While there is so much talk about the perks of being from a film family, Adah Sharma has her own take on it. “Had I belonged to a film family, they would have waited for that perfect film to launch me,” she says, and adds with a laugh, “My film family wouldn’t let me do a horror movie. Who starts their career looking possessed on screen with black teeth? I didn’t have the opportunity to start my career with a usual romantic movie that probably would have happened if I had the DNA of a famous person. I started with 1920 and I feel fortunate for that. The audience has accepted me whenever I try something crazy and maybe that’s why filmmakers also have the guts to cast me in different roles.”

Adah is now gearing up to portray a devi in her upcoming project. For her, the key to success lies in making every character believable and distinct. She did action in the Commando franchise and then was seen in The Kerala Story.

“While watching The Kerala Story, people didn’t say, ‘Oh, she knows how to do action, why isn’t she beating the goons?’ People also appreciated me as the bar dancer, Rosie, in Sunflower Season 2, and as an IPS officer in Bastar - The Naxal Story. I’m lucky that my career has unfolded the way it has.”

Adah Sharma, who was in Ahmedabad recently, says that she feels “a special connection with the city.” Adah, whose recent releases include the film Bastar: The Naxal Story and the OTT project Sunflower 2, tells us, “A few months back, I shot with Jubin Nautiyal for Raabta, a music video, at a few lovely locations of Ahmedabad’s walled city and I have some very fond memories from the shoot.”

Adah adds, “I was in Vadodara in January for a marathon and it’s always a pleasure to come to Gujarat because the people are so warm. I love Gujarati food and no Ahmedabad trip of mine feels complete till I have undhiyu, which is my favourite. I also love Gujarati dal.”

Adah, who made her Bollywood debut with 1920 in 2008, has completed 15 years in showbiz. Looking back at her journey, Adah says, “I still don’t know too many people in the industry but feel fortunate and grateful that despite being an outsider, big filmmakers have always trusted my talent. Vikram Bhatt could have chosen anyone for 1920, but he loved my audition and offered me the role. In Telugu, I made my debut with Heart Attack, which was directed by an ace filmmaker like Puri Jagannadh. In Kannada, I have done films with big stars like Puneeth Rajkumar. Sunflower 2 gave me the opportunity to work with Vikas Bahl. So, I have no complaints and it has been a fantastic journey. Having just done an OTT project, I can confidently say that good content is watched irrespective of the medium.”

Adah adds, “I am fortunate that I have not been typecast as an actress, which is one of the biggest fears that an actor has. Be it fiction, films based on real life incidents or interesting OTT content, I have always got to do exciting and different types of projects. Even in my upcoming projects, I am getting to do different stuff and I couldn’t have asked for more. I don’t really understand terms like ‘women-centric films’ because for a film to do well, every character has to be etched well. But we are having these discussions probably because there still isn’t enough representation of women in different aspects of filmmaking. But stronger roles are being written for women now.”

The Kerala Story, which became the highest grossing female-led Hindi film, was a big game changer for me. Although I have done successful films like 1920 and Commando 2, this movie became a phenomenon and I don’t think there is any movie buff who doesn’t know about it. Also, after this film, people have become very protective of me on social media and I feel lucky. I don’t pay any attention to the negativity on social media because for every negative comment, there are so many positive comments to counter it! It’s overwhelming. People have the right to watch or not watch a film. I have realised that many people who criticize movies and use terms like ‘propaganda film’ on social media have not seen the movies. So, why should I bother about these comments?

It’s true that I am playing a female superhero in an upcoming international project, but I don’t want to reveal too much about it. I am a little superstitious and don’t like talking about projects too much in advance. I want to do projects in different languages, even if it’s just a music video. I had done a music video in Punjabi with Akhil and a lot of Punjabis loved it.

Last year, Adah Sharma tasted success with The Kerala Story, which became a box-office hit despite being widely panned by critics and some sections of the audience. Now, she is gearing up to tickle the audience’s funny bone with the second season of Sunflower.

