Sanjana Sanghi will soon be seen in an action avatar opposite Aditya Roy Kapur in Rashtra Kavach OM. The film is directed by Kapil Verma and will hit screens on July 1. The Free Press Journal caught up with the actress for an exclusive interaction. Excerpts:
After Dil Bechara, which was released digitally amidst the pandemic, Rashtra Kavach OM is your first theatrical release. What has been your journey like?
For me, it all started with Rockstar, and when Rashtra Kavach OM is just a few days away from the release, I am in the middle of shooting Dhak Dhak. If you had asked a 16-year-old Sanjana the same thing, I would have told you no way. This particular time feels surreal. I am grateful, but nothing in my life comes easy. I think I have learned a lot at a very young age. I have seen more than a 25-year-old should see.
How was your transformation from a romantic girl to breaking bones in Rashtra Kavach OM?
Rashtra Kavach OM chose me. Right after Dil Bechara, my phone rang, and Ahmed Khan gave me a 20-min long narration, but I asked what made him believe that I could do action and stunts. He told me that he saw a certain honesty and skills in my debut film, and that meant the world to me. It was Kapil, Aditya and Ahmed sir's constant belief in me that I could pull this off.
How was it shooting high-octane stunts with Aditya on the sets?
He fully held my hand throughout. Even simpler things like how it would be to be hung on a harness for over 12 hours. As a woman, it was really taxing and exhausting. I trained for months, but at times masterji (action choreographer) changed the whole flow of action in the middle of the shoot, I used to freak out, but Aditya just made me composed. He would just call me, and we used to jam. It was super collaborative.
How do you take this paparazzi culture which wasn't a thing a generation before you?
If I had grown up wanting to be a star, things would have been different for me. But, I fell in love with films on a film set while shooting for Rockstar in 2010 at Dharamshala. Ranbir (Kapoor) and Imtiaz (Ali) kept telling me that I might deny that I don't want to be an actor, but I have all those qualities that a Bollywood heroine would need. I love doing what you see of me on-screen, so I am grateful for the love I get, and the paparazzi is a big aspect of it. Now, I have tasted blood and want it more (laughs).
Go on...
The paps are legends and fun. I just vibe with them. I feel once you truly accept the factor that you have become a celebrity, you are putting it out there in the public domain. The only space that's private is my home now. The moment I step out of my home, I am at the public service. It is our responsibility as an entertainer. I will sound pompous if I say, “Oh! I went to a restaurant, they clicked me, why not?”
With the varied films like Dil Bechara, Rashtra Kavach OM and Dhak Dhak, it seems like you are choosing wisely?
I am happy that I am getting to explore different genres with these films. While Dil Bechara was emotionally draining for me, Rashtra Kavach OM was physically taxing, and now in Dhak Dhak, I am loving the fact that I get to say romantic dialogues and shoot in slow motion. Human drama is my favourite genre, and I want to do something around it.
