SAYANI WON’T SLEEPWALK THROUGH WORK

Hungry for new projects and unwilling to repeat roles, Sayani Gupta is on a roll

Feature films, short films, web series, web films, theatre productions, and television shows — options and mediums are aplenty for actors today, and Sayani Gupta has sunk her teeth into almost everything.

The actor, who has proved her mettle with films such as Margarita With A Straw (2014) and Article 15 (2019) and web series such as Inside Edge, and Four More Shots Please!, says she makes instinctive choices from the pool of work on offer.

“I actually say no to a lot of stuff, honestly. Most of the times, it is because I don’t want to do the project or I don’t want to work with the people associated with it. What drives me to a project is what the project is trying to do,” Sayani says.

Sometimes, it could be an interesting script, but if Sayani feels she does not want to become a part of that narrative, she turns it down. “I want to be able to do all kinds of work that I find exciting. When you do something for 19 to 20 hours a day... and I’m literally shooting every single day, I have to see that I don’t get bored and complacent,” she adds.

And, Sayani knows that the day that happens, she will quit acting. “I have to constantly keep doing different things. If you see the characters I play, they are all different from each other because I can’t play similar roles in two projects. I’d get damn bored doing that and I don’t want to sleepwalk through my work. For me, to challenge my grey matter, and challenge myself as an actor, is very important,” says Sayani.

What adds to that experience for Sayani is that it is now possible to find work that is varied, because everyone is focussed on making good content. “From that, it’s just about choosing smartly,” she concludes.

I have to constantly keep doing different things. If you see the characters I play, they are all different from each other. I can’t play similar roles in two projects.

SAYANI GUPTA ACTOR