What started as a film workshop for actors Sanjana Sanghi and Adarsh Gourav blossomed into a decade-long friendship built on trust and good memories. On this Friendship Day, they open up about the little things they enjoy together and what makes their bond tick.

Their memorable first impression, back in 2013, laid the foundation for their friendship. “I vividly remember that I had made some wise crack about his outfit, which he still talks about today!” recalls Sanjana, 29. For Adarsh, Sanjana’s love for books is what caught his attention. “She is an absolute nerd and shoots all day to get back to her books,” he quips.

Spilling on the little things about each other that drive them against the wall, Sanjana shares how Adarsh’s habit of cancelling plan “last minute” gets on her nerves, while for Adarsh it’s Sanjana’s “irrational fear of cats.” “But she’s working on it and has befriended my cats,” Adarsh, 32, quickly adds.

Despite living in the spotlight, they like keeping their hangouts low-key. Sanjana says, “Favourite hangout activity is meeting at each other’s home, making sure there is yummy food on the table, talking or watching something we love or listening to music... I don’t think we have ever made plans around going out for favourite restaurant.”

“The best gift that she has given me is that she’s stood by me through my highs and lows. A lot of people have come and gone from our lives but we’ve been constants,” Adarsh concludes

Despite the tepid response on its big screen release, Dhak Dhak (2023) found a dedicated audience when it premièred on Netflix. So much so that director Tarun Dudeja, in early 2024, announced the sequel to the Fatima Sana Shaikh, Ratna Pathak Shah, Dia Mirza, and Sanjana Sanghi-starrer. In the latest development, Sanghi told mid-day that the script is ready.

“It’s a script that we’re all excited by, something that we’ve all said yes to. Tarun has done a stellar job in staying true to the characters. We can’t wait to reunite for it,” beamed the actor.

Dhak Dhak revolved around four women who take a road trip to Khardung La, which transforms them. Will they kick off another road trip this year? It’s too soon to put a timeline, said Sanghi, adding, “It’s been a difficult time in our industry, in terms of putting projects together.”

Sanjana Sanghi reunited with her Dhak Dhak co-actor Dia Mirza in Delhi to shoot a short video on ecosystem restoration. Sanjana, who is the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India Youth Champion, joined Dia, who is the UN Environment Programme Goodwill Ambassador, to mark World Environment Day on June 5. Sanjana took some time after the shoot for a brief chat with us talking about adopting a sustainable lifestyle.

Shooting in the sweltering Delhi heat reminded Sanjana of her Dhak Dhak shoot schedule. She says, “It was peak summer, and we were shooting somewhere in Uttar Pradesh on bikes. It was really tough as we were riding along a highway.”

Talking about climate extremes and how challenging it is to work outdoors, she adds, “Working outdoors in the heat can take a toll on the physical health. Our bodies are not used to 50-degree temperatures outdoors, and one can suffer a heatstroke. I am drinking more electrolytes and salts than I ever did. If I am outside for a while, I try not to get into an air-conditioned room immediately after, and I avoid icy cold water.”

The actress shares that she has introduced small changes in her daily life to adopt sustainability. “One major change that I have introduced in life is to avoid plastic. If you walk into my house, it will be very hard for you to spot something that is plastic. I carry my own bottle so that I don’t pick up a new water bottle every time I am travelling. As actors we do have to eat at different places, and I have this small eco-friendly cutlery box that I use,” she says.

About working towards youth education and empowerment, the actress says, “When it comes to working towards social change, sometimes it may feel like a small effort, but all efforts count when you are trying to bring about a change.”

She adds, “My one main grief is that we are not taught about adopting sustainable practices in school. As I am working on youth education, I realize that you can’t tell some 18-year-old that they have to shut the shower or tap when not in use or to avoid plastic. These things have to be taught to a toddler. I am thankful to my grandmum as I used to see her being strict about not using plastic. If she saw you using a plastic bag or bottle she would scold you. I never understood it as a kid, but I am grateful now that the lesson is ingrained in me. However, it is not ingrained in our education system.”

