'Didn't study at NSD or FTII; my characters taught me everything'

From Laapaata Ladies, Madgaon Express, and Sister Midnight to All We Imagine As Light, actor Chhaya Kadam surprised audiences as a star in the true sense of the word this year. In conversation with Garima Sadhwani, she talks about her journey, playing diverse roles, how acting shaped her life, and more. Edited excerpts:

- Garima Sadhwani

You've often mentioned that you accidentally became an actor. Tell us about your journey.

When I was a kid, I used to participate in my school's annual function. I would also play kabaddi—it was something I was really passionate about and would spend all my day in the ground. As a college student, I participated in a show directed by Jhelum Paranjpe, called Azadi ki Jung, because the show required tagde-bigde log. My friends and I thought we'll get to roam around because of this, so I did a small role of the 'Awadh ki Begum'. But growing up, there was no culture or awareness in my family of sending kids to a dance class or a workshop. So I never even thought of pursuing any of this.