It's time to get professional. Avanti Nagral speaks about juggling her three passions – singing, acting and public health – ahead of the South Mumbai staging of the controversial Agnes of God

“When I was auditioning last year for the role of Agnes,” says Avanti Nagral, “I decided not to watch the movie, though I knew about it. I knew I would mimic Jane Fonda’s portrayal. I decided rather to come into my own.” At 18, Nagral, who essays the character of the young novice in Poor-Box Productions’ Agnes of God, is an actor aware of what she can bring to a stage. Her debut theatrical performance as Agnes (“professionally” that is, she says), landed her a nomination earlier this year at the Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards (META) for best actor in a lead role (female). The play itself saw the highest number of nominations – seven to be exact – at the Awards.