To Saiyami Kher, Haiwaan stands as a symbol of unexpected coincidences. In 2014, before foraying into Bollywood, the actor had featured in an eyewear brand campaign with Saif Ali Khan. Today, she has reunited with the actor for Priyadarshan’s action thriller. “Reuniting with him after 12 years feels like life has come around in the most beautiful way,” marvelled Kher.

 

The campaign is still fresh in her memory. Asserting that one’s early collaborations are important in shaping their career, she said, “I cherish that memory. I had shot for one of my very first campaigns for an eyewear brand, and Saif sir was its ambassador. Even back then, he was so funny. I have greatly admired his work, and it felt surreal to share the screen with him in Priyan sir’s film all these years later. It’s incredible how he looks exactly the same. Saif has been warm and gracious. Working with him now, as an equal collaborator, has been comforting.”

Nostalgia isn’t the only reason Haiwaan, also starring Akshay Kumar, is an important project to Kher. She elaborated, “It’s about how far you’ve come. Experiences like this make you look back and feel grateful for the opportunities, learning, and people who have been part of your journey, even in small ways.”

Actor Akshay Kumar’s upcoming film Haiwaan’s production is in full force as the cast gears up to deliver an entertainer. Akshay, who is known for his discipline, had maintained the same rigor on this film’s set, making sure the demanding schedule doesn’t impact him or his co-stars.

Actor Saiyami Kher, who is working with him for the first time, reveals what went between scenes of the Priyadarshan directorial and how her senior co-star’s love for fitness inspired everyone on sets.

Saiyami, who is also a cricketer, says, “The minute we had a break, Akshay would want to play some sport, either cricket, catch, table tennis or we would just invent a game!”

Keeping the atmosphere light and positive, Akshay also ensured that he would lead by example for his co-stars.

The 33-year-old says, “When we were shooting in Kochi, (Akshay) sir would swim everyday. His consistency is remarkable. For him, fitness isn’t separate from life; it’s just part of his routine and that was inspiring for everyone on sets.”

The film, which brings back Saif Ali Khan and Akshay on screen after almost 17 years, has been shot in Kochi and Mumbai. While the heavy schedules are over, the film is currently completing some patchwork.

Actor Saiyami Kher has begun shooting for an untitled Hindi drama directed by Vikram Phadnis, marking his first directorial venture in Hindi. The film has gone on floors in Mumbai and features Saiyami in the lead role alongside Vineet Kumar Singh and Tahir Raj Bhasin.

Saiyami shared a glimpse from her first day on set on social media, posting a photograph with the film’s script and marking the start of the new project. In her note, she reflected on new beginnings as she stepped into the role.

Speaking about the film, Saiyami said the story connected with her at a personal level and described the role as emotionally demanding. She added that beginning the year with this project felt meaningful to her as an actor.

Actor Saiyami Kher is set to reunite with her 8 A.M. Metro (2023) co-star Gulshan Devaiah for an upcoming project releasing soon. The much-loved pairing has sparked interest again after pictures from the shoot surfaced online.

According to sources, the short film was shot entirely in the Mumbai suburbs as the project used real locations to heighten its intimate, lived-in mood.

Directed by a new filmmaker, the love drama is not a sequel but occupies a similar emotional space, centred on unsaid feelings and human connection. It has been shot completely in black and white.

A source told mid-day, “Saiyami and Gulshan share a very organic comfort level, both on and off screen. The shoot started on January 1 and wrapped up on January 5. It was a focussed unit with a crew of 100 people.”

This marks their third collaboration. “Saiyami and Gulshan spent time working through the characters’ internal histories. Because the film relies on minimal dialogue, a lot of the prep was about understanding emotional continuity. They prepped for two weeks before the shoot,” the source concluded.

Haiwaan has given Saiyami Kher many firsts. It’s not only her maiden collaboration with actors Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan, and filmmaker Priyadarshan, but also her first attempt at a crime thriller. For the actor, who recently wrapped up the movie, the biggest highlight was working with Khan.

