Actress Anjali Barot, who rose to fame with Hansal Mehta’s ‘Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story’ starring Pratik Gandhi is currently seen as pilot Manju Thapliyal for the Disney+ Hotstar series, ‘Shoorveer’. In a candid interview with The Free Press Journal, Anjali shares how she prepped for her role, sour experiences in the entertainment industry and more.
Excerpts:
How did you come onboard for the show?
I remember I was just reeling in the success of ‘Scam 1992’ when I received a call from Amarbir Bajwa who is the casting director of ‘Shoorveer’. He said that ‘Anjali there’s a wonderful project that I am casting for and I can only imagine you playing this character, Manju.’ I was intrigued and after a quick read through the plot and character brief, I was truly kicked. He asked me if I could drop by at the office for a quick screen test and I was more than happy to do so. However, at the very moment, I realized that I did not have any outfit that could pass off as an Air Force Officer’s uniform. So, I rushed with my husband to all the local stores around and found a light blue shirt and a dark blue pair of trousers to pass the look. I bought it and went straight to the office for my test. The next thing I knew I got the part!
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What kind of prep did you do for the role of Manju Thapliyal?
Preparing for this role was extremely exciting and it required a certain level of mental and physical training and fitness. I was following a strict healthy diet for over eight months and which involved a rigorous workout regime twice a day. I wanted to be as authentic to the character Manju and wanted my audience to believe in her which definitely required a level of physical fitness and training. What it also does is gets you in the groove of the character and for someone who loves all the prep, rehearsals and workshops, I thoroughly enjoyed the process. I remember, I would read up stories and watch videos especially of female pilots in the forces. I would just observe how they would talk, stand, sit or even hold their gear in a certain way. The process of becoming Manju has to be one of the most beautiful experiences about this project.
How did you feel while donning the uniform?
Each time I put on the uniform I had goosebumps. I remember, every time I would pin the badge of “Manju Thapliyal”, I could feel the rush in my blood. You instantly feel this immense sense of responsibility and pride as soon as you wear the uniform and that feeling truly helped me get into the skin of my character, Manju. I’m just extremely grateful that I had the opportunity to wear the uniform, sit in that helicopter and serve the country even if it was just for a show! What a feeling! As actors, we are really lucky that we get to live so many lives on screen and experience these wonderful moments.
How and when did the acting bug get to you?
I always wanted to act since childhood. Always. I was six when I watched ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ and every time Shahrukh Khan said, “Anjali”, I thought he’s calling out to me! Some may say that I was naïve but it surely had a lasting impact and something that never went off my mind. In fact, it only got bigger and bigger. Having absolutely no connections in the film fraternity I just didn’t know how to go about it. So, I took up courses, I worked as an Intern Assistant Director for many ads, also worked as an Associate Producer for over a year and finally when I felt that I now know how the process works. I quit my job and began auditioning. And here I am.
Do you recall any sour experiences while scouting work opportunities?
I wouldn’t call it sour but it’s rather unfair. Some casting opportunities are now based on the follower count that you have across social media. And I think that it’s really unfair to those who are extremely talented and don’t possess the “numbers” on social media. I have myself lost on a couple of projects because they decided to go ahead with someone who has a million followers. So yes, this is something I completely frown upon. Having said that, it's not completely the casting directors’ fault because they are only following instructions from the Production/Channel. However, there are some amazing casting directors who don’t care about your social media stats and instead respect you for your talent.
To what extent did your life change as an artist after ‘Scam 1992’?
‘Scam 1992’ has been a big blessing. It changed so many lives including mine. Before ‘Scam’ if I was approached by five casting directors, I now had ten reaching out to me. I could see the belief in people’s eyes that I could pull off any character. Hence, I started getting so many different opportunities and scripts with substance.
It’s been a year since you tied the knot. Has life changed after marriage?
Yes, it has and only for the better! My husband, Gaurav Arora is a writer/director himself. We discuss each and every project with each other in so much detail that it helps me in making informed decisions at work. Either he is listening to the scripts I have received or I am listening to what he has written. He is my co-pilot in everything I do. He has a lot of knowledge about films and fitness too! He was the one who also helped me in my fitness regime for ‘Shoorveer’. So yes, I feel blessed to have him as my partner.
How does your family feel about you being famous?
I’ve always seen my family being the most excited ones in the room. They are the ones to spam every WhatsApp group with my work links. My parents still collect all the newspapers that have my stories in it and keep them like proud parents. When I met Gaurav, I saw the same in him. He jumps at the tiniest of my achievements, poses next to my hoardings and claps the loudest when he watches me perform. And I witness the same with my in-laws too. They feel extremely proud every time they watch my work and in fact, I now have two set of families cheering louder and encouraging me to follow my dreams. My in-laws don’t change the TV channel if they come across any of my ads on TV because they want to watch it again! Half your battle in life is won if you have such a strong and supportive family around you. So, I feel I’m truly blessed.
