For the longest time, I had wanted to be associated with the film industry but didn’t know what I was cut out for. Exactly a year before I landed Dabangg 3, I confided in my parents (Mahesh and Medha Manjrekar) that I wanted to act. But I was still very young, so they advised me to wait, work on myself, figure out my strengths and take a step forward only when I had a clear goal. So, for that one year, I did a lot of training and took a look test for Khushi whose personality was a lot like mine.

In April 2018, we got the call from Salman sir (Khan) and he was the first to inform us that I would be a part of Dabangg 3. He then shocked us with the revelation that I was the first person he had thought of after the character had been fleshed. To prepare for my part, I trained with Juuhi Babbar Sonii and took dance classes with Master ji (late Saroj Khan). For a year since that call, my life revolved around my parents, the gym and training.

Still, before going on the set, I was really nervous, my heart pumping almost out of my chest. As a child, when I would visit dad on his sets, everyone would pamper me. Now here, I was supposed to behave like a leading lady? Would I be able to pull it off, I wondered apprehensively. However, the second Prabhu sir (Prabhudheva, director) said, “Action”, I was transported to another place and even though I am really shy, I had never felt so comfortable before. I forgot that there were so many people watching me with huge expectations. I just went with the flow. Amazingly, it all felt so familiar and all the long hours of training paid off. My childhood experiences of being on a set had prepped me up for this moment I had dreamt of for years. And it was finally happening! It was all a haze which disappeared the moment Prabhu sir said “Cut”.

My first shot was the scene where Salman sir’s Dhaakad meets Khushi for the first time in her room. It was a close-up shot and I goofed up my line. I was petrified, wondering what to do next while everyone around was telling me to continue. My mind all messed up, I rattled off my dialogue in one go. Surprisingly, it was okayed in the first take, my goofiness working in my favour.

After the shot, Salman sir told me how proud he was of me. He gave Prabhu sir a crooked smile and a nod and applauded me. My parents were there, their eyes welling up as they watched me on the monitor. It was such a beautiful moment, exactly the way I had dreamt, not wanting to let anyone down.

On the second or maybe the third day, I had to wake up at 4 am, do my hair and make-up, and shoot all day. It was a very difficult scene. The next day was a repeat. Normally, I crib a lot and get cranky if I don’t get proper sleep, but here I was up myself, making coffee and excited to see what the day would bring. That’s when, not just me, but everyone around realised that this was what I was meant to do for the rest of my life. I have to say that acting has brought me out of my shell. I’ve become more sociable. I interact with everyone on the sets, even pull pranks.