Destiny's Child

Her fierce confidence, undeniable presence and grounded persona make Sara Ali Khan anything but your typical Bollywood ingénue.

- Nitya Chablani

“I’m short, but you can’t tell because I’m loud!” Sara Ali Khan serendipitously offers the best introduction to herself. It’s 6am, and the young actor is bouncing on the set of her debut Vogue shoot, pumping dumbbells with superhuman vigour.

She is every photographer’s dream when she shouts: “Come on, I’m not wasting any light,” and volunteers to juggle changes inside a makeshift vanity—in this case, a blacked-out autorickshaw on the beach—only to save time. As she gets ready to pose, her excitement is contagious. After all, she’s been waiting for this moment her entire life, or so she claims when we call for a wrap-up.

Sara’s indomitable spirit and cool-girl confidence belie her two-movies-old filmography. In fact, she’s unlike any other ingénues of her generation. Doe-eyed, wee in stature, her winsome smile is bolstered by a bold personality that has enough bite to separate her from other younglings in the industry. She has none of that bashful uncertainty of a newcomer— whether she’s walking out of a Bandra café or stepping into a party, Sara commands attention with enviable ease. And it’s evident even as we meet at her home, five days later.

“Sorry I’m late!” she announces, as she enters the serene Juhu apartment she shares with her mother and brother, Ibrahim. A study in beige, the house has little influence of the two millennials who reside in it. Inside, an earthy colour scheme is complemented by carved wood artworks and intricate ink paintings that adorn the walls. Dressed in a breezy lime green kurta, Sara plops herself onto the couch, cross-legged, with a plate of home-cooked food in hand, as she flashes her biggest smile and asks, “Can I eat while we talk?”

OPENING ACT