About upcycling her clothes, Sanjana says, “Upcycling is an important part for me for living a sustainable life. Luckily when you grow up as a regular middle class girl in India, upcycling is in your veins. We are next level jugaadu when it comes to reusing fabrics. I have grown up with that habit. As an actor, I don’t take the burden of wearing a new outfit every time I step out. If you will put together ten of my papped images you will see me repeating outfits. I just style them differently. All my friends are getting married and I have too many weddings to go to. So I have used my nani’s bandhani saris to make a lehenga or a blouse or kurta. It matters to me not because it is upcycling but because those saris are precious and special to me.”

Sanjana Sanghi started out as a leading lady with Dil Bechara (2020). Since then, the actor has only starred in three films. Ask her about it, and Sanghi says, “Every actor must have told you that for every yes we say, there are more nos that are said and they tend to define you. I found myself not being able to turn up for the third meeting after a narration and that was my sign of being unhappy with the script. I have read many scripts where the female arc is incomplete. A lot of series like that have been floating around too, and they are now in the stage of being rewritten.”

And the one genre the Dhak Dhak (2023) actor consciously stays away from is horror. “I am petrified of consuming the genre. Of course, I want to overcome that fear. But I also found myself saying no to anything that resembles whatever I’ve already done in my four films till now. Luckily, whatever I have already done are vastly different genres. That ability of each filmmaker to not typecast me is something I really value,” claims the 27-year-old, who garnered good reviews for her last release, Kadak Singh (2023), which premiered on a streaming platform recently.

Outlining the way she has been able to showcase her range as an actor, Sanghi says, “Be it romantic, action or thriller, I have done a lot. That really is the goal. I’m conscious of ensuring there is no repetition.”

Ahead of the release of Kadak Singh, Sanjana Sanghi is dominated by one emotion—relief. The actor admits that initially, the prospect of starring in the Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury film was daunting. It didn’t help that when the director narrated the thriller to her over a Zoom call, she was left more confused than convinced.

“He was editing Lost, and was distracted. Kadak Singh can be tricky to understand in a narration. But when I read it, it spoke to me,” smiles Sanghi. Couple that with Chowdhury’s unwavering faith in her, and she was ready to jump into the project.

“At this stage of my career, it feels reassuring when a filmmaker of Tony da’s [Chowdhury] calibre wants me, without asking me to audition or to read for him. I’m glad I did the film, otherwise I would have regretted it for the rest of my life.”

The ZEE5 thriller follows Pankaj Tripathi’s Kadak Singh, a joint director at the department of financial crimes, who is suffering from retrograde amnesia and is trying to piece together the events that led to this predicament. Sanghi, who plays his daughter, says the depiction of their bond touched her heart.

“I desperately wanted to do [the film] because I knew Tony da would bring [more] layers to the dynamic.”

The director ensured that Tripathi and Sanghi undertook workshops that would enhance their father-daughter bond on screen. She has fond memories of them. “I will always remember Pankaj sir’s Madh Island house where I used to eat momos and take a nap in his daughter’s room. Tony da would join us sometimes, we’d listen to classical music and not even talk about the film. Our workshops [focused] on discovering each other. We spoke about so many things that weren’t even relevant to our characters. In the middle of all that, we found our film.”

In producer Taapsee Pannu’s living room, over a brief narration, Sanjana Sanghi found the film that is an extension of who she is as a person. To her, Dhak Dhak stands for a simple thought: Anything is possible.

“I lived in a barsati in Delhi and led a sheltered life. But look how far I have come! Dhak Dhak is a story of path less travelled, and I am trying to do the same,” says Sanghi.

Tarun Dudeja’s directorial venture revolves around four women—essayed by Ratna Pathak Shah, Dia Mirza, Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sanghi—whose biking trip becomes a journey of self-discovery. Sanghi is proud that she has an all-woman film on her resume within three years of foraying into Bollywood.

“I don’t want to do safe movies. I could take up that two-bit role in a big film, but I am naturally not making those choices. I’ve learnt from Taapsee that it’s worth doing movies that need you to fight for them to be made and released. These films have an impact more than anything else,” she says.

We have all grown up on multiple versions of female friendships. It’s a pity that they haven’t been represented enough in Hindi films.

“When intelligent, strong women come together, we feel invincible. I love that these women [in the film] are strangers who alter each other’s lives. When Taapsee gave me a cup of chai and told me this story, I was proud that Bollywood is finally making movies about women owning agency and not asking for it.”

