Mumbai, August 20, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Actress Vidhatri Bandi has recalled a memorable moment from her acting journey when she was selected to perform a scene for ‘FRIENDS’ star Jennifer Aniston during a masterclass in Los Angeles.
Vidhatri was chosen from a group of 45 students by her professors Andrea Bandewald and Nikki Deloach to perform for Aniston, who had been invited as a special guest. She was the only Indian from her batch selected for the performance.
Recalling the experience, Vidhatri said she felt immense pressure knowing that she would be the first student to perform.
“I remember how overwhelming it felt knowing I had to go first. There’s a different kind of pressure when you’re the one who has to set the tone, to walk into a room full of people and be the first person to take that leap,” she said.
The moment became even more surreal when she saw Aniston sitting in the room, having grown up watching the actor’s iconic ‘Rachel Green’ character in ‘FRIENDS’.
“Someone I had grown up watching is now watching me. For a few seconds, it felt almost impossible to process. But I took a breath, reminded myself why I was there, and started. And the moment I said my first line, everything else just disappeared. It was surreal,” Vidhatri recalled.
The experience also included personal feedback from Aniston, who shared notes appreciating Vidhatri’s performance and gave her a hug.
For Vidhatri, the significance of the opportunity went beyond performing before a Hollywood star. She revealed that just four months earlier, she had been questioning whether acting was the right career for her and whether she had what it took to succeed in the industry.
“Just four months earlier, I was questioning everything. Was acting really for me? Would I ever make it in this industry? Was I good enough? Pretty enough? Did I have what it takes?” she said.
Describing the insecurities she carried at the time, Vidhatri said the experience at UCLA in Los Angeles became a turning point.
“And then four months later, I was sitting in Los Angeles, at UCLA, chosen out of 45 students to perform a scene for Jennifer Aniston,” she said.
The opportunity, she added, helped her begin believing more strongly in her own abilities as an actor.
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