The first edition of the Sunil Grover and Mukul Chadda-led black comedy was centred on a murder that takes place in a residential building called Sunflower. Sharma, the latest addition to the ZEE5 series, plays bar dancer Rosie. The actor says portraying Rosie gave her a chance to be someone far removed from herself.

“Rosie is funny, scary, sarcastic, sweet, evil, all of it put together. Saying such wicked things and doing things that I’d never do in real life is a little intoxicating,” grins Sharma. Understanding Rosie’s psyche was a big part of bringing her to life.

The actor adds, “To bring her uniqueness to life, I watched documentaries about psychopaths, serial killers and persons with multiple personality disorders. In terms of physical training, I had to learn to break walls with a hammer.”

Adah Sharma had a great 2023 with The Kerala Story being one of the most talked about films that got the cash registers ringing at the box office. And the actor is in no mood to slow down. We’ve exclusively learnt that she has joined the cast of the comedy thriller Sunflower for its second season and is “thrilled” to come on board.

“Stepping into this universe was both a privilege and a challenge. I can’t wait for everyone to see my character. She is very creepy and unique. You will love her in one minute and be very afraid of her in the next. She’s unpredictable,” says the 31-year-old, who plays the lead opposite actor Sunil Grover in the Vikas Bahl directorial, which is set to release next month.

Ask what intrigued her about the script and she says, “I have already done drama with The Kerala Story and action with the Commando franchise, so I thought I should try my hand at comedy. I speak in Hindi, Tamil, Marathi and English in the show, and I am hoping the audience will have a lot of fun.”

There are a lot of high expectations riding on sequels and subsequent seasons but Sharma enjoys it: “The audience has been kind to me since my debut. I feel expectation pushes one to not be mediocre. The show’s characters are so layered that it was very exciting for me to unleash my inner crazy.”

Sharma is also grateful for the opportunity to share screen space with a bunch of talented actors. Calling Grover “exceptional at comedy,” she reveals that she has “some hilarious scenes with (actors) Ashish Vidyarthi sir, Ranvir Shorey, Girish Kulkarni, a teddy bear and a sledgehammer.”

The last few years have been challenging for Shonali Nagrani. She struggled to bounce back after her marriage with Shiraz Bhattacharya, a photographer and cinematographer, hit choppy waters. They tied the knot in February 2013 and went their separate ways in early 2019 owing to irrevocable differences. However, instead of surrendering to her fate, Shonali has managed to pick up the pieces of her life and bounce back. In an exclusive chat, the actress says, “My husband and I parted ways in February 2019 and the divorce proceedings are going on.”

Shonali says, “I was emotionally destroyed at one point, and didn’t have the energy to invest in work, family or myself. I hated myself and my self-esteem hit rock bottom. I didn’t realize when I bid adieu to the old Shonali, who loved to giggle and laugh. But soon, I felt I had a choice to feel like a victim and stay bitter or to focus on picking up the pieces. I chose to heal and turn my adversity into a blessing. I used it as a stepping stone towards personal growth and self-discovery.”

Shonali, who has hosted several shows including an Indian cricket league, says, “After getting married, I didn’t work for five years, which made it difficult for me to restart my career. Like many of us, I tried to give the impression of being busy on social media, but the truth was that I hadn’t worked. At one point, I was so shattered that I considered leaving Mumbai and showbiz to move to Goa.”

But destiny had a better plan and just around that time, she got a call from a casting company and soon bagged a role in the web show Tandav. “It felt like a miraculous turn of events,” says Shonali, adding, “I didn’t even have to audition for the role and before I knew it, I was sitting in the producer’s office signing the agreement. That project truly saved me from giving up on the industry and the city.”

