As real as it gets

SANYA MALHOTRA LOVES TO BLUR THE LINE BETWEEN REEL AND REAL, FINDS TANISHA BHATTACHARYA

When you walk in the company of giants, you tend to mimic their gait. A dream debut with Aamir Khan in Dangal pushed Sanya Malhotra to seek perfection. Much like her mentor, she has made a career out of seeking content-centric films.

Whether it's Badhaai Ho, Pataakha, Photograph, Ludo, Pagglait, Meenakshi Sundareshwar, Love Hostel or her recent release, Hit The First Case, she has wowed the audience with her natural performance. She wasn't mere eye candy in these films but played characters who were an integral part of the project.

Dangal taught her the importance of preparation.

"During Dangal we were really made to challenge ourselves. That basically laid a foundation for me as an actor because I saw how appreciative people were when the film got released. Now, whenever I approach a character, even if it does not require any physical training like Dangal, I like to put in the same amount of handwork for it. It's been five years and it's been a dreamlike journey for me." Having worked with a clutch of talented filmmakers such as Vishal Bhardwaj, Nitesh Tiwari, and Anurag Basu, she has learnt much from the master storytellers.

Expressing her gratitude for the same, she shares, "I have been lucky to have worked with such directors since I am an actor with no training. For example, Chhutki from Pataakha was completely different from me as a person. She was so spiteful and loud that I told Vishal ji I couldn't see myself in her. He said that he could see me pulling off the role nicely and advised me to let go of my inhibitions. That gave me confidence as an actor. If I could do a character like Chhutki, there is nothing that I can't do." She says an actor should stay away from being stereotyped and choose roles that make her uncomfortable.

"Otherwise how would you grow?" She questions.