Saiee Manjrekar on life six months after Dabangg 3 and three months since the lockdown
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 6, 2020)

After launching Sonakshi Sinha as Rajjo in Dabangg 10 years ago, Salman Khan introduced another fresh face, Saiee Manjrekar, in the third instalment of his cop franchise last year, as his lost love, Khushi. It has been six months since the film’s release and the actress admits that life has changed completely. “I am more aware of how I look and I am careful about what I say and do,” she admits, adding that she loves being recognised and taking selfies with fans. “Once, before the lockdown, someone spotted me in my car and followed me all the way to a restaurant just to get a picture clicked with me. I felt so special.”

But despite her newfound stardom, Saiee remains grounded even though she’s only 18. “Dabangg 3 released six months ago in December, people have moved on. Now, only my work can ensure that I sustain, and that will be my true achievement,” she asserts, adding that she finds her inspiration in contemporaries like Ananya Panday, Sara Ali Khan and Janhvi Kapoor. “I watch not only their films but their interviews as well. They are all so relatable, so real. I would really like to imbibe the confidence they exude, but I know it takes a lot of inner work to make it possible.”

However, the actress believes her youth gives her an advantage in that she has the time to experience all the ups and downs in her profession. “Then, by the time I am more mature, I will know my strengths,” she reasons.

Having made her debut as the Dabangg girl, does she feel any pressure? “I am too young to feel any pressure,” she says airily. “This is my time to discover myself, make mistakes, fall and get back up. Right now, I am just looking to do something out of the box that challenges me and seems beyond my reach. With each day I am learning something new about myself and it is an amazing journey. People can expect a lot of surprises from me, as I am surprising even myself every day.”

And how does she plan to carry forward papa Mahesh Manjrekar’s legacy? Sounding very down-to-earth, the actress points out that he is an amazing actor and director and she would need a lot more experience to carry his legacy forward. “But I do plan on making him proud,” she asserts, pointing out that there are other aspiring actors in the family, including her sister Gauri, who has just done a Marathi film and her brother Satya, who has just wrapped up a web series. Her elder sister Ashwami is a chef and hasn’t given any thought to Bollywood yet.

Flashbacking to her debut, Saiee reveals that it was an overwhelming moment for her family to see her on screen. “For the first 10 minutes we were all silent because we were just crying. Getting to work with my parents in my first film was a blessing,” she says.

And what about her costar Salman? “He has always been my mentor; someone I can go to for even the smallest things. My parents and he are the first people I run to whenever I get any kind of work.” So, any new collaboration with Salman on the cards? “I speak to him often, but there hasn’t been any work-related discussion,” she informs, adding that she was gearing up to start her second film when the lockdown was announced. Prod her for details, and she stays mum.

Speaking of Coronavirus lockdown, Saiee reveals that it took some time to adjust, but now, she feels settled with a routine in place. “I’ve also become more aware of what I am putting into my mouth. The only downside is my inconsistent sleep timing. But irrespective of what time I wake up, I cycle around my building every day,” she asserts.

Saiee trained with the late Saroj Khan to brush up on her dancing skills before Dabangg 3. Mention the choreographer and she gets emotional. “I started training with Masterji in August 2019. We’d train rigorously for an hour every day and then have chai; that was our ritual. It was amazing working with her, but unfortunately, I couldn’t get her famous Rs 101 reward,” she rues, adding that she spoke to Sarojji when she was hospitalised and hopes that she’s in a better place now.

Saiee Manjrekar, who plays actor’s leading lady in third instalment of Dabangg, reveals she’s a little monster at home; also recalls how he’d given her tiramisu on a flight
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 14, 2019)

After launching Sonakshi Sinha in the 2010 cop-drama, Dabangg, Salman Khan is now set to introduce another fresh face in the third instalment of the franchise, Saiee, daughter of actor-filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar. The newbie admits it’s a big deal for her to do her first film opposite the actor. “I have always been a huge fan of Salman sir, so this is special,” she smiles.

Saiee has always wanted to be an actor and her theatre background has given her the confidence to face the camera. “I opened up as a person and shed my inhibitions,” she informs, adding that last March, she confided in mom Medha that she wanted to act. “Coincidentally, a month later, I learnt that I was being considered for Dabangg 3 and started prepping for the screen test.”

A prequel, the film juggles between the past and present, showcasing the metamorphoses of Chulbul Pandey into a Robin Hood cop. Saiee plays Khushi, the girl Chulbul is in love with, early in his life. “I’m surprised Salman sir saw sweet, simple Khushi in me because at home, I’m a little monster,” she giggles.

A few months after the screen and look tests, the 21-year-old heard from Salman. “He knew how excited I was and told me with a straight face, ‘You’re doing the film.’ For a while, it didn’t sink in. Then, when I went to his place, where Prabhu sir (director Prabhudheva) and the rest of the team was gathered, Salman sir introduced me, saying, ‘Yeh dekho, Dabangg ki heroine aa gayee.’ It felt surreal to be called that,” Saiee reminisces.

All through the making of the film, buzz was, Saiee’s elder sister, Ashwami, was the chosen one. She informs that her sister is a chef and has no interest in acting. “I remember, her Instagram was flooded with messages till July 16, when an article cleared the air about the film being my launch pad,” she smiles, taken aback when told that the said article appeared in Mirror.

While Ashwami is not on the scene, the film has Saiee’s real life parents, Mahesh and Medha, playing parents to Sonakshi Sinha’s Rajjo. She also got to share the frame with her parents and describes the experience as magical, saying, “I can’t explain in words how emotional it felt shooting with them.”

The cop-drama also features Sudeep, a big name in Kannada films, as the antagonist, and marks the return of Dimple Kapadia, who played Chulbul’s mother in the original. “Imagine working with all these personalities in my debut! I couldn’t have asked for a better start,” Saiee exults, saying the story telling makes this film unique. “It will be a nostalgic journey for all Dabangg fans. The prequel fits perfectly into the first and second part,” she promises.

Years ago, while travelling with her dad to Punjab for the shoot of Salman’s Bodyguard, she was hungry and throwing tantrums in the plane as she didn’t want the usual chocolates and biscuits, but a nice dessert. “Suddenly, Salman sir, who was seated next to me, asked, ‘Do you want tiramisu?’ I’d always loved him as an actor and a person, but he also became my favourite person because he gave me tiramisu on a flight,” she beams at the memory.

So, what’s next? “Honestly, I haven’t thought of anything yet. I trust my parents and Salman sir blindly; they know what’s the best for me. I know I’d love to act in a film directed by my father,” she ends, flashing another of those smiles which must have wooed her leading man.