Natalie Rout

Bhubaneswar, Feb. 18: After enthralling dance lovers with her swift movements in Pallavi, Mangalacharan and abhinaya items at Odissi recitals, London-based danseuse Natalie Rout is all set to begin her acting debut.

The Odia girl, known for donning several hats, would now be starring as the lead actress in a Telugu film Hang Up.

From being a medical student at Cambridge University to a soprano soloist, pianist, flautist and even a versatile dancer with training in ballet, tap dance and Indian classical dances such as Bharatnatyam and Kathak, the 24-year-old has also trained at the London Academy of Media, Film and Television.

“I am really excited about the release and hope it is received well because the entire team has worked very hard on it. I aspire to make a mark in the industry. I need all your wishes,” she said.

In the film, Natalie plays Priya, a babysitter who sets out to babysit Neha, essayed by Aditi Master in Livingston, a remote town in New Jersey. As the dark clouds gather and rumble, Priya expects nothing more than a quiet evening in the huge house but strangely she starts receiving random phone calls and anonymous text messages. The pranks soon become irritating and then eerie. Priya’s quiet evening twists into a nightmare. Nothing seems to deter the increasingly curious and sinister prank caller who seems to be spying on her.

The film promises to be a spine chilling mystery thriller. Cast opposite Natalie is the talented Sudhakar Komakula, who escalated the popularity charts with Sekhar Kammula’s Life is Beautiful where he played one of the main characters.

Taking cue from her mother Usha Rani Raut, Natalie took up Odissi at a very young age.

“I was just 11, but the beauty of the dance form stunned me and it has been my first love ever since,” said Natalie about her admiration for the dance form. She has been regularly visiting Bhubaneswar during summers for over a decade now and even trained under renowned dancers Sujata Mohapatra and Ratikant Mohapatra.

The film’s trailer and music were launched last week in Hyderabad, where Natalie is promoting the film at present. Hang Up is directed by Hyder Bilgrami.