Very difficult for outside rs to make a mark: Sanya

Dangal girl Sanya Malhotra — known and loved as the wrestling champ Babita Kumari Phogat in Aamir Khan’s 2016 blockbuster — may have got the best launchpad any newcomer could dream of, but her journey to Bollywood wasn’t easy. The actor, who came to Mumbai from Delhi to try her luck as a dancer, says that she had given herself six months to get a break in the film industry.

“There’s a lot of gratitude. I still can’t believe that I’m an actor. Even when I’m giving interviews or going for a shoot or being in front of the camera, it’s all too surreal for me. I’m really happy and proud of where I’ve reached. But it took me one year to get Dangal,” says Sanya. The sports drama, which opened to a rousing reception, swept away all the hardships — the actor is now working with filmmakers such as Vishal Bhardwaj and Ritesh Batra, and actors such as Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Ayushmann Khurrana.

Sanya recalls, “When I came to Mumbai, I had no idea where to go for auditions, whom to meet, what to do. I’m an introvert and it was nervewracking for me to go for random auditions. After four months, I got my first ad and got ₹6,000 for it. For one year, I did several ads and that was a big deal for me. The major lesson I learnt was to be patient and to trust myself and the work that I was doing. You just have to be optimistic. I don’t like the term ‘outsider’, but you have to have confidence in yourself. It’s very difficult [for outsiders] to make a mark even after your first film.”

Recently, Bhardwaj said in an interview that he looked forward to directing Sanya. The actor says that she’s overwhelmed: “It’s a huge compliment. I’m a massive fan of his work; to be working with him is amazing. Sometimes, I can’t believe [it’s happening]. He is on the wish list of every actor and I’m very lucky.”