Titas Chowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 3, 2020)

With the phase-wise unlocking of the country in effect after the Coronavirus lockdown, the entertainment industry has already initiated the process of getting back on its feet. The latest to join the league of Akshay Kumar is Adah Sharma who recently shot for a commercial. It made for a rather different experience for the actor who shot with a crew of less than 20 people who were required to wear masks and face shields. Talking about her experience of getting back on a set after months, she says, “It was strange but I was excited. I recorded the episodes behind the scenes and shared the video on my video channel. I’ve never shot like this before. It was a one-day commercial shoot. I was accompanied with a male actor.”

She says it’s pertinent to follow the norms of social distancing while shooting but she expresses her concern about shooting for a full-length movie with multiple actors. Sharma shares, “After every shot, I would look at the director’s expression to see if he liked it. He was wearing two masks, a shield, a cap and a PPE suit. So, I didn’t know what he was thinking. I had to be careful about not touching things. We had to sanitise the script before picking it up and had to be alert about things.”

The actor says that she expects that new normal would be about giving a fair share of opportunities to all actors. “I would want to see a world where talent is given a chance. With films releasing on OTT platforms and good content being encouraged and watched, we might get to see a revolution that was waiting to happen. It’s sad that we needed a pandemic to change things.”

She reveals that the script for the commercial had to be tweaked to reduce risks. “The new scripts that are getting written may be changed a bit keeping in mind the safety of the crew and the cast. The human mind is very creative and I’m sure we will all adapt to the times,” she signs off.

Titas Chowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 18, 2020)

Adah Sharma is happy with the way her career has shaped up so far. She believes that dabbling in web and Hindi as well as regional film industries has been a good career move. Ask her about speculations surrounding her Hollywood debut and she says, “I’ve been fortunate that most of the projects that I’ve done have worked. And there’s a lot of exciting stuff happening, but I’m very superstitious. I believe that only once a project — be it an endorsement, a South film or a Hindi film — goes on floor, should I speak about it.”

Without divulging any other details, she adds, “My superstitions come from a place of fear. It has so happened in the past that I was a part of a project and then I got replaced. I don’t want to announce something from my side and then jinx it.”

The Commando 3 (2019) actor, who has a slew of releases lined up, shares that being replaced in a film bogged her down. She elaborates, “The heartbreak that you go through when a film doesn’t work isn’t as much as when you sign a film and get replaced just before you start shooting. Getting replaced is the ultimate form of heartbreak. I couldn’t give myself a pep talk and all I did was cry.”

So, what helped her lift her spirits and deal with the rejection? “I’m a very positive person and so after a point, I said to myself that I need to move on to other things. If my hopes are pinned on a film and I don’t get to do it, then that’s a low. It’s something that I can’t do anything about,” she says.

Adah continues, “After I finish a film, I tend to detach from it. It’s the audience who will eventually decide the fate of the film and they’re the best judge. The audience has been very kind to me. I’m glad to have people around me who really support me and have nice things to say about me even if I’m terrible (laughs).” 

Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; November 23, 2019)

A trained martial artiste, it comes as no surprise that Adah Sharma loves performing stunts in her films. The actress will be seen doing some high-octane action sequences in her upcoming film, Commando 3. In a conversation with BT, she spoke about her bond with co-star and fellow martial arts enthusiast Vidyut Jammwal, how she used her martial arts training for self-defence and the kind of man she wants in her life. Excerpts:

In the trailer of Commando 3, we see you doing action, you also upload videos performing martial arts on social media. What is it about martial arts that’s most appealing to you?
Since childhood, I have been inclined towards dancing and physical training. I like anything that’s related to dance and gymnastics. I feel that dance and action are similar, as both involve choreography. It is also about timing, discipline, focus and pushing your limits. I am trained in Kathak, where you do your chakkars and come back to the same spot. In action, too, you do your kicks and return to the same spot. My inspiration has been my mother. Not only did she train me in Kathak, but also in Kalaripayattu and Mallakhamb.

