Hear me roar

Can you believe Sanya Malhotra is already 14 films old? She's played a headstrong cop, a stubborn wife, a quirky widow and more. She planned on being a dancer. Follow her sidestep to Bollywood as she maps her memorable roles and what went down off-screen

- Karishma Kuenzang

In India, ECA-quota students are a special breed. They enrol for the Extra Curricular Activities in college. They spend their hours away from the desk, drawing, debating, rehearsing soliloquies, getting the music-room piano to work. Teachers tell them they're doomed to fail in life. They, however do fine. Many grow up to wow everyone with skills they honed off the books. And once in a generation, an ECA student might blossom into someone like Sanya Malhotra.

The student from Delhi University's Gargi College was a member of Sparks, the on-campus dance society. In her third year, she picked up ballet, and started teaching dance after graduation. "I loved what I did and was home by 2pm," says Malhotra, 31. A career in dance was Plan A. Because Plan B was acting and she believed it was never going to happen. So, she kept it a secret.

About a decade ago, Sanya Malhotra landed her first ever audition with Dangal (2016). And aced it, playing wrestler Babita Phogat. 14 films later, in her upcoming release Mrs, Malhotra leads the film, playing a married woman who rediscovers herself while conquering the kitchen.

Secrets hate being boxed up. So when Malhotralanded in Mumbai in 2015 for a project that didn't work out, she auditioned for a film role. Her father, an Indian Army consultant, was supportive. But her mum was sceptical; more than 100 women were vying for the same spot. But the ECA gods were kind: That first-ever audition landed her the role of wrestler Babita Phogat in Dangal (2016). The film did well. Malhotra earned nominations for her debut. It was hard to keep Plan B a secret.