But as much as the cast is upbeat about such films being made, the reality remains that they aren’t promoted much. Being three films old, Sanghi admits she needs this movie more than her experienced co-stars.

“From an outsider’s perspective, I feel bad. I have to force myself to understand that as an actor, there is only so much I can do. When I hear senior actors tell me to switch off when pack-up is called, I have to make my peace with it. I’m deeply passionate about the film and I will sell it till my dying breath. But a lot of it is beyond my control. We have poured our soul into this film and I believe it will reach the audiences’ hearts.”

Food, family and her furry pals – that’s what Sanjana Sanghi’s visits to Delhi is all about. During her recent visit to the capital, the actress spoke to us about her favourite hangout spots here, why her heart belongs to the city and the films she has lined up.

Sanjana says that she keeps looking for opportunities to come to Delhi. “Though I stay in Mumbai for work, my heart lies in Delhi. I try coming to Delhi an evening before I have an event or take a late flight the next day so that I can have dinner with friends and family and see my nana. I am definitely greedy when it comes to spending time in Delhi,” says the Dil Bechara actress.

Talk about Delhi food, and Sanjana says that her favourite memories from her school and college days are all about food. “During my recent visit to the capital, I was at Lodhi Road, which used to be my regular hangout spot when I was in Modern School, Barakhamba Road. Every day after school, we used to drive to Khan Market and get burgers and cold drinks. I went to Lady Shri Ram College, and Amar Colony, which is at a stone’s throw distance from the college, has the best chur-chur naan (from the outlet under the Moolchand flyover). We used to also gorge on tandoori momos from Amar Colony Market. I haven’t explored Gurgaon that much when it comes to food. To be honest, main na puri Dilli ki hoon, meri Gurgaon ke liye utni loyalty nahi hai. Though I have visited Cyber Hub and One Horizon Center, the feeling is not the same as walking around in Khan Market or Connaught Place.”

The actress is gearing up for the release of her two films and says that this will be the busiest year for her. “I just finished shooting for my next film Kadak Singh which is a father-daughter drama with Pankaj Tripathi. The other film Dhak Dhak is also ready for release. It is a story of four women riding bikes from Delhi to Ladakh. Both these films will release in the next couple of months,” says Sanjana, adding that for actors like her, there are a lot of opportunities today, but one has to deal with a lot of uncertainty.

Sanjana Sanghi would agree that the company of a suitable co-star can elevate an actor’s experience multi-fold. Twelve years after she made her acting debut with the Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Rockstar, the actor says she felt the same “magic” while stepping onto the sets of her next project.

“My upcoming film with Pankaj Tripathi sir has been my best experience since Rockstar. I felt the same magic on this set that I felt on my first film. I don’t know what [good] have I done to deserve this,” Sanghi smiles, as she opens up about the Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury-directed drama, which features her as Tripathi’s daughter.

The yet-untitled film, also starring Parvathy Thiruvothu, has been penned by Ritesh Shah and Andhadhun co-writer Pooja Ladha Surti. “Pankaj sir, Parvathy, and our director, whom we fondly call Tony da, are kind and caring human beings. They are creative geniuses. When I look at them, I think that they are too good to be true. On our last shooting day, we went to Tony Da and said, ‘Please write a few more pages and extend the shoot.’ We didn’t want to leave Kolkata. We extended our flights. Such things happen rarely.”

Sanghi says her fourth offering has reignited a renewed sense of passion for the movies within her. “I feel replenished. Even if we worked for 15 hours, things didn’t matter. It’s a beautiful father-daughter drama that is also a thriller. It has such a meaty script. Too many greats are involved with the project.”

Meanwhile, Sanghi will also be seen in the women-led road-trip drama, Dhak Dhak, produced by Taapsee Pannu. Also featuring Ratna Pathak Shah, Dia Mirza and Fatima Sana Shaikh, the film gave Sanghi the opportunity to learn to ride a bike. Tarun Dudeja’s directorial venture, the poster of which was unveiled recently, tells the story of four women embarking on a road trip across the Himalayas, which brings with it epiphanies and discoveries.

For all the male-led road-trip films seen on screen, it was about time Bollywood depicted women having a trip of a lifetime. The wish has been fulfilled with Taapsee Pannu’s upcoming production, Dhak Dhak, which stars Ratna Pathak Shah, Dia Mirza, Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sanjana Sanghi. 

