‘ABLE TO DRAW LINE BETWEEN REEL AND REAL NOW’

Actor Sanya Malhotra, who has been in the industry for a little over five years, has finally learnt to separate the real from the reel. She explains how some characters and their gruelling journeys used to take a toll on her. Malhotra says, “I don’t want to sound like a sadist, but I was the kind of actor who would treat their [character’s] emotions, especially pain, as her own, so as to deliver a believable performance. When I play a character for a long time, I start thinking, talking, and behaving like them.”

The actor shares that it was during the shoot of Love Hostel that she particularly felt overwhelmed, and the experiences were so intense that it nudged her to speak to her therapist. “I remember not being able to sleep at night, breaking down on the sets one day, and feeling uneasy all day. That’s when I spoke to my therapist,” shares Malhotra.

The Meenakshi Sundareshwar (2021) actor believes that the idea is to keep herself surrounded by a strong support system so as to keep her mental health in place. She says, “As actors, we’ve to do some roles that are grey, and that’s the exciting part of our job. And when you’re surrounded with the right kind of people, it gives you the boost to take on any challenging part. While I’m very thorough with my research and homework, I make sure to draw that line between reel and real now.”

While she acknowledges the need to detach the real from the reel, the 30-year-old says that it won’t stop her from empathising with her characters. “I need to understand where they’re coming from. I feel that brings out the best in me,” she ends.

PHOTO: DEV PURBIYA

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/DREWBARRYMORE