Sanya Malhotra has carved a niche for herself in Bollywood by playing character roles. However, these performances can come at the cost of an actor’s mental health. In a recent interview, Sanya opened up about separating her reel life from the real one.
On getting into the skin of her characters
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Method actors have often discussed imbibing the emotions of their characters, which can affect their lives adversely. Speaking about a similar experience, as reported by the Hindustan Times, Sanya said, “I don’t want to sound like a sadist but I was the kind of actor who would treat their 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.”
On empathising with her characters
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While Sanya understands the mental health implications, she also believes that it’s important for her to understand her characters. “I need to understand where they’re coming from. My character in Love Hostel was emotionally overwhelming but I took that up as a challenge and motivated myself to do my best. I feel that brings out the best in me. As an actor, that’s what is emotionally and mentally satisfying for me,” she said.
On playing grey characters
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Elaborating on her experience of shooting for Love Hostel, Sanya said that she wasn’t able to sleep at night, feeling uneasy during the day, and breaking down on the sets of the film. “That’s when I spoke to my therapist,” she said.
She added, “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.”
Have you watched Love Hostel yet? What do you think about Sanya’s character in the film?
Social and lead image credit: Instagram/sanyamalhotra_
