‘I love films where there’s tragedy, love and heartbreak’
Tara Sutaria is not just another pretty face in Bollywood. She’s done theatre, was a ballerina, she sings and has quite a line-up of movies too in 2022
Tara Sutaria, who was last seen in Tadap opposite Ahan Shetty in her third outing at the box office, is not really new to show business.
She’d seen it all before as a teenager while journeying from theatre to singing and then being a ballerina. Her fans might even remember Tara in Disney shows like The Suite Life of Karan and Kabir (2012) and Oye Jassie (2013).
“I’ve had a variety of experiences. A majority of my time has gone to doing theatrical performances. I have been a singer before I became an actress,” she elaborates. And a ballerina, we remind her. “So my youth was essentially about performing at the NCPA at iconic places like the Royal Opera House and Liberty Cinema. I used to enjoy hosting my own concerts and I was an ambassador for Disney for two years.”
Then when she was graduating from college, she met Karan Johar. “I was sure I wanted to act though my parents insisted that I graduate before I got into acting full time. Karan was scripting a couple of films then and he also asked me to finish my graduation,” says Tara, who became a graduate before becoming a ‘student’ in the KJoproduced sequel opposite Tiger Shroff.
And Tara, who enjoyed watching Student of the Year in 2012 while she was a teenager, was game. “I loved the first film, and so I auditioned later. Then, one thing led to the next,” she adds.
HER SUPPORT SYSTEM
Despite her pre-Bollywood life, Tara took in a few learnings in her three years and three films in the industry and on the job. “When I first started acting in the movies I didn’t know anything. I didn’t have many people to ask for advice. It is only over time that you realise that you have to cry on your own shoulder,” she states. “I’ve learnt that one needs an unshakeable selfbelief. You have to know who you are. You have to know the people who can break and shake you. And you have to be strong inside and take care of yourself and soon you grow to take care of yourself.”
GREAT FAMILY SUPPORT
Then, explaining how she’s been handling the stress and anxiety of a newcomer, the actress adds, “I’ve a strong support system that backs me when ridiculous rumours come out and when things don’t make sense in my job. My parents are there to ground me and care for me. My parents come to me with the newspaper and we laugh at what’s been printed if it’s not true.”
FUN AT WORK
“I’VE A STRONG SUPPORT SYSTEM THAT BACKS ME WHEN RIDICULOUS RUMOURS COME OUT AND WHEN THINGS DON’T MAKE SENSE IN MY JOB. MY PARENTS ARE THERE TO GROUND ME AND CARE FOR ME.”
Professionally, Tara has been having a good time.
“My first film was a holiday,” she says, decoding her graph. “It was a fun, young, glamorous and cute film and a wonderful chill-out experience. It was work but fun with director Punit Malhotra. Then, my second film Marjaavan with Milap Zaveri was a mass film. My character was a mute soo I only
had my emotions and sign language. I’d just learned how to do that and I understood what a massy space was. I didn’t
know that doing a massy film appeals to everyone. As for Tadap I love Milan sir’s Dirty Picture and the experience was unusually fun despite the film being emotionally
charged all the time.”
Incidentally, Tara would also sing in her upcoming film, Ek Villain Returns. “I’m very excited to be singing in my next film, which will be preceded by Heropanti 2,” says Tara, adding that she always wanted to sing every song in every film she’s a part of. “And then, I have one more exciting announcement soon.”
But the theatre performer in her yearns for more. ”I definitely want to do emotionally driven roles. I love films where there’s tragedy, love and heartbreak probably because of my theatre background,” she says while signing off, sounding as if she’s just read a Shakespearean
tragedy.