“Saif sir is about constant laughter between takes, [with his] wicked sense of humour and stories that keep everyone entertained. But the moment the director calls action, there’s a switch in him. He is focused, effortless, and completely in the zone,” marvelled Kher.

If she remembers Khan for his humour, Kumar is the epitome of discipline for her. Sharing the screen with him left her with invaluable lessons. “His punctuality and dedication to work are unmatched. Every day with him was a reminder of what professionalism looks like,” she said.

With Haiwaan, Priyadarshan is adapting his Malayalam hit Oppam (2016) for the Hindi film audience. It’s said to be a cat-and-mouse chase between Khan’s blind protagonist, who has to stay one step ahead of the antagonist, essayed by Kumar. After being directed by Priyadarshan, Kher has deep admiration for the filmmaker.

“Working with Priyadarshan sir was a lesson in clarity. His experience of having directed 99 films brings so much calm and precision to the set.”

While she has established herself in the film industry, actor Saiyami Kher recently opened up about being asked to “compromise” for a role in a Telugu film early on in her career.

Saiyami, who was recently seen in Jaat, was asked whether she had ever encountered a casting couch in her career. In response, the 32-year-old shared, “I have been very fortunate with regards to all the offers I have received. [But], there was this one female agent who called me for a Telugu film when I was 19 or 20 years old. She said, ‘You know, you will have to make compromises’.”

“It was a woman saying it to another woman, so I felt that deeply,” she recalled during a conversation with Bollywood Bubble, adding, “So I said, ‘Ma’am, I’m not understanding what you are saying.’ I kept repeating that. Finally, I told her, ‘I’m sorry that you feel I’m someone who needs to go down this route. There are certain limits I have never crossed in my life’.”

We are used to seeing Sunny Deol as a one-man army in most of his actioners, from Ghayal (1990) to Gadar 2: The Katha Continues (2023). But it looks like his upcoming film, Jaat, will be an exception. While Gopichand Malineni’s directorial venture sees the actor as a common man rising against the system, it has been learnt that as many as eight female actors will join him in his fight against the baddies. Veteran actor Zarina Wahab has an emotionally powerful role, while Saiyami Kher, Regena Cassandrra, Bandhavi Sridhar, Moumita Pal, Vishika Kota, Praneeta Patnaik, Doulath Sulthana and Ayesha Khan will be seen in action avatars, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the leading man.

From what we’ve heard, it was Malineni’s idea to depict them as action heroines alongside Deol. A source says, “When Gopichand decided to make Jaat as an action extravaganza, he was certain that the women would be depicted as brave fighters and an equal to the hero. Regena and Saiyami have several high-octane fight sequences in the movie. Telugu film actors Bandhavi and Doulath, who were seen in Masooda [2022] and Madham [2020] respectively, play upright cops in the multilingual movie. Moumita, Vishika, Praneeta and Ayesha, who were recently seen in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 [2024], Ashtadigbandhanam [2023], Sita Ramam [2022] and Gangs Of Godavari [2024] respectively, complete the cop brigade. These actors will be seen in fierce avatars, performing hand-to-hand-combat, using guns, and taking on baddies in the action sequences.”

The unit began shooting Jaat in Hyderabad in June 2024. While Deol is currently filming Border 2, having finished most of his Jaat portions, the director is currently shooting with the leading ladies. “Sets have been put up in Ramoji Film City, while the outdoor scenes are being canned in Aziz Nagar and Krishna Nagar in Hyderabad. Currently, Praneeta is filming her portions. Sunny is expected to join the unit next month for a patch shoot,” adds the source.

The April 10 offering—that will be released in Hindi, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, and Tamil—also stars Randeep Hooda and Vineet Kumar Singh.

Saiyami Kher, Regena Cassandra and Ayesha Khan

Her acting chops have always earned critical acclaim, but few would know that Saiyami Kher is quite the storyteller too. We get a glimpse of her way with words when she paints a vivid picture of her German escapades as she set on to become the first Indian actress to complete the Ironman 70.3 Challenge. In chronicling how she completed the endurance race—comprising a 1.9-kilometre swim, a 90-kilometre bike ride, and a 21.1-kilometre run, within the span of eight and a-half hours—Kher takes us on a journey that’s synonymous with a cinematic take on a sporting victory.