Sanghi says that the early stages of prep indicated that this would be an empowering project. She laughs, “Every day, I would think, ‘I have learnt to ride an Enfield. Is this real?’”

Tarun Dudeja’s directorial venture, the poster of which was unveiled recently, tells the story of four women embarking on a road trip across the Himalayas, which brings with it epiphanies and discoveries. Sanghi praises Dudeja for bringing insight and sensitivity to the story, steering away from the male gaze one would assume he inherently harboured.

“When we read the script, we thought there has to be a woman ghost writer on it. It’s [unusual] for a man to understand a woman’s heart and thought process so well. He says it is because he has grown up with sisters and aunts,” she says.

Dhak Dhak gave the actor many rich experiences — from riding a Royal Enfield to shooting in “83 unique locations”. But it is the joy of working with three leading ladies that she holds closest to her heart. “None of us asked the producers who else was in the film. We read the script for our characters, and loved them so much,” she shares.

In Pathak, Sanghi says she has found a valued friend and guide. “I want to have her level of passion at that age. Ratna ma’am did 50 per cent of the riding on her own. We didn’t want to tire her out, but she was a fighter, and would say, ‘I am going to do it.’ With her, I would have chai sessions by the river. She still is my go-to person if I am having concerns about work. She understands me and my fire within.”

Few things give an actor as much high as a well-written script does. Pankaj Tripathi remembers being elated when he read the script of Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury’s Father, which has been penned by Ritesh Shah.

Considering the actor has a keen eye for stories, it says a thing or two about the script’s merit, when he states, “It’s one of the most brilliant scripts that I’ve read in the past five-six years. When I am so excited about the [material], I am sure the outcome will live up to it.”

Father is an investigative drama set against the backdrop of a dysfunctional family coming together. The unit wrapped up the shoot in Kolkata recently. As he collaborated for the first time with Malayalam actor Parvathy Thiruvothu, and Sanjana Sanghi, Tripathi says teaming up with artistes of different sensibilities leaves one richer.

“The film stars Parvathy, Sanjana, actor Jaya Ahsan from Dhaka, and a lot of new artistes. It’s [joyful] to have artistes of different industries and regions come together.”

A collaboration with Chowdhury was on his wish-list ever since he saw the director’s Pink (2016). He describes the union as “magical”. “I had such a good time working with Tony da that I didn’t even realise when the shooting finished. The film is a father-daughter story; it explores their bond and how far they can go for each other,” says the actor, who plays father to Sanghi.

Sanjana Sanghi isn’t taking the conventional Hindi film heroine route. At a stage when actors tend to choose roles with a mass appeal, she has opted for films where she gets to act alongside veterans.

In the upcoming movie Dhak Dhak, for instance, she will be sharing screen space with actor Ratna Pathak Shah, and in another project, actor Pankaj Tripathi will be playing her father. While working with such eminent names could get any young artiste jittery, for Sanghi, this has never been the case.

“Ever since my childhood, I haven’t been nervous or intimidated by people I look up to and respect. Somehow, I don’t go into that space. The credit also goes to how amazing Pankaj sir and Ratna ma’am are as people,” the 26-year-old tells us.

Equating them to “mentors”, the Rashtra Kavach Om (2022) actor adds, “They are so giving. [I learn a lot by] not just observing them, but the little things tell me about how I can improve my performance in a scene. As an actor, I feel lucky to get that... Pankaj ji, in fact, has literally been like a father to me since we were prepping.”

Interestingly, this is her second film with Tripathi, after Fukrey Returns (2017). But, things are different this time. “I never had a scene with him, I actually didn’t realize that we had been in the same film! Yes, technically this will be the second one, but this is just on another plane,” she quips.

Set to take movie buffs on a roller-coaster ride, National Award-winning director Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury’s untitled next went on floors yesterday and it promises to be high on content. Starring actors Pankaj Tripathi, Sanjana Sanghi and Parvathy Thiruvothu in lead roles, the film is an investigative drama with a heartwarming story of a dysfunctional family coming together.

Chowdhury, who has earlier helmed films such as Pink (2016), says, “I am happy to do this film that has an intriguingly layered story.” The first shooting schedule started in Mumbai and the team will move to Kolkata for the second schedule.

