‘I never go on a set without meditating’

Sanya Malhotra is basking in the glory of her latest web film, Pagglait, that earned her rave reviews. She says it was for the first time that she decided not to be “too hard” on herself and just enjoy the journey.

“I’m quite critical, and perfectionist with all the negative connotations attached to the term. This was the first time I told my mother, ‘I’ve a feeling my life is going to change’, as it all felt special from day one of the shoot,” says Malhotra, who plays the role of a young widow taking on the reins of her life.

A trained dancer from Delhi who moved to Mumbai in search of a career, she confesses she never learned acting. “After Dangal (2016), my aim was to do every kind of film and character so that I can learn a lot. I’m still learning. I never imagined my career panning out so beautifully,” says Malhotra, 29, who has played a variety of roles in films such as Pataakha, Badhaai Ho (both 2018), Photograph (2019), Shakuntala Devi and Ludo (both 2020).

Over the years, she picked up her own dos and dont’s to follow. “I like to develop my characters and their back stories, so I can tap into the memory bank whenever I need. Also, I never go on set without meditating or doing breathing exercises. They help me anchor myself. I learnt that in a workshop,” she shares. Going forward, Malhotra hopes to continue to grow as an actor. “I’m not professionally trained, so if I stay in my comfort zone, I won’t learn anything about filmmaking and acting,” she ends.

Sanya Malhotra