This narrative picks up pace when she chronicles how she was told she’d be disqualified mid-race. “I had completed the first 45-kilometre bout of the cycling leg and missed the [exit] for the second loop. The officials subsequently told me I was disqualified and would need to end my race because I wasn’t supposed to be where I was. Twenty athletes had been disqualified for the same reason, but because I wasn’t exhausted, I wanted to keep going. There was no road to cycle back [to the starting line], so, I carried my bike on my back and ran for 2.6 kilometres to [start again]. This was difficult for two reasons. Running in cycling shoes is tough because they are [designed differently]. Also, I had wasted 30 minutes in the process,” recalls the actor, who was subsequently told that she would only learn if she could continue competing after she entered the second loop.

“So, I’d have to cycle 45 kilometres again, but this time, I wouldn’t even know if I was still in the race or out of it. This was a mentally challenging space to be in. Since the others had already moved on, the journey, this time, was [lonely]. It wasn’t until the 64th kilometre that I spotted people who had stopped due to exhaustion. It was only after I finished 90 kilometres that I learned that I could still compete. The 90 minutes leading up to that were nerve-racking.” 

It’s in moments like these that Kher says one’s athletic spirit is expressed. Riding along the picturesque roads of Germany, she recalls staying motivated by convincing herself that “the journey is more important than the destination”. “These are silly things that you tell yourself to stay on track,” she playfully confesses, going on to reflect with some gravitas, “This whole trip has been about losing the way and finding my path.” 

Distances covered by athletes in endurance races like Ironman, and Spartathlon often seem incomprehensible to enthusiasts who may count 10-kilometre runs among their notable achievements. Several practice sessions in Mumbai would have preceded D-day, we assume, only to be corrected by the actor.

“One isn’t supposed to cover the whole distance during training. Usually, you practice one to two components in a day. And even then, you don’t cover the entire distance of each component. You may perform brick workouts on some days, which implies doing small chunks of all three components. An example would be executing a 70-kilometre bike ride, followed by an eight-kilometre run. If one is prepping for a 42-kilometre marathon, the maximum distance that they’d cover during any training session would be 35 kilometres. As far as I am concerned, the maximum distance I covered in a day was a two-kilometre swim, a 60-kilometre bike ride, and a 10-kilometre run.”

While she had access to the knowledge of several coaches well versed in the field of endurance training, Kher also turned to a seasoned athlete known for covering long distances on foot. “I was shooting with Milind Soman, and he said he would cover full distances [during practice as well] so that he could get accustomed to the feeling of covering it. However, since I was shooting an action film [before] the race, I had limited time to train like people do in the last month, which is a crucial window.” 

The subject of endurance training is likely to illicit a mental picture of athletes huffing as they attempt to cross the finish line. Kher, however, remained fairly composed as she navigated the distances in her first shot. She credits her athletic prowess to two factors.

“I’ve always known that [covering a long] distance is not a problem for me. I have never worked on [improving my] speed, but, if I attempt a race calmly, I don’t find it tough to finish it. I was worried about the cut-off time. I have many friends who were disqualified in the first Ironman. In fact, a week ago, during a race in Berlin, six Indians could not finish the swimming bout, and four couldn’t complete the cycling bout. So, none of them even made it to the running leg. But, surprisingly, I performed [better than I have] in the cycling and swimming bouts. The excitement of being in the race helps you perform better.”

She also credits her “base training” for helping her breeze through the race. “I adhered to low-intensity endurance work and ensured that [my heart rate] did not go above a certain number. In Mumbai, maintaining that is tough, given the weather conditions. But, I’d train with two friends, and we’d ensure that [we maintained a heart rate so low that] we could speak to each other throughout the race. If you can have a conversation while running, your heart rate is in the [optimal zone].”

Despite her athleticism and exposure to the three endurance components from an early age, Kher says her journey to winning the title wasn’t bereft of challenges. Having never swam in open waters, she recalls having struggled to cover 50 metres in her first attempt. “I wondered how I’d swim two kilometres,” she says, as though still carrying the fear of the feat with her. “But when you’re consistent with your training, you learn what your body is capable of. It’s quite amazing.”

