Sobhita Dhulipala who made her debut with Raman Raghav 2.0 in 2016, is currently being talked about for her performances in web shows like The Night Manager 2 and Made In Heaven 2. Sometime ago, the dusky beauty who has been seen in films across industries, in one of her interviews had said, “There’s always been an obsession over fair skin here.” In a conversation with us, she shares her views on the skin colour discussion, breaking perception, marriage and more.

Sobhita, who hails from Andhra Pradesh, says, “I didn’t even know I was dusky or where I stood on the colour shade chart until someone told me that (you are dusky). See, if I go to another part of the country, as per their standards, I am considered gori. Amongst my schoolmates, I was on the fairer side. When I came to Mumbai, I was considered dusky. So, it all depends on where you are. I never felt less by such remarks. I feel dusky looks very sexy on men and women. All this discussion (on skin colour) has only exposed me to the preferences that existed and made me think ki achcha, if this (dark skin) is not something that they are looking for, then what else can I bring to the table as a performer to compensate for the gap that they are feeling. That has been my attitude and it has served me in a healthy way.”

Sobhita has not restricted herself to one film industry. Apart from starring in Hindi films, she was also seen in Telugu, Malayalam and Tamil movies like Goodachari, Moothon and Ponniyin Selvan 1 and 2. 

“You know I tried to belong (here) in the beginning. I was new to Mumbai, and I didn’t know anything. So, I wanted to be included in this industry and I was like koi toh mujhe apne group mein le le (laughs). Over a period of time, I lost the keeda of wanting to be included in a circle or get a stamp of belonging to a group. I have lost interest in trying to cater to perception. I find it very boring. I think it is important to live your life and open your heart to amazing new experiences and take risks as life is too short. So, even if I stick out like a sore thumb, I will be a sore thumb with a ring on it!”

Glad to have had an opportunity to explore south projects, Sobhita shares, “I got to do an arthouse cinema with Moothon and a commercial blockbuster with Kurup. And then something like a PS 1 and 2... these have been such amazing experiences. It only motivates me to make these choices because I have not been strategic or scheming. I have genuinely acted on my instinct and that has served me well.”

One of her recent projects Made In Heaven 2 featured Sobhita as a wedding planner for high-profile shaadis. Ask her if being a part of this show has led to a change in her perception of marriages and she replies, “I always thought that marriages are weird (laughs). I have always been obsessed with the idea of motherhood, but marriage ke baare mein itna socha nahi. However, obviously... it will happen one day (laughs). Ek cheez toh hai ki... I do not look at marriage as an end goal in life. Many tend to look at it like the ultimate goal of their life, aur waise nahi hona chahiye. Yes, I have started feeling strongly about it, especially after doing a project like Made In Heaven.”

Lately, her personal life has been written about, and being a very private person, she has never really spoken about it. When asked how she deals with such situations, especially on social media, the Kaalakaandi actress says, “I deal with it by not being on social media much. It doesn’t contribute to my life productively and gives me unnecessary anxiety. Being off social media just cuts you off from all the negativity because it is the platform where it all gets built up.”