Sara Ali Khan has always spoken about how she doesn’t like to stick to her comfort zone as an actress and wants to explore every genre that there is. And the fact that actors often get stereotyped for doing certain roles is what deters her from stepping into similar roles, even if that would be an easy route to take.

The Zara Hatke Zara Bachke actress explains, “As an actor, my main desire has always been versatility. With my upcoming films like Murder Mubarak and then a period film where I play a freedom fighter (Ae Watan Mere Watan) mera woh sapna bhi saakaar ho hi raha hai. I feel lucky and privileged. Especially because of the kind of high energy, loud and bindaas girl that I am, you might not imagine me as a Meesha in Gaslight (her OTT release) or Usha Mehta in Ae Watan Mere Watan. My friends always say, ‘Sara, you have such a crazy, wild personality,’ and it is dangerous when such tags get attached to you. It’s harmful for an actor, because aisa nahi hona chahiye ki log mujhe ek hi roop mein dekhe aur usse zyada na dekh paaye.”

Ask Sara which of her roles her family has liked, and she says, “My daadi (Sharmila Tagore) really liked me in Gaslight. She thought it was quite a different film. I think her film choices have also been eclectic. She appreciates the challenge every now and then. Everybody in my family also like Atrangi Re.”

While her mom and dad are a huge support system, Sara says she makes independent career choices. In fact, her mother, Amrita Singh, hardly ever accompanies her on set.

Sara shares, “Initially, I would ask my mom to come on my set, but then I realised it, without any offence intended, directors are quite possessive of their characters… not their actors but their characters. And since I realised that I have been very apprehensive about visiting an actor friend on their set. When you care about someone, for instance, if my mom or dad come on my set, then they might feel like telling me ki yeh take aise kar sakte thhe, ya vaise kar sakte thhe, and the director might not like it, and one must respect the director’s domain.”