Actor Sara Ali Khan says that she is ‘very proud’ of her lineage; adds nobody treats anyone like a baby in the cut-throat world of Bollywood
Prashant Singh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 6, 2020)

It has been just a little over a year since she made her Bollywood debut [with Kedarnath; 2018]. Since then, Sara Ali Khan has been on a roll with back-to-back biggies, spearheaded by top filmmakers, with the latest being Imtiaz Ali’s Love Aaj Kal. And though she is just 24, Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh’s daughter can zap you with her extremely mature and bright take on acting, life and her career. “I know who my parents are, and my family is, and I am very proud of that. But in today’s day-and-age, anybody who tries to remind me of that will only try to pressurise me. And I would not like to fall for that so I don’t think about it much. I am proud of being their daughter or granddaughter [her grandmother is Sharmila Tagore] but I have always aspired to and will continue to aspire to make my own identity, and that’s what I am focusing on,” says Sara. Excerpts from an interview:

What are you feeling right now? Are you usually a nervous wreck before a new film’s release?
There’s a little bit of nervousness. But I think that’s only because I was probably given a little more love than I deserved very early on in my career. Now, I think, I’m aware of the fact that I need to live up to that [love]. But it’s not pressurising since I don’t take pressure. I feel I’ve reached a stage wherein I want to make myself more and more proud. After Kedarnath, I was given a certain amount of love as well as acceptance, and now, I just want to be able to reiterate to myself and the audiences that I am truly worthy of all of that.

Love Aaj Kal is just your third film. But you seem to have had great fun in a short span…
I think the media likes me so they made me feel welcome very early on in life, and I appreciate that a lot. That’s why I want to keep up the good work. At the same time, our job is also such that we’re constantly learning. Every film, journey, director and character is different. Love Aaj Kal has been a special journey because it’s Imtiaz sir’s take on today’s love. But Sara and Zoe are not the same. It is sir’s take on a girl like Zoe which is not me. So, the only way I’ve understood Zoe has been through Imtiaz sir, and I’m very thankful for that. It’s been a great experience for me and I hope people like what they see.

How would you define this short period as a film star?
I think the media had decided to like me even before Kedarnath released (laughs). I’ve only got love and acceptance from them. I don’t think I have to make them love me as they have already been very gracious with me. Now, I just hope that I keep making them more and more proud. I look at them like family because they make me who I am. It’s their words, captions, articles and vision that gives me the confidence that I have today. So, now, it’s my turn to make them feel that I deserve their love.

Talking about your new film’s co-star, there have been lot of talks about you and Kartik Aaryan. Are you okay with that?
Whatever talks have happened, or will happen are going to continue, so I don’t really listen and pay heed to any kind of talks. But I don’t think Sara and Kartik were interacting on set because Imtiaz sir’s romance and his world is so overwhelming that it was only Zoe and Veer on set, who got to know each other very well. Every day that we were on set, we discovered ourselves and our characters more even as the chemistry between Zoe and Veer kept growing. It is Imtiaz sir’s vision and we were clear about the execution. Also, sir was clear about what he wanted from the two ‘different’ characters. For me, it was very interesting to see how that chemistry brewed.

It’s not even been two years since you made your debut. Even as you take baby steps in the industry, do you feel at home here?
I don’t think anybody is a baby here, and no one even treats you that way. And that’s fine. You enter [the industry] with full knowledge and awareness that this is a cut-throat world. You know that everybody is very hungry and extremely driven here. No one gets brownie points for being educated, being a star child, being sweet, wearing white salwar-kameez or greeting people with a namaste. It really doesn’t matter. What you do on screen is what ultimately counts.

You share the Love Aaj Kal connect with your father, actor Saif Ali Khan. What was his reaction like?
See, our film is not a sequel; it’s a different film. It’s our take on love of today, which is not exactly what it was 11 years ago. Dad has seen the songs and the trailer, and is very excited as well as hopeful [about it doing well]. Especially, when he saw the song, Twist, he was like, ‘I love the energy. And Kartik and you are looking good together with a young and happy vibe’. I love my parents but they’ll say only nice things as I am their child. But since they’re actors, they recognise the importance of the audience and the media. So, they’ve the same aim and desire that people as well as media should like me. That’s something I’ve grown to understand and believe to be very true.

How did you go about the character? Did you identify a lot with your part, Zoe?
Actually, I don’t think so because as a person I am a lot like the girl from the ’90s. I am a romantic at heart but Zoe is not like me as a person, be it in terms of her personality or even the way she dresses up. Also, I don’t think I talk the way she does — the tu tadak Dilli lingo. As a person, your different aspects influence you. So, Zoe has been influenced by her memory, her past, present, her dreams and aspirations. And that’s what I think Imtiaz sir has tried to showcase. Also, I feel, most of Imtiaz Ali’s heroines are not black-and-white; they are quite grey, and understanding that greyness lies in understanding the inner conflicts.

Imtiaz Ali’s take on love is usually very deep and unique. At such a young age, did you find it challenging to understand that?
It was definitely challenging, but I didn’t have to understand, instead I had to ‘feel’ because that’s the kind of person Imtiaz sir is. It’s his film, writing and execution. I was just trying to bring it to life. So, I didn’t take much pressure. I am playing a very relatable character as she has been depicted like things are today. It was challenging but at the same time, also very exciting to be able to do something like that. Also, the story is relevant as it showcases what love is in today’s times. And he was absolutely clear in his vision. He knows exactly what he wants. In that case, there is not much left for us to figure out other than just being honest [to the character].

You have been working with top filmmakers since the start of your career. Is it a great learning experience?
Absolutely! I am not trained in acting and that’s why I aspire even more, to always work with good filmmakers who can bring about good performances from me. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to do the same in Love Aaj Kal because working with Imtiaz sir has been like going to an acting institution. Now, I am going to do a film, Atrangi Re, with Aanand ji [L Rai; filmmaker]. And I am expecting the same from him. I am so thankful for such opportunities as these roles are meaty, hard-hitting, and even grey-ish female parts that I am sinking my teeth into. I must say that whether it’s Imtiaz sir or Aanand ji, for me, the most special thing about them is the way they depict women. Also, I am not very skilled when it comes to acting, and I didn’t even study the art form. So, the only thing I can rely on is my director’s vision and my own honesty. Therefore, I always listen to what they are telling me. That way, it’s much simpler than you would expect it to be.

From doing a film with Imtiaz Ali, Aanand L Rai and David Dhawan, you seemingly have an interesting, packed line-up ahead…
I am very excited because for me, the reason to do what I do is because they [the roles] are all so different. On one hand, I am playing a feisty Delhi girl in a romantic film with Imtiaz Ali, and then, I portray a high-energy, excited Goan girl in Coolie No 1. And then, I play a very real and rooted character in Atrangi Re. Since they are such different characters with such distinct filmmakers, each set is going to be different. I feel truly privileged to have got the opportunity to collaborate with different filmmakers since films are a director’s medium.

At this stage of your career, do you have any specific goals?
My only goal is to never ever stop. Every day, every film and every moment in our job is a learning experience and I think 10 years down the line, I want to still be learning. I am on my third film now and have just announced my fifth one. So, I want to just keep growing every day, every year and with every film.