Moments after returning to Mumbai after her race, Kher tells us she has her eyes set on another challenge. “I’m finding the next race to sign up for,” she excitedly exclaims. Ask her if it would be the full Ironman challenge, and she is quick to dismiss us. “I’m giving myself time for that and would like to do it before I turn 45. Before that, I want to do another full marathon [42.2 kilometres].”

Having kept an arm’s length from protein supplements, Kher says she turned to adequate portions of eggs and chicken to meet her requirements. “I would have six eggs, and at least two portions of chicken for lunch. In the day, I’d also have dal, sabzi, greens, and some fruit. Dinner comprised salads and either chicken breast, or fish. While managing my eating habits at home was easier, doing so during shooting legs was harder. Often, I’d eat a lot of fish to meet my requirements, because protein is extremely important.”

Given that carbohydrate loading plays a vital role during endurance races, Kher ate “whatever I desired” two days before the race. “A friend who has participated in similar races had told me to avoid fibre before the competition, so I did that as well. I also eliminated dairy from my diet during that window. I stuck to pizza and pasta in the four days leading up to the race. Carb-loading is the best part about endurance sports,” she signs off.

Actor Saiyami Kher, who is all set to participate in the Ironman race today in Berlin (Germany), has already overcome hurdles to get here. On her way from Canada after a special premiere of Ghoomer (2023), Kher’s luggage containing her sports gear was misplaced by the airlines.

“I put it up on social media because I thought it would be the quickest way to get through this very unprofessional airline,” she shares, adding, “When the bag went missing for two days, Iceland Air put their hands up that they can’t find it. I started thinking of the worst-case scenario and buying new gear.”

Kher insists that while she wouldn’t have been this “paranoid or stressed” under normal circumstances, replacing the gear was not feasible: “It’s crucial to use what you have been practicing in (for the race). You can’t wear new shoes as you can get a shoe bite. New wet suit can cause chafing.”

However, the Indian embassies in Berlin and Iceland came to her rescue. “It took 48 hours to get it back, but it was because of the embassies,” she shares.

Kher admits her focus was affected by the incident. “Mentally, it was exhausting, but it’s just a hurdle before the race... The last-minute pre-race nerves are there. It’s super cold and raining in Berlin, but hopefully, I’ll manage to cross the finish line,” she ends.

The smashing success of Gadar 2: The Katha Continues (2023) put Sunny Deol back in the game, and there has been no dearth of offers since—be it Aamir Khan’s production Lahore 1947, or Border 2 with J P Dutta. On Thursday, Deol announced his next with director Gopichand Malineni, the working title of which is SDGM, named after the duo’s initials. Saiyami Kher, last seen in Ghoomer (2023), has been roped in as the leading lady.

Being part of the action fare is doubly joyful for Kher. It not only marks her first collaboration with the Telugu director, best known for Veera Simha Reddy (2023), but also realises her wish of sharing screen space with Deol.

“Working with Sunny Deol, an icon of Indian cinema, is an honour and a dream come true. After Ghoomer, this opportunity is a significant milestone in my career. I’ve waited to be a part of a [mainstream] film,” she shares.

The team, including actor Regina Cassandra, will kick off the shoot in Hyderabad tomorrow.

Actor Saiyami Kher first tried to attempt the gruelling Ironman triathlon in 2020. However, while she was fully trained, Covid hit and the race got cancelled. In 2023, she aimed to do it again in New Zealand, but she met with an accident. This September, in Germany, she’ll be giving it a third try. “Hopefully, third time’s the charm,” she says.

The prep for the race, which includes cycling, swimming and running, is quite demanding, but Kher is giving it her all. “I am already in my six-month training. Unfortunately, in Mumbai, there are no roads left to cycle on as everything is dug up. So, I have got an indoor training cycle at home. I have also got a treadmill. Swimming training becomes a challenge as I can’t get tanned, so I have to go to the pool at 5 in the morning,” shares Kher, adding that on some weekends, she also travels to Nashik to practise swimming in open water, where she has access to a lake.

