Trisha Tanya and Anushka Roy in Ranchi on Wednesday, back from their shoot with Ajay Devgn (file picture, above) in Mumbai. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Ranchi, May 11: They were not even born when a certain Mr Devgn stormed the big screen, his feet straddling two running bikes in the 1991 smash-hit Phool Aur Kaante.

Now, the capital’s budding dancers Trisha Tanya (12) and Anushka Roy (11) will be seen sharing screen space with Bollywood superstar Ajay Devgn in the action thriller Singham, set for a July release.

This much-awaited film will hit screens on July 22 this year. Both Trisha Tanya and Anushka will be seen in the promos of this Rohit Golmaal Shetty film, choreographed by Ganesh Acharya.

The excited twosome returned to the city yesterday evening from Mumbai. “I shook hands with Ajay uncle. It was so thrilling,” Trisha Tanya, a Class VII student of Loreto Convent School, beamed.

What about the dance number? “It’s a signature dance step of Singham. We had a blast during the shoot in scenic Panchgani,” said the schoolgirl who has been learning semi-classical dance since the age of four.

Equally elated was Anushka, a VIIth grader of Surendranath Centenary School. “The three-day shoot was great fun. It was freestyle dancing, which mostly involved the film’s signature step,” she said.

Both the chirpy pre-teens were also full of praise for Shetty and Acharya for their “warm and friendly natures”.

Anushka’s only regret? “Even after shooting for so long, I couldn’t take Devgn’s autograph,” she said. But she quickly added: “I am happy I bagged Ganesh Acharya’s autograph.”

Nationwide auditions for the dance number were held at Ganesh Acharya Academy, Calcutta, on April 29, which saw 21 children getting handpicked out of 100.

The Ranchi duo of Trisha Tanya and Anushka, both students of the capital’s dance cradle Deepanjali, twinkle-toed their way to the lucky 21. They then attended a weeklong workshop at Ganesh Acharya Academy, Mumbai, leaving for the metro on May 2.

“After the workshop, Acharya selected 17 children for the title song. I’m so glad my daughter Trisha Tanya was part of that group. I really enjoyed the shoot and met Ajay Devgn, who was very affable. We clicked photographs for my family album,” Sharmila Sen, who accompanied her daughter to the shoot, said, adding that her child’s inclination for dance was now a passion.

Anushka’s mother Soma was also elated.

“The entire workshop was an amazing experience for my daughter. We felt very comfortable and enjoyed the shoot as Acharya was quite friendly,” Roy said.

Deepanjali in-charge Vipul Nayak, who has been a mentor to both girls, is no less proud. “It’s no mean achievement. We are proud of our alumni who made a name in Bollywood through their talent,” he said.