Producer Viraf Sarkari of Wiz Films is elated with their first feature film production. “We are delighted to begin this journey with a socially relevant film being put together by a multi-award-winning and talented team of actors and music director Shantanu Moitra,” he says.

National Award-winning producer Mahesh Ramanathan, CEO, HT Content Studio, says, “Aniruddha builds on his forte of exploring socially relevant themes with honesty and promises to deliver another impactful film that would entertain audiences while the message hits home. Coming from a team that has won over 12 National Film Awards and delivered box-office successes, audiences can expect a film that stays with them.”

Producer Venkat K Narayana from KVN Productions says, “We are very happy that our first Hindi feature film will be featuring one of India’s finest actors — Pankaj Tripathi.”

The cast, too, is excited to embark on this journey. Tripathi tells us, “I have read a lot of scripts lately and this was the most amazing one.”

Sanghi, who plays Tripathi’s daughter in the film, says, “It was that rare moment every artiste craves for, to hear a story that you resonate with. I can’t wait to bring our pure, yet complex tale to audiences.”

Thiruvothu calls this project a “massive opportunity” to “dismantle and unlearn”. She explains, “I’ll be working with Aniruddha sir and Pankaj sir. That’s always an amazing and scary process.”

The film, co-produced by Shyam Sunder and Indrani Mukherjee, is slated to release next year.

Hindi cinema has rarely had a slick woman-led action film. Among the few times that it has been attempted, the women have been sexualised in femme fatale avatars, complete with leather outfits. When Sanjana Sanghi stepped into the universe of Rashtra Kavach OM, she partly expected a similar tonality. The actor was pleased to see that director Kapil Verma had a different vision for his actioner.

“I can’t deny that historically, we have seen very few leading ladies do action. This is only my second film. I can’t deny the trappings that exist. I didn’t have any reference points for the film. I had to turn to Hollywood and look at Scarlett Johansson. This is what made the film more interesting. Kavya, my character, is a full person. In a testosterone driven world, she is an anomaly. She is leading the pack here. The script gave me the responsibility inherently, and I built from there. I didn’t feel the desire to do bigger stunts to feel more important in the story. My director Kapil Verma mounted the story in such a way that the female perspective is important,” she says.

Even as leading ladies are getting meatier roles, the gender bias is evident in the smallest of instances. The first look of Om featured only leading man Aditya Roy Kapur, with no sign of Sanghi. “Of course, it bothered me, and I told Ahmed sir [Khan, producer] I need to be in it. We launched a new poster with the trailer,” she states.

Om marks her second film after her debut vehicle, Dil Bechara (2020). Preparing for the role was challenging, she admits. “I trained with Parvez Shaikh [action choreographer] and his team. I learnt hand-to-hand combat, weapon use and underwent gun training. Aditya and I learnt [to handle] pistols, M16 and different kinds of rifles. I learnt how many bullets go into what, how to empty out the guns. What helped was having Adi by my side. He held my hand and walked me through it. Just knowing he was there to catch me, if I fall from a harness was the kind of comfort that made my performance better.” 

From fronting a love story in Dil Bechara to an actioner, there is a paradigm shift. Sanghi insists it’s a conscious move. “There are false notions about action. I know that I have kicked ass in the film. I want young girls to know that you got you. You don’t need a man for protection. That’s [the confidence] a woman doing action on the big screen evokes.”

The actor is currently shooting for Dhak Dhak, which also stars Ratna Pathak Shah, Dia Mirza, Fatima Sana Shaikh and is produced by Taapsee Pannu. She is glad that the film asserts the conversation around sisterhood. “A film like that asserts the conversation around sisterhood. I choose films based on what it makes me believe. When Taapsee sent me the script, I read it in a day and called her to say I am doing it. I didn’t know who else was in the movie. The eclectic cast is a win-win for us. In Tapsee, I have found a guide and a friend, a sounding board I could seek advice from. To have such secure, skilled actors coming together is beautiful. Every scene is a new visual because we haven’t seen four women riding an Enfield bike as a visual in Hindi films. When we think of a bullet, we think of a boy! But I guess women across generations in the industry are willing to go all out and risk it,” she says.