The 31-year-old is required to put in 14-15 hours of training every week. “I love listening to (singers) Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar’s old songs when I run. But in Ironman training, you are not allowed to listen to music. So, it’s even more challenging. It’s eight hours with yourself, and all your fears, anxieties and thoughts come out during this time, as you are all alone,” she signs off.

Even after coming from a different generation, Saiyami Kher shares a special bond with Gulzar. On World Poetry Day today, the actor recounts how the veteran poet-lyricist’s words have impacted her. 

She says, “Gulzar sahab’s poetry transcends time and language barriers. They touch the soul with their beauty and depth. His words have inspired me in countless ways. The essence of his poetry, the intricacy of his storytelling and the sheer emotion woven into every verse have touched my life and made me a better person.”

The 89-year-old wrote Kher’s debut film Mirzya (2016). The 31-year-old recalls meeting him for the first time while attending a friend’s play that was written by Gulzar: “When I went to meet him, I thought he wouldn’t know me. So, I stood awkwardly in a corner and just smiled at him. Before my friend could introduce me, he said, ‘Arey, yeh to meri Suchi (her character in Mirzya) hai’.”

Kher reveals that she touched his feet and was too overwhelmed to say anything. Recalling her second meeting with him the next day, Kher says, “He is someone I want to hold on to closely. He had so much to teach me in just the first time we met.”

Kher still remembers her greatest learning from the veteran. She recalls, “He told me a story about how he used to throw stones at a mango tree growing up while there was an older man in the balcony seeing that. Through his poem, he recited his journey from being that kid to reaching that balcony and how time goes by so quickly.”

Kher and Gulzar’s discussions aren’t just limited to such deep issues: “The most beautiful thing about our equation is that we talk about the most random things. He is a big fan of Roger Federer (former tennis star), M S Dhoni (cricketer) and cricket. We end up talking a lot about sports.”

She says that her most memorable interaction with Gulzar was also the scariest. “He had written the poetry for our film 8 A.M. Metro (2023) and I had to learn to recite it from him. When he was speaking in front of me, I was trying to understand the metre of the poetry. But his voice, his diction and tonation, I just couldn’t help but get lost in it,” she ends.

On February 28, Avtar Saini, the former head of Intel India, passed away after being struck by a speeding cab while he was cycling in Navi Mumbai. The tragic episode has highlighted the need for cyclists’ safety on roads. Saiyami Kher, who is training for the Iron Man Triathlon in New Zealand next year, has written a letter to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), voicing her concerns regarding the safety hazards faced by the community amid the city’s ongoing infrastructure development.

In the letter, the actor highlighted that roads have become extremely narrow due to the construction of metro tracks and flyovers. She says, “Cycling in Mumbai has become increasingly unsafe because almost the whole city is dug up. The recent incidents, including the loss of lives, highlight the urgent need for action. It’s sad that going out for a run or cycling in this city can be life-threatening. I have been running marathons for over a decade, and the air quality in our city is currently so [poor] that it’s better to run indoors. I hope this city becomes more fitness-friendly.”

As a cyclist, the importance of wearing safety gear and taking precautions is not lost on Kher. However, she emphasizes that additional safety measures and infrastructure, such as the creation of dedicated cycling lanes, should be integrated into urban planning. “It’s crucial to prioritize the creation of dedicated cycling lanes and safe corridors in Mumbai to prevent accidents, and promote cycling as a sustainable mode of transport.”

For most actors, having an Anurag Kashyap movie on their resume is a matter of pride. Saiyami Kher seems to have managed it twice over. The actor-director duo had teamed up for Choked: Paisa Bolta Hai (2020), which was set against the backdrop of the 2016 demonetization in India and premièred on Netflix. Now, we hear the two have reunited for another direct-to-OTT film.

Sources say that this time around, they are collaborating on a human drama. It turns out the two began discussing the project when they met at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne last year.

“Anurag was present in Melbourne when Saiyami’s sports drama Ghoomer [2023] premièred at the film gala, and he expressed his admiration for her work. That’s when he floated the idea of the project, and it was locked soon after,” reveals a source.

