for casting. Later, she worked as a casting coordinator in Ahmedabad and today she is the proud owner of FATC Entertainment which was established in 2011. Her journey started with the start of the decade and now she has come a long way. The casting director expanded her work and is also into the field of talent management. She believes that talented artists should not be avoided as they are the hidden treasures of the film fraternity. “The deserving artists need to be given a fair opportunity and my casting company takes care of it. The Gujarati film industry has got innumerable talents who have been unexplored”, said Avani.
One of the biggest hurdles in her journey as a casting director was the fact that many parents did not allow their children to pursue a career in acting with the fear of casting couch. Speaking about it, Soni said, “There was a time when children chose their careers as per the wishes of their parents. But now the times are changing, and people have started following their passion and doing what they love. I have seen many talented people who did not get the platform to showcase their talent. At FATC Entertainment, we aim to discover the talents and push them to their best. I am glad that parents have now become supportive of the dreams of their kids. Keep working hard and never stop chasing your dreams in life.” Avani Soni is not just giving the best talents from the Gujarati cinema but she has also inspired people to always live by their dreams.