Did you learn any new forms of martial arts for Commando 3?
For the film, I worked on my Kalaripayattu skills. I undertook training in Silambam, which is an art form from Tamil Nadu. I also learnt to use nunchucks. I polished my sharpshooting skills, too, which I had trained in during Commando 2. I play an encounter specialist, and so, I had to look like a pro. If you aren’t confident while holding a gun, it shows on the screen. I enjoy shooting as it feels like meditation. You take a deep breath, hold your breath and pull the trigger. You need to concentrate a lot during the process. In the film, I am also doing hand-to-hand combat.

Knowing martial arts also helps you with self-defence. Have you ever faced a situation where it has come to your rescue?
When I was in seventh grade, I was walking home after my tuitions. There were a few boys who were throwing stones at me. I turned back and asked them to stop doing that, but they didn’t listen. I told them once again, but this time, one guy came too close to me and asked, “Kya karogi?” At the time, I remember my uncle had taught me, Tai Chi. I used one of the moves and hit him on his face. The next thing I remember seeing was his hand on his face, and the palm soaked in blood. I freaked out and started walking briskly. I never turned back to look at him.

Your co-star, Vidyut Jammwal, is a trained martial artist, too. Did the two of you bond over this?
Vidyut is one of my closest friends today. We became friends on the sets of Commando 2. Yes, we did start talking to each other about our love for fitness and martial arts. However, it is his sense of humour that we bonded over a lot. In terms of fitness, I must say that his physical and mental strength inspires me. He does push-ups using glass bottles. With his physical strength, the bottles could get crushed, but he keeps his body light enough with his mental strength. I am always surprised with the way he breaks bricks with his bare hands.

Has your role as Inspector Bhavana Reddy evolved in the sequel?
In Commando 2, she was a corrupt cop. She was evil as she would even kill people for a branded, expensive bag. This time around, she is a serious cop. However, we have retained her funny antics. The character still has that sense of humour, as people had liked it. This time she is a lot stronger.

In Commando 2, you had Esha Gupta as your female co-star, this time around you are sharing screen space with Angira Dhar. Is it important for you to get along with your co-stars and have a friendly equation with them?
Yes, we did. I feel during any film project, you should get along with all your co-stars, especially female co-stars. If, as a woman, you don’t respect another woman, how can you expect men to respect women? So, I have great respect for all my female co-stars. Not only them. I also respect all the women who work behind-the-scenes, day and night to make us actresses look beautiful and make it possible for us to nail the characters we play on screen.

On the personal front, there was a buzz that you were dating a businessman.
(Looks surprised) Who is this businessman? I am very much single. I want to urge my fans to find the right guy for me. I need a man who can make perfectly round dosas and the best chutney. He should love animals, do backflips and should be a happy person.

Adah Sharma will star in a Bollywood romantic comedy which has a man falling in love with a woman, who identifies as a man
Elina Nayak (BOMBAY TIMES; May 10, 2019)

Adah Sharma began her acting career playing a woman possessed by the spirit of a dead man in Vikram Bhatt’s horror drama, 1920 in 2008. Now, she is all set to play a man on the big screen. About her upcoming Bollywood romantic-comedy, Man To Man, the actress says, “I feel so lucky to have gotten a chance to portray a role like this. It’s something no other actress has done till now in the mainstream Indian cinema.” Excerpts from a chat:

What was your first reaction when you learnt about the role?
Director Abir Sengupta didn’t tell me upfront that I will be playing a man. When he met me to narrate the story, it seemed like a typical ‘boy meets girl and falls in love’ kind of a story. But midway through the narration, he revealed that the girl is, in fact, a guy! I was completely taken aback and I was like, ‘What? Really!’ Naveen Kasturia plays the man who falls in love with my character, who reciprocates his feeling after the initial wooing. But what happens when he learns that his girl is a guy, is what the film is all about. I am very happy that Abir chose me for a role that will represent the LGBTQI+ community in a positive light.

What is your character like?
From the outside, my character looks like a woman in every sense — wears dresses and shorts and looks like a pretty girl with whom any guy will fall in love with. But in reality, she is a man. I was blown away by the sensitivity with which the role was written. Portraying the character has pushed my acting skills. It’s a role that will surprise, entertain and educate the audience in equal measure. I am proud of it.