The filmmaker has apparently begun pre-production and is planning to lock the locations this month. The source adds, “The table reads will start from March and the makers are planning to take the movie on floors in June. The principal photography will take place in north India.”

Saiyami Kher is not just a cricket enthusiast, but also a cricketer who recently played the role of a bowler in Ghoomer. On the eve of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, the actress did a special shoot for us in Mumbai, where she did what she loves the most – played cricket and talked about India’s historic run in the tournament.

She shared, “Before the 2011 final, I was nervous but this time I am not. I am excited. We have been the most dominant side. Every time we were challenged, we came out stronger. 10 games on the trot! This almost feels like the 2003 Australian side. Yes, we know what Australia can do in the finals but given the kind of cricket we have played in this entire tournament, we are a much more dominant side so let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope all goes well for one last time.”

While all of us have our plans in place for today, Saiyami's are star-studded. “I am going to watch the game with Ashish Nehra, Zaheer Khan, Parthiv Patel, Virender Sehwag. I couldn’t have asked for a better company. I have been starstruck by cricket and sportsmen since childhood. I can’t explain how special it feels to watch the game with them and talk about the games for a show with them. This is me living my childhood dream”, she chuckles.

Which Indian fan is not superstitious, right? Saiyami adds, “We feel our superstitions make India win or lose (laughs). My superstition is wearing the 2011 India WC winning jersey, which I wore at the Wankhede when India won the WC. I felt like Dhoni hit that six to me. I feel that jersey is the lucky charm for Team India. As far as don’ts are concerned, I don’t watch the match with certain friends. I feel we always lose if they are around. Or don’t sit on a particular chair or don’t let someone else hold the remote. The list is endless.”

While there have been so many iconic moments in this WC, Saiyani picks one too. She says, “Virat’s 50 in front of the master blaster (Sachin Tendulkar) was a very special moment, one for the decades. There couldn’t have been a better written script. Glenn Maxwell’s double century was one of the finest ODI innings, K L Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Shami have been so good, but I feel the highlight has been Rohit Sharma and the way he has played. He is destructive and derails the opposition. The intent and aggression he has shown, this brand of cricket, we haven’t seen before. His attitude as a batsman and the way he has captained the team has been commendable. Monday should be a national holiday once we win, and the boys deserve a break too. To get into a bilateral series immediately after the WC can be gruelling.”

The WC has had its share of controversies too but Saiyami concludes, “Controversies, conspiracy theories will always happen. Social media adds to it. Home advantage is bound to be there but using a different coin, manipulating the pitch etc, these things are absolute rubbish.”

Having played cricket at the state level (Maharashtra women’s team), Saiyami Kher lived her dream when did starred in a cricket-centric film Ghoomer. Now, the actor “thrilled” to use her knowledge of the game as a technical host for the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.

Talking about turning her dream into reality, she says, “The energy is unparalleled. When I was 12 and (host-actor) Mandira Bedi was hosting the World Cup, I was inspired to do the same. Dad and I tried to convince my mum to let me quit school for this. This has been a childhood dream.”

Elaborating on her role, Kher says, “I’m not into the fashion or food choices of the cricketers. Instead, I like to discuss the technicalities of the sport, since I’m a cricket geek.”

Sharing space with several renowned cricketers is also a matter of pride for the 31-year-old. She says, “Discussing cricket with (cricketers) Harsha Bhogle, Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan, Shaun Pollock and Michael Vaughan, among others is exciting. I don’t see it as a pressure because this is my passion. We do pre-match analysis, talk about the game and discuss it after it’s over. It feels like friends talking about what they love.”

Spotting Saiyami Kher shopping in a narrow lane in Janpath, which is known for its silver jewellery and ethnic clothes, was a surprise for many visitors and sellers. “Ye toh woh hi hain na jo abhi cricket wali movie mein aayi hain?” was their reaction as they approached her for selfies. The actress, who was in the capital recently, took some time to take a round of Janpath and reminisce about the time she spent in Delhi before making her acting debut.

