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00:00Hi Sharbari, thank you so much for speaking to Gulf News.
00:08You are on a proverbial box office role as well.
00:13I saw you as well in Veda in very fierce John Abraham, really like, you know, kicking some
00:19serious behind as we call it.
00:21Is it a great time for you?
00:24Tell me that.
00:25Are you enjoying this?
00:27I am.
00:28I'm actually really enjoying it.
00:30It really has been a very, very grateful year.
00:34I've had multiple releases and I think that in itself, you know, it feels like a big achievement.
00:41But yeah, it's just that the love that is coming my way, it's incredible.
00:45I'm just very, very grateful.
00:47Right.
00:48I saw the kind of physical prep that went into it.
00:51You look really that part, very lean.
00:55It just looked like you were really invested in it.
00:58I think you put yourself out there with this one, didn't you?
01:01I did.
01:02I really, actually, you know, it was, I think, one of the most challenging films.
01:06I mean, I've not done so many films, but in the few films that I have done, it definitely
01:11was the most challenging role, physically and mentally.
01:16So yeah, I really was, it was, you know, I had to put myself out there.
01:20It was a, you know, titular role and the story is such that I think that it needed a lot
01:26of sensitivity and of course, a lot of, also a lot of hard work for us to justify everything
01:34in the film.
01:35Of course.
01:36Of course.
01:37Did you audition for the role or how did you, you know, because you had two back-to-back
01:41hits, not only for any actress, two different genres completely as well, right?
01:47So was this all planned, part of a big plan and did you audition for these roles?
01:51So I actually, I did not audition for Vedha.
01:58I remember that when Vedha was happening, I remember speaking to Nikhil sir, actually,
02:05I went for a meeting and we had a really long conversation about actually everything, about
02:12life and work and films.
02:15And I remember that, I think that was really just one of those days where he just wanted
02:22to hear and understand from me and just kind of gauged me as a person, I guess, and as
02:26an actor.
02:27So that was really the process for me.
02:30And that's how I actually landed up getting Vedha.
02:33Right.
02:34Did it alter you as a person?
02:37Because I'm thinking action roles in general and such troubled, see, you play a very troubled
02:41woman in this.
02:42You have been systemically kind of oppressed in this one as a little woman, right?
02:47Yeah.
02:48Did it take a lot out of you?
02:49Like, were you in a very dark space following it?
02:53I wasn't.
02:54No, I wasn't in a dark space, but it definitely did affect me.
02:58It's a sorry state that things are still relevant.
03:02And unfortunately, I think that, you know, when you do scenes like these, and I'm not
03:09saying physical, I'm saying just like emotional scenes that were in the film.
03:14As a woman, I think that it's just, it's heartbreaking and it's gut-wrenching.
03:19And even Vedha was obviously based on two real life stories.
03:23So to know that that possibly happened to somebody, that mindset, actually, that psyche
03:31used to really, really upset me, you know, because I think that anybody, I mean, even
03:35when even after the film gets over, and you put the first slide, which says that based
03:40on real stories, it's a punch to your gut.
03:44And I think that for me, because it was definitely challenging in terms of the fact that I really
03:49wanted to do justice to scenes like that and handle them with a lot of sensitivity because,
03:57you know, at the end of the day, I really, really hope that even if we're able to change
04:00one mind in the right direction, or start any conversation, I think that would definitely
04:05be a big win for me and I'm sure for the film as well.
04:09Were you at any point worried that it would be too serious for people?
04:13You kind of told them, you know, the fine balance between a commercial movie and an
04:17issue driven movie, right?
04:19So at any point, did you discuss it with Nikhil or perhaps John Abraham about it?
04:24That you know, it shouldn't be too serious that people kind of like give up on it or
04:27find it too dark?
04:28No, actually, you know, I'm too new an actor, actually, at this point.
04:31So I didn't actually have these kind of discussions because I feel like Nikhil sir, who obviously
04:37is the director, John also is an actor and producer on the film.
04:41I thought that they definitely know and have been around for so many years that they will
04:44take the right decision.
04:46So I've never had that conversation with them.
04:49I just, you know, stuck to my part and just wanted to give my best there.
04:53Do you feel like you've arrived, Sharwari?
04:54Like, do you feel a sense of accomplishment?
04:57There you go.
04:58I am there.
