Sanya Malhotra knows how to achieve great work life balance. She’s been appearing in OTT films like Kathal and Love Hostel and was also seen in big budget productions like Sam Bahadur and Jawan. Working with Shah Rukh Khan has been a dream come true moment for her. Her eyes glow when she talks about the star who is a former Delhite like her and has been a source of inspiration for her. She’s seen her share of ups and downs but asserts that everything which happens makes you better at survival. The star, who is as real as they come, talks about her journey and her way of life in a heart-to-heart chat.
You recently won the Best Actress Critics’ Trophy for Kathal at the Filmfare OTT Awards. How does it feel?
It’s my first Filmfare win. I couldn’t attend because my sister Shagun was getting married to producer Achin Jain. And I was not expecting to win at all, and I have always been so excited just to be nominated for Filmfare. The next day I was promoting Sam Bahadur in Delhi, and I was with my producer, Guneet Monga. And on my way back, Guneet broke this news to me: Listen, you have won a Filmfare Award for Kathal. And what was the divine intervention that I had with my producer when my nomination and award were announced? And I couldn’t believe it. I was like, This year can’t get better, whether it is professionally or personally. Touchwood.
All your recent films have been different, be it Paggalait, Meenakshi Sundaram or Kathal…
I wasn’t really confident in myself to do a movie like Pagglait. But my producers, Guneet Monga and Achin Jain, had faith in me. I didn’t have the confidence to shoulder a film like Pagglait. But just to see the kind of confidence they had in me as a maker gave me a lot of confidence. I am glad that I believed in myself, because it has been a really important film for my filmography. It kind of opened up a lot of opportunities for me as an actor. So I am very lucky that despite me not having confidence in myself, they have confidence in me much more than myself.
How will you sum up 2023 for yourself?
Sorry for the pun, but a “jackfruitful” year. It has been a fantastic year for me because in 2022, I shot five films back-to-back.
I was hardly at home; I missed out on really important family events and I used to just sit back in my vanity van or on set and think about whatever I was missing out on; I would get a “jackfruit” for it, never knowing that it would turn out to be this good. I think these are the opportunities that an actor dreams of and I feel really lucky that I got to work with some good co-actors and amazing directors in the seven years of my career. The pace is proper and the growth is also very sustainable.
How was your experience working with Meghna Gulzar in Sam Bahadur?
As an actor, you have a checklist of which director you want to work with, so Meghna ma’am has always topped my list. I feel so blessed that Meghna chose me to play Silloo Maneckshaw. I so clearly remember that it was a Sunday afternoon when I got a call from her. She said I have a script for you; please read it and tell me if you would like to do it or not, and I read it in one go. And in two hours, I called her back and told her that I wanted to be a part of this film. And I feel so blessed because this is a film in which we are celebrating Sam Maneckshaw’s life as a wonderful human being. It feels validating and gratifying to get the kind of response that we are getting for the film.
Tell us something about Vicky Kaushal.
After the film was over, I couldn’t stop crying. I felt so happy to see him perform the way he did. He is a fabulous actor and we as an industry need to celebrate these performances.
Working with the superstar Shah Rukh Khan in Jawan—was it like your dream come true?
Of course. The dreams begin from there. I remember he had a series with a channel where he was in Delhi in a car and he showed his school; he talked about Hansraj College, New Rajinder Nagar. I grew up listening to all this, and because I am from Delhi, I also started nursing a dream that agar yeh Dilli wallah kuch kar sakta hai toh hum kaise peeche reh sakte hain. I had five roommates and we would constantly only talk about Shah Rukh Khan. If somebody’s mood was bad in the house, we used to go and stand outside his house to just pump ourselves up. He has been an inspiration not just for us but for so many people. On a film like Jawaan It is a very big opportunity to have worked with him. And working with Atlee sir, was one of the most fulfilling experiences. I have formed a special bond with all six girls in the film. And we have a WhatsApp group called “Good to go, Chief.” We are constantly updating each other about our lives and meeting each other because we were together for two years.
What are some qualities that separate SRK from other actors?
Shah Rukh Khan is full of wisdom. There is so much that you can learn from him. Not just about filmmaking, but about life too!
He is the most charming and grounded as well. You will know that if you are around him, you will feel that he is one of the most special ones. He makes everyone feel special. And you can see it in all of his films; it is a team effort. He makes everyone feel validated and special in some way.
Did you feel that your role was kind of short in Jawan?
Not at all. I only think, ‘what can I add to the script,’ while signing on a film. And this has been my mantra since my first film. And as I see it, this has been going well. At the end of the day, the script is the real hero. The writer is the real hero. That is something I always keep in mind as an actor.
What’s your criteria for choosing a script now?
As I said, the script is the real hero. You just know it when you are reading a script, whether you want to be a part of it or not. And apart from that, the makers, director, co-actors—all of that also plays a very important role in figuring out the scripts that you want to be a part of.
It’s said outsiders have to struggle a lot. They don’t get work easily.
I don’t relate to the word “struggle.” When I came from Delhi, I knew that I had to work hard. It was difficult. I am not going to say overnight I had an opportunity or overnight I had bagged Dangal. I had to wait for a long time. There were days when I used to feel like I should go back to Delhi. I did not have any work, and I had to work harder then and prove to myself that my dreams are special and valid. But the tough days are the ones that will make you move, which will make you change something about yourself and which will show something special about yourself. That period keeps reminding me where I have come from. It is a reminder of sorts that when you have everything and when you don’t have anything, one thing you can keep constant is your inner happiness. All things, whether they are sorrow or happiness, need to be accepted at every stage. You need to accept all kinds of emotions and circumstances in life.
Where do you draw the strength to be positive and keep moving?
I get my strength from my family. I did not know that I would get so much support from my friends and my family towards my dream. So whenever I used to feel low or like I couldn’t do this anymore, my father used to give me small pep talks. When my father would come to Mumbai for some work, he would get fruits for me. Because it was not possible for me to spend money on buying fruits or dry fruits, I would wait for Papa to buy them for me.
What’s the one thing that you kept reminding yourself of during that period of time?
Patience is really important. I constantly keep reminding myself that I am not here alone. I had that really strong circle around me that had come to Mumbai with me. I have seen them grow. So it’s kind of a reminder of where we came from and what we are doing, so that keeps me grounded. I’m proud of almost everything that I have done in these seven years. I have always been a bit too harsh on myself. I think when you are forced to get out of your comfort zone is the time you really grow in your life.
Can you tell us about your next project?
Mrs. is a film close to my heart. It’s directed by Arati Kadav. And as I told you, I would be very harsh on myself in relation to work. But this was the first time and I was like, “Yeah, I have done a good job.” The film has come out really well, and I am so confident about it. The story is important and it will hopefully resonate with a lot of people.