Saiyami says that Delhi is the place where she fell in love with acting and that is why the city will always remain close to her heart.

“I have very fond memories of Delhi. Before starting to shoot for Mirzya, I was living here for four months. I was staying in an apartment in Greater Kailash and doing an acting workshop. I came here at a time when I was still an aspiring actor and used to hear all kinds of toxic things. At that time I came to Delhi and met Dilip Shankar and Adil Hussain, who are my acting gurus. They guided me in the right direction. So Delhi was my acting school, I stayed here for months, learning acting and horse riding. I still come here every year to do workshop with my gurus,” says Saiyami.

Saiyami says that she did all touristy things when she came to Delhi before making her acting debut. “I visited India Gate, Qutub Minar, went to Old Delhi and many restaurants in Khan Market. At that time Shabana maasi (Shabana Azmi) was an MP and had a home here. We used to go to Lodhi Garden and I find that part of Delhi very beautiful. I used to shop a lot from Dilli Haat. My mom would come here and we would shop for mojaris and bags and my sister is very fond of handloom stoles and I used to take her entire stock from Delhi. I explored Delhi in those four months I was here. After that I have mostly been coming here for shoots. I shot for Breathe here and some parts of Special OPS. I will be coming here in mid-October for another shoot,” she says.

Saiyami has been getting a lot of appreciation for her last release Ghoomer and she says that it is overwhelming that so many women are loving the movie, where she plays a paraplegic bowler. 

“Ghoomer is closest to my heart. It has been a life altering film for me. I haven’t received this kind of love ever. It is surreal. Everyone who has watched it has loved it. Unfortunately, it came at a time when Gadar 2 and Jawan were running in theatres and we didn’t get enough screens but we still survived. It is surprising how much love we are getting from women, some 80-year-old women, some mothers of teens. They tell me they want their children to watch the film. A lot of schools are doing screenings of the film and it feels special,” says Saiyami.

For Saiyami, celebrations started before the festive season kicked off as her movie Ghoomer received appreciation from the audience. She says that now she is looking forward to spending some time with family during the festive season.

She says, “Be it Diwali or New Year’s, the festive season for me is all about spending time with family. Honestly, festivals are the only time we get to be at home, eat ghar ka khaana. I don’t even feel like dressing up a lot on festivals when I am home, as that is something I do all the time as part of my profession.”

First time was the charm for Saiyami Kher and filmmaker Neeraj Pandey as they teamed up for the acclaimed web series, Special Ops (2020). Three years on, the duo are reuniting for another project. It’s not surprising that the director, the mind behind thrillers like A Wednesday (2008) and Baby (2015), has cracked an espionage film. While Kher has been roped in as the leading lady, we hear Pandey is in talks with an action star for the male lead.

What drew Kher to the movie, besides its gripping script, is the opportunity to explore action again. A source reveals, “Saiyami takes centrestage in this spy thriller. While she has dabbled in action with Special Ops and Wild Dog [2021], she has never explored a full-fledged action role. The actor will have to undergo special training before she faces the camera.”

The pre-production is underway, with Pandey planning to take the project on floors by the year-end. Sources say the first schedule will be in Prague, followed by stints in Mumbai and north India.

Saiyami Kher, granddaughter of acclaimed Hindi and Marathi film actress Usha Kiran, addresses Shabana Azmi as maushi (aunt in Marathi) as they are family, but listen to their banter and you’ll know they are more like friends. There’s a bit of an age reversal here in terms of demeanour. Saiyami is an old soul, while Shabana has the spirit of a youngster. Those trying to figure out the Saiyami-Shabana connect, here’s a little trivia. Saiyami’s aatya (father’s sister) Tanvi Azmi is married to Shabana’s brother Baba Azmi. The aunt-niece pair who shared screen space for the first time in R Balki's 'Ghoomer' recently, took a trip down memory lane through this exclusive interaction with us. The two exchanged thoughts on a variety of subjects like...