Rashtra Kavach OM, starring Aditya Roy Kapur and Sanjana Sanghi, is among the most anticipated action entertainers of the year. The trailer, which was launched recently, showcases Aditya as a valiant soldier fighting for the nation and his family. The actor is seen in some action-packed, daredevil stunts shooting big guns. This is also the first time that Sanjana will be seen in an action avatar, for which she trained for many months.

Aditya says, “I am elated to be a part of this film. I hope the audience gives me the same amount of love and appreciation as an action hero as they have in my earlier films.”

Sanjana adds, “This film is extremely special for me. It has helped me discover an entirely different side to myself as an actor, as I got to do action so early in my career.”

Talking about the film, director Kapil Verma adds, “I had fun working with Ahmed (Khan), Aditya and Sanjana, and we hope the audience enjoys the film on July 1.”

Producer Ahmed Khan shares, “Rashtra Kavach OM will keep you on the edge of your seat with its power-packed action and will also fill your heart with emotions.”

Shariq Patel, CBO of Zee studios, said, “With this film, we continue to invest in high-octane action films and present a new action star in Aditya Roy Kapur. I’ve seen the entire team put in its best effort in making this an entertaining film, and it was indeed our privilege to work with such a dedicated cast and crew. ”

The movie also features Jackie Shroff, Ashutosh Rana, Prachi Shah, and Prakash Raj in pivotal roles.

Zee Studios and Ahmed Khan present, Rashtra Kavach OM, A Paper Doll Entertainment production, produced by Zee Studios, Shaira Khan and Ahmed Khan. The film releases on July 1.

Viacom18 Studios, the production house behind powerful narratives and strong women characters from films such as Kahaani (2012), Queen (2013), Mary Kom (2014) and Padmaavat (2018), has joined hands with Outsiders Films in association with BLM Pictures for a new film, Dhak Dhak. Starring actors Fatima Sana Shaikh, Ratna Pathak Shah, Dia Mirza and Sanjana Sanghi, Dhak Dhak has been co-produced by actor Taapsee Pannu, Pranjal Khandhdiya and Ayush Maheshwari.

The film, co-written by Parijat Joshi and Tarun Dudeja, and directed by Tarun Dudeja, revolves around four women’s life-changing journey to the highest motorable pass in the world.

Pannu says, “At Outsiders Films, we aim to produce films that are meaningful and entertaining. We have attempted to give audiences a visual experience that they have rarely seen on screen. Dhak Dhak narrates the story of four women who realise that freedom has to be owned and is never given.”

Ajit Andhare, COO, Viacom18 Studios, says, “Dhak Dhak is a heart-warming story of four women undertaking a trip, breaking out of their cocoons and discovering themselves through this journey of introspection and adventure.”

Khandhdiya adds, “The partnership with Viacom18 Studios is a significant step for Outsiders Films. Dhak Dhak is a first-of-its-kind story about strong characters and a memorable bike ride in picturesque locations.”

For her second film, Sanjana Sanghi has chosen the heavy-duty actioner Om: The Battle Within. While co-star Aditya Roy Kapur is familiar with the genre, thanks to Malang (2020), it was new territory for Sanghi after the romantic drama, Dil Bechara (2020). “Adi and I prepped together for months. I have performed all my stunts on my own. We didn’t have a reference point for the character of Kavya because no female character [in recent Hindi films] has done as much action,” she says.

Trying something new can be nerve-wracking as well as deeply satisfying. The actor acknowledges that the intense prep for Kapil Verma’s directorial venture has made her confident of tackling action films in the future. “Playing a leading action girl so early on in my career is a surreal feeling. I had never seen myself in this light. [Ahead of the shoot], I did weapon training and hand-to-hand combat so that I could pull off the stunts. I was recently dubbing for the film, and it felt great to see the sequences.”

The Ahmed Khan-backed movie, which went on floors in December 2020, is almost complete, save for a song. Collaborating with Kapur for the first time has been a learning experience. “Adi had pulled off action in Malang. I needed hand-holding because the genre of action requires a different skill set. He had to guide me through it.”

After Dil Bechara (2020), Sanjana Sanghi is ready to tell another story about young love. That said, the two worlds couldn’t be further apart from one another. Where her debut film showed the power of young love in the face of death, her latest offering—Uljhe Hue—chronicles the modern dating scene. 

