Sanya Malhotra marks 10 years in acting post-Dangal. The Delhi outsider struggled to say no, fearing panic attacks and lost work: “Na bolne se pehle mujhe panic attack aa jaata tha.” Now polite yet firm, she asserts her voice in films like Toaster, directed by Vivek Daschaudary.
Sanya Malhotra is celebrating a decade in acting this year. Her big break came in 2016 with Aamir Khan’s ‘Dangal’, portraying wrestler Babita Kumari. Despite limited screen time, she built a strong reputation through standout roles in acclaimed mid-budget films and major commercial hits.
Sanya Malhotra opens up about being an outsider
Hailing from Delhi as an outsider, Sanya Malhotra carved her path in showbiz independently. Yet, mastering the art of turning down uncomfortable patterns proved her biggest challenge. “I learnt how to say no over time. Now, I say it quite easily. But it took me some time. Na bolne se pehle mujhe panic attack aa jaata tha(I used to have panic attacks before I said no). I used to wonder, how do I say no? I would be worried that if I do that, I may not get work after that. And even if I somehow did it, I would carry this guilt for months on end. Apart from me not getting more opportunities, mujhe yeh darr lagta tha ki unko bura lag gaya hoga. (I was afraid that he might have been offended),” she tells News18.
Sanya Malhotra’s firm mantra
The actress now follows a mantra of being polite yet firm. “You need to understand this that a film is a director’s medium. But you, as an actor, can definitely give your suggestions. Sometimes, they listen to you and sometimes, they don’t. But I learnt it the hard way that if I don’t say no, it would mean that I’m only living their dream and doing things their way instead of living my own life,” she remarks.
Sanya Malhotra in ‘Toaster’
Recently featured in ‘Toaster’, the actress elaborates, “I believe that there’s a way to put your point across. If you do it in the right way, then there’s no problem. If it’s about a stunt, then you’ll really have to put your foot down. You can’t take these things so lightly.”
More about Sanya Malhotra’s film, ‘Toaster’
Directed by Vivek Daschaudary, the film stars Rajkummar Rao, Sanya Malhotra, Archana Puran Singh, Abhishek Banerjee, Farah Khan, Upendra Limaye, Vinod Rawat, Jitendra Joshi, and Seema Pahwa in lead roles. Go to Source