Shabana: Saiyami took a few acting lessons from my mother, (the late Shaukat Kaifi, acclaimed theatre and film actress). My mother was someone who never minced her words. She said, ‘Yeh ladki ki andar se machine chalti hai’, which was a way of saying that Saiyami connects emotionally. She isn’t superficial. When my mother said that about her, I took it seriously because she wasn’t the one to say these things easily.

Saiyami: Daadi ma (Shaukat Kaifi) was kind enough to help me out with my Hindi improvement and acting. I was very fond of her, and she loved me, too. She was an extremely strict teacher. When Shabana maushi and I shot together, she reminded me so much of her mother that I accidentally called her daadi ma several times. I remember Shabana maushi telling me to work on my voice. “Don’t speak so nasal,” she would say.

Shabana: I am not the kind of person who likes indulging in nostalgia and say, “Humare zamane mein yeh tha, woh tha.” How many followers you have on social media is now a reason for casting an upcoming actor. Earlier, you had to carry a portfolio, then reels of your work and now it’s about isko cast karte hai, iskay itnay followers hai. You get endorsements based on it, so for the younger generation it is important. For the senior generation, it’s a question of choice — whether we want to be out there or not. Zeenat Aman and Saira Banu are on Instagram now. Zeenat has made such a dignified entry on the platform. People are not going to cast us because we have a certain number of followers but because of our body of work.

Saiyami: I am from this generation, but I feel like I am 85. Given a choice, I would rather spend an evening with Gulzar sahab or Javed (Akhtar) uncle than go out and party with 25 or 30-year-olds. We will have more things to talk about. I have never been a fan of social media. I feel the focus has shifted to PR machinery and the Instagram algorithm today, as opposed to what you are supposed to do on camera, which is act. I hope we can revert to how the older generation functioned; the work was purer. But we can’t keep living in nostalgia. We must live in the present and strike a better balance between virtual and real.

Shabana: Saiyami is a very passionate and committed person. There was a time when she went through a dark phase, and yet, kept going. She didn’t give up because she had faith in her abilities. She never let down the parts she played, but she needed something where her work would be recognised. I feel Ghoomer (the film directed by R Balki in which Shabana and Saiyami shared screen space) has done that for her. It was physically and mentally gruelling for her.

Saiyami: I was not getting work after my debut film (Mirzya, 2016). A wise man’s writing kept me going and his name is Javed Akhtar. I remember he wrote, “Zindagi mein kyu dare kya hoga? Kuch na hua toh tajurba hoga.” That line is etched on my mind.

Shabana says, “Acting is an interesting profession. You can come to a set feeling low after having had a nasty argument at home or show up elated if the day has been good. You can be expected to do a happy scene when you are feeling sad or vice versa. You must keep your personal feelings away and do what a scene requires of you. Which is why I say actors are neurotic. A civilised society says that you have to keep your emotions under control. Acting demands the opposite. You have to constantly keep yourself in a state of emotional preparedness.”

Sometimes, an unspoken heartfelt wish finds its way to realisation. To Angad Bedi, Ghoomer is that realisation. The actor, who plays a supportive partner to Saiyami Kher in the sports drama, recalls how he did a cameo in Gauri Shinde’s Dear Zindagi (2016), hoping it would catch the attention of her filmmaker-husband R Balki.

“Gauri Shinde said I should do Dear Zindagi because people would see me in a different light from how they saw me in Pink [2016]. I said yes because somewhere I thought that Balki sir might notice me. In 2022, when he offered me Ghoomer, I asked him if he wanted to test me for the role. He refused, saying, ‘I don’t need to because I remember that scene you did in Dear Zindagi.’ My one scene stayed with him for six years,” the actor beams.

Balki’s upcoming directorial venture also stars Shabana Azmi and Abhishek Bachchan. What makes Ghoomer even more special is that it gave Bedi a chance to explore the genre of romance.

“In romance, less is more. Your eyes, body language and actions [convey] a lot more than dialogues. Balki sir said, ‘You are in that phase of life where you are selfless, as you have a family now. I want that selfless energy for this character.’”

That the project united him with his friend Kher was a delight. “Saiyami was my first friend in the film industry. We started our careers together. We feel happy for each other on the signing of a new film, and look out for one another. We also bond over cricket.”