Admitting that she didn’t fully identify with her character who hopes to find love on a dating app, Sanghi says, “[My character] wasn’t entirely relatable to me. [Personally], I am a bit old-school. I need to know someone organically and spend a lot of time with [them] to [know that I want] to be with [them]. But I have seen a lot of my friends who have got married or engaged [after meeting on] dating apps. So, I believe in the good these apps can do. As a public figure, I can’t be on them and will always be devoid of that personal experience.”

The Amazon Prime mini-series revolves around Sanghi’s Rasika, an introverted visual artist who bumps into Varun—essayed by Abhay Verma—after being stood up on a date. The short film is directed by Satish Raj Kasireddi.

How was it to dive into a feel-good love story after the intense portrayal in Dil Bechara? “The world of Dil Bechara was so complex. As a character, I submitted to Kizie for two years of my life. Here, to create a new person and jump into her world is a new high. It gives you the faith that if you push yourself, you can get into the skin of a new character,” she says.

As much as she loves the genre of romantic dramas, the actor points out that they are no walk in the park. “You feel responsible at every step in every story that you tell as an actor. Over time, I have realised that [what actors] say and do, does have a long-lasting impact on the [audience’s] minds.”

Sanjana Sanghi is back to work, and recently shot action scenes in Russia for her next, OM: The Battle Within. She sounds excited when she tells us that the audience will get to see “a new side” to her. “It was satisfying to shoot, in the sense that you could go ahead and do that with all precautions. Also, what we filmed there was very exciting for me as an actor. I’ve been prepping for the sequence for a while now, and to finally do that was creatively very exciting,” says the actor, who turns 25 today.

Sanghi says she takes her birthdays seriously, and expects the same from her loved ones. “It has always been a grand celebration. In school, it used to be in the middle of our half-yearly exams, but I’d still have a party... I love getting everyone in my life together. Last year was the first time I couldn’t do that, but my closest friends came outside my gate and sang happy birthday,” she recalls fondly.

This year, she plans to ring in her birthday in Maldives with her close friends. We talk to her before she has taken off, so she has jitters amid the pandemic. “I just wanted to zoom out a bit, take notice of where’s one at and where life is. A little bit of the ocean and nice sunsets could do that,” says the actor, who debuted as a lead in 2020’s Dil Bechara.

Exclaiming that she finds it surreal that she’s hit the “big 25th”, she says, “I’ve been the younger sibling, the little one at home. In the industry, I started off as a child actor (in Rockstar; 2011)... When I look back, there is so much growth, experiences that have added to the person I am now. I can’t believe I’m turning 25! Maybe once I cut the cake, it’ll sink in.”

Sanjana Sanghi remembers being “helpless and angry” at the onset of the second wave of the Coronavirus pandemic. “People were in need of hospital beds and oxygen, which were nowhere to be found. No one was addressing the nation’s collective grief,” says the 'Dil Bechara' (2020) actor. At the time, she channelled her anger into launching Here To Hear, an initiative that put the focus on mental health. Now, as the cases have begun dipping, Sanghi is preparing for a possible third wave. 

She has joined hands with Save The Children, an initiative working towards children’s healthcare in remote areas. “There are cases in the villages, and there is under-reportage of deaths. Cities will get back on their feet, but tribal villages need our attention.”

It is believed that children may be the worst-hit in the third wave. As the first step, Sanghi, in association with the NGO and local volunteers, is creating awareness about the pandemic in the tribal villages of Maharashtra. “They are treating the virus like the flu, and can’t understand why it’s killing people,” she says.

Their top priority is to build the children’s immunity. To that effect, they send nutrition packets, which last two weeks, to each village. “There is no approved vaccine for kids yet. With medicines and their robust immune system, we should be able to manage the demographic. We are sending nutritious food and vitamin supplements to them. Since these supplements don’t yield results immediately, we are starting months in advance so that the kids are in a better position to fight the virus [should they contract it].”

The actor is simultaneously making arrangements for inoculation of the adults in the region, thus pre-emptively reducing the chances of virus transmission. “Setting up jumbo vaccination centres is tough, but we’re setting up centres in [each] village. The schools can double up as quarantine facilities when the need arises.”