This sounds like a first-of-its-kind romantic comedy. Tell us more.
More than a love story, it’s a film that seeks to normalise gender identities that are termed queer. It tells the world to accept people for who they are. It also encourages people to be comfortable in their skin, even if they don’t fit into the conventional gender roles that prescribe how we should be rather than recognising how we are or how we feel. As they say, the soul has no gender, does it? Whether you are born male or female, you should be allowed to be what you identify yourself as. The film also shows how people from the LBGTQI+ community are bullied by their family, friends and society at large. Having said that, we are not trying to be preachy.

This is a romantic comedy, but the humour will be sensitive. The makers are planning to dub the film in multiple languages. It is a universal film that will resonate with everyone.

What kind of prep did you undergo to get into the skin of your character?
A lot of homework went into acquainting myself with the state of mind, psychology and the struggles that trans people face. After all, the way we behave, talk and express is a reflection of what we feel about ourselves. I wanted the portrayal to be as authentic as possible. Abir’s inputs were of great help, too.

You also have a Telugu film Kalki in the offing besides another Hindi film...
Yes, we’ve finished shooting for Kalki. It’s an investigative thriller set in the ’80s. I play an independent girl and have a retro look in the film. Then, there is Commando 3. The audience will see me in an action-packed avatar in the movie. I am glad that I am getting to portray diverse roles. 

Elina Nayak (BOMBAY TIMES; December 9, 2017)

What was meant to be a fun, casual interaction with her fans turned ugly for Adah Sharma, recently, when one of the men in the crowd thought it was totally okay to ask her to kiss him! ‘No’, she said, firmly. But the “middle-aged, married man” went on a rant, shamelessly, and no one stopped him.

Still incensed at the whole incident, a fuming Adah recalls, “It happened when I was in Mumbai, waiting to catch a flight to Goa. Before boarding my flight, a live interaction with my fans who had come from different cities was arranged. It was there that this 30-plus, married man asked me to kiss him publicly. His audacity to ask me to kiss him was shocking enough. But even after I said ‘NO’, he had the gall to ask me, ‘Why? You kissed in Commando 2 and also had a 1-hour-45-minute kiss in Heart Attack. I’m like your brother or father — what’s the big deal? I’m asking to kiss me on my cheeks’.” Explaining why she didn’t take him to task then and there, Adah adds, “I’m usually a very positive person and I stay away from controversy. So, I didn’t react or say much else at that time. I thought there were so many other amazing fans there, who had come all the way from so many cities just to meet me. By reacting or creating a scene there, I didn’t want to ruin their experience. But later, when my friends saw my outburst on Twitter and read about the incident online, everyone asked me why I didn’t slap the shameless guy.”

Adah chose to let it go then, she took to Twitter to express her outrage when the snubbed ‘fan’ got online to troll her for “insulting” him for asking her for a “harmless kiss”. Imagine that! Wait, there’s worse. He even managed to find some like-minded people who drummed up support for him and joined in trolling the actress, proving yet again that the internet and the anonymity it offers is just what this breed of ‘ugly Indians’ need to expose what they’re really hiding under their sanskari public image. “I did not want to continue to dwell on this ugly incident, thus kept quiet. But I had to speak up for myself when the guy started trolling me for denying him a ‘harmless kiss’. But my tweets about a ‘no being a no’ and a woman’s right to decide who she will kiss or not seem to have been lost on his ilk. Soon, many joined the troll and wrote disgusting stuff like, ‘Great @adah_sharma Did you tell the same to @purijagan when he narrated you the same scene in your debut film Heart Attack? Just asking!’ or ‘It’s just a kiss, what’s the big deal?’,” says Adah.

“Well, I want to tell all those people out there again that what I do, who I kiss is my choice. It’s a woman’s choice —whether she is an actor or not! And, when I kiss on screen it’s is a character I play, that’s not the real me, not the ‘Adah Sharma’. As an actor, it’s my job to portray characters; that doesn’t mean that’s what I am doing all the time in real life. Get a life! In my debut Bollywood film 1920, I was possessed and I killed people. So, does that mean I can come kill you in real life?” she lashes out.

Adah is quick to add that a few such loonies aside, she’s happy that she has some ‘real amazing fans’ and that makes her let go of such incidents. “I have a lot of lovely, young fans, like this school girl I know from Hyderabad. I want fans like her, and all those young men and women who look up to me, to know what happened; why I said what I said, and what they too should do when they come across such incidents,” she says.

Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; March 3, 2017)