“I Want to Be a Star Who Can Act”

All set to make her debut in the film industry, Renee Sen talks to Cosmo about her hopes and dreams for the life ahead, the best advice (and beauty hacks) she’s received from mum Sushmita Sen, and more.

- Humra Afroz Khan

Cosmo: Tell us about your debut film, Suttabaazi. Renee Sen: “Suttabaazi was an impromptu decision. The director, Kabeer Khurana, is a school friend, and he sent me the script and wanted me to audition for it. I read the story and really liked it. Also, being a part of this 15-minute film gave me a realistic idea of how things would be in a mainstream production. It is a small step, but a very important one.”

C: Tell us about your character in the film...

RS: “I play Diya, a 19-year-old girl who is really just seeking validation. It is a very relatable character, and I feel everyone would love it as, somewhere, there’s a Diya in all of us.”

C: Do you want to be an actor, or is this a one-off project?

RS: “No, it is definitely not a one-off project. I want to be an actor. And acting, for me, is a process—I want to do it step-by-step so that I can grow both as a person and as an artist.”

C: If not an actor, what would you have wanted to be?

RS: “I am currently studying psychology, so maybe a psychologist. But I haven’t limited my aspirations to any one particular thing. I may want to enroll in a flying school tomorrow and become a pilot. Or, decide to become a chef. I am open to anything. To be honest, acting is the only passion goal I have in life; other than that, I’d like to be whatever I want to be at that point in time.”

C: What are some hobbies you like to dabble in?

RS: “I love to sing and dance. I am formally training in Kathak, and have learnt Indian classical music as well. And I do riyaaz regularly.”