04:59Everybody is there.
05:00I'm being seen a lot more because for an actress, I think to be seen is so important, even if
05:06the movie is worse, just to have your movies there.
05:09Is there a sense of validation that all your years are finally coming to a boiling point?
05:15I think that this year has actually been very, very grateful.
05:19I'm not going to put it in terms and say that I have arrived, actually.
05:23I don't think that that's the feeling as yet.
05:27But I definitely do know that I'm being noticed and I do know that there is a sense of inquisitiveness
05:35around my work.
05:37So I think that that is quite incredible because if I'm able to build some excitement around
05:42my name, I think that really, really helps me going forward in the films that I want
05:46to pick or the work that I want to do or even a meeting that I want to get.
05:50So yeah, I think that what this year has given me is a little bit of recognition as an actor
05:57and as a person in the industry.
05:58And I think that allows me to kind of find the next film.
06:02You're like, you've made it on your own steam.
06:05You didn't have like powerful acting dynasties backing you, etc.
06:09But to know that your next movie was with Alia Bhatt with YRF, do you look back on your
06:15own struggle and what do you tell yourself or perhaps the ones who want to make it like
06:19you have?
06:20Honestly, one thing that I do generally, when I look back at everything that has also happened
06:28this year and in the previous years, I'm actually very proud of the journey that I've had.
06:32I'm very proud of myself for sticking by my gut, choosing the kind of films that I wanted
06:37to do.
06:38And just believing in myself through this entire process, because it has not always
06:42been easy.
06:43You know, like I think that earlier to 2024, I think I wouldn't have answered this question
06:50the same way, for sure.
06:52Because I had already shot for films, but nothing was releasing.
06:55I had no release in the theatres for three years, actually, after Bhatti Aur Babli 2.
07:01And even though I knew that I was working and I had films, one, audiences didn't know
07:06me and two, even makers didn't have a complete idea of what was going to happen.
07:11Also, because Munja was such an underdog film, there was not much conversation around that
07:16film or hype around that film even earlier to when it released.
07:21So I think that, yeah, for sure, before 2024, maybe I would, I possibly was, I possibly
07:28was waiting for that moment to arrive in my life where I'm finally able to put out my
07:33work.
07:34And I'm just very, very glad that it has been worth the wait.
07:39I want to ask, I ask every woman actress this, there's a lot of conversation about having
07:43safe spaces for women to work in, especially with the Malayalam film industry, where the
07:48Me Too movement is gathering steam.
07:49Do you feel safe on the film set?
07:52And what would you, you know, what has been your observations about it?
07:56I'm not going to make a broad statement because it would be unfair, but on the films and on
08:02the sets that I have worked, I've always felt very, very safe and I've always felt heard
08:08and seen.
08:09And I'm really grateful for that.
08:12And for the fact that I get to work with people that have made me feel that way.
08:17But saying that this is my experience, and I don't want to, you know, put this out as
08:22a statement and disregard anybody else's.
08:25Fair enough, fair enough.
08:26No, but it's very important as well, right?
08:28When I saw Veda, I thought the woman had a voice as well.
08:32It was not just, see, there was John Abraham, the bigger bankable star, spearheading the
08:37thing.
08:38But there was also a part for you to perform.
08:40And there was a part where you break down in court, where you speak up about the injustices.
08:45So I think we've come a long way, right?
08:46Where even women representation is much better in cinema.
08:49Yeah, 100%.
08:51I think there is an incredible time to be a part of films right now, especially because
08:56women characters are written very well.
08:59And that has, I mean, I can't take credit for that, because that's really been, that's
09:04the makers, that's the writers, and also the audience who has accepted a lot of films that
09:13have been headlined by women, you know, they have made films successful previously, wherein
09:18you have maybe one single female lead, or like Gangubai, or you have crew where you
09:24have three women, and they are headlining a project.
09:28So I think that the fact that audiences have also empowered people to make films and write
09:33films like this is great for us, because you know, we just get to like, chew on to better
09:39parts and represent women in kind of all their glory, actually.
09:44There's a lot of chatter about web series giving so many opportunities for women and
09:48actors that we didn't previously know.
09:50Would you be, are you looking at, are you like shopping for scripts, maybe, for like,
09:55you know, something like a, you know, Good Guide's Girl to Murder, I don't know, or even
10:00one of those fun series where it's young, it's age appropriate, you're very young.
10:04So something based on similar lines, like, are you shopping for scripts?
10:08No, for sure.
10:10I'm definitely looking for lots more work.
10:12For me, I think that the medium doesn't really matter, because I feel like the audiences
10:16have evolved and we've really crossed, you know, screens and boundaries and languages
10:21actually at this point.
10:23So I really feel that if something really, really excites me, something that I feel,
10:30you know, like, I have this feeling in my gut that I really want to be a part of, then
10:33I definitely would want to be a part of that.
10:36And Shalini, do you think two co-stars need to be best of friends to get the best out
10:40of you?
10:41Or can you be clinically cold with each other, but amazing on screen?
10:45Or do you need to have a personal equation, a rapport with them?
10:49You know, honestly, I, every time that I have worked on a film, or I mean, on a film set,
10:56I've always just had very good equations with everybody that I work with, be it cast and
11:01crew.
11:02I just think that the experience is just so much more fun, you know, apart from the fact
11:06that yes, we perform, you know, we have 12 hour schedule.
11:11But apart from that, we're also always hanging out together when there is lighting happening
11:15or a camera set up happening or some small changes happening.
11:19You are still on set with the same people and you're on set with them for like three
11:23months, four months, six months.
11:24So I just feel like it's important to, you know, have friends, you know, just to be able
11:30to have a friend on set in your co-actor, I think it's a big boon.
11:34Fantastic.
11:35And what did you get yourself?
11:36What did you treat?
11:38Where you were treating yourself to the view, etc.
11:41Now that you have two back-to-back successes, what, how have you been pampering yourself?
11:45Did you buy yourself a car?
11:46What do, what do successful actors do?
11:48I'm not very sure when they are like met with box office success and good reviews in general.
11:56That's the dream.
11:57Honestly, at this point, I have been on a very strict diet for Alpha.
12:01The one thing I treated myself to was some really good food.
12:05Not once, but a couple of times because I was feeling really happy.
12:08So I did a big cheat meal, actually a few cheat meals, because I really enjoy my food
12:14and I feel like celebrations, like, you know, I feel like I'm celebrating if I'm eating
12:19some good, good food.
12:22So that's what I did.
12:23I love it how the needs are so simple.
12:26Just give me some parathas and I'm good kind of thing.
12:28I think you keep things simple.
12:30Is that how you go about a star who keeps things very simple?
12:33Just give me some good food.
12:34I really hope that you get to eat all your favorite food.
12:37It's a nice way to celebrate for sure.
12:39I'm a foodie.
12:40I totally get where you are.
12:41I'm actually really, really looking forward to Ganpati, actually, like I'm, I'm really
12:46counting my days because I'm not going to be on a diet.
12:49Like there is no way.
12:51I'm so excited.
12:52Like I literally am counting days till I get to eat all the sweets.
12:56Oh my God.
12:57This is what I love.
12:58The discipline that you all, that you all seem to walk.
13:01I mean, that's the part of your job, right?
13:03Yeah.
13:04I mean, does it get to you ever, the kind of discipline, like it's worth it.
13:08The payoff is amazing.
13:10I think the payoff is generally always quite outstanding and which is what actually gets
13:15everybody going, which is exactly what everyone feels, you know, when they're actually following
13:20a certain diet.
13:21And also, you know, like your roles really demand it.
13:23It's a part of performance.
13:24It's a part of acting.
13:26But yeah, I generally really like my food.
13:28So when I'm on a diet, I'm always like, like I'm, I'm 10, I'm 90% on a diet and 10% miserable.
13:35That's actually how I am when I'm on a diet.
13:38I love it.
13:39You know, you kind of shrunk for way that I was just watching you and thinking, you
13:42know, you looked almost boyish, like in your frame, my God, what kind of rigorous, crazy
13:49Olympic training did you go through?
13:51You know, you look so lean.
13:53I couldn't actually, yeah, but you know, it's so interesting that you observed that because
13:57Nikhil sir really, really wanted that.
14:00And it was a specification that was actually given to me for the second half of the film.
14:07But yeah, I actually did a lot of boxing and I did a lot of fitness training.
14:10But I think that's really what helped me.
14:12And of course, some good costume will always aid to your body.
14:17You take care.
14:19And have fun shooting.