However, soon after she got her first project after a long break, Coronavirus struck, and work slowed down again. She says, “It forced me to put my plans on hold, as everyone was confined to their homes. However, this unexpected break turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as it compelled me to confront and work through my past traumas and self-doubt. I isolated myself and refused to face the world until I had healed. Meditation, yoga and a nutritious diet proved to be immensely helpful.”

Shonali is currently shooting for the second season of the web series Sunflower. She says, “I must admit that our industry is beautiful and it just keeps giving you work. All youhave to do is be positive.”

The actress admits that the renewed perspective on life has also changed her approach towards her craft. She says, “Most actors doubt themselves while approaching a scene. That second-guessing has left my system, because I think I have got rid of the fears, doubts, and self-hate. The tough period also taught me not to take life and myself so seriously. You should be able to laugh at yourself and laugh in the face of adversity. From that perspective, my marriage was my biggest teacher.”

On the personal front, does she miss having a companion? “I have been single for the past four years and I am loving every bit of it. Of course, I do (miss having a companion), but it’s momentary. It passes like everything else. I probably have developed trust issues, but I am yet to put them to the test,” she signs off.

He was someone who you would see in bit roles in movies and on TV, and say, “Oh, that funny guy!” But that was before he became a household name as Gutthi in Comedy Nights With Kapil. Since then, Sunil Grover has given us many-a-reason to laugh with his flamboyant characters. But, he says, there is much more to him than just a funny guy. Excerpts:

My journey has been full of surprises. If I look back, there have been many hurdles. I have been replaced from shows after shooting for two days, sometimes, I have been rejected outright. These setbacks resulted in self-doubt. Then I shifted gears and did voice-overs for seven to eight years. Once I started to feel somewhat settled, toh acting offers started coming in.

My confidence definitely took a blow, but no, I wasn’t bitter. I kept trying. When I was shooting for The Legend Of Bhagat Singh (2002), I would mimic everybody on the sets. There I met person who was fondly called Baba bhai. He was surprised to hear me speak in 60-70 voices and he told me, “Tum itni awaazein nikaalte ho, let me introduce you to the world of voice-overs.” I had no idea about voice-overs then, but within three-four years, I made a name for myself in that profession. Later, I got the show, Chala Lallan Hero Banne, which was appreciated. One thing led to another and that’s how my journey started. Through all of this, I learnt to never give up. Main dheeth (adamant) bann gaya.

After my recent web show (Sunflower), people have started seeing me differently. I am grateful to the makers for envisioning me in such a role, despite the fact that I come with a comedy baggage.

I asked them if they were sure about casting me — kahin aisa na ho ki udhar murder karne jaa raha hoon aur log hass pade (laughs!). I am glad it clicked with the audience and people accepted the character. Now, I am enjoying exploring various genres and parts. Having said that, I love doing comedy and making people laugh.

I believe everything happens for a reason. Had those shows been successful, I would have been busy there. I wouldn’t have been able to experience what I am doing today. My destiny has got me here. Sometimes, what you think is bad for you, actually turns out to be good.

As I said, I always feel that everything happens for a reason. Achhe ke liye toh waise kuchh bhi nahi ho raha with so many people losing their loved ones. I have lost dear ones, too, and it’s been difficult to deal with that. We have no option, but to keep going. Life isn’t the same anymore. Yes, a couple of projects were shelved or postponed, however, I feel that I have been one of the luckier ones. By the grace of God, I am at a stage in my career where I can survive without work for a few months or a year.

My ambition is to work with good people and creative minds who know their job. They could be novice or experienced, but they should know their job because I want to give my 100 per cent. Also, I can plan a thousand things, but what matters is what comes my way.

I have some great memories of working on the show and it has given me a lot. As far as collaborating with Kapil is concerned, why not? If I am offered a great concept, I will take it up.

Abhi bhi meri cupboard mein saare suits, sarees, blouse aur accessories pade hai. So, whenever I miss my characters, I just go to my cupboard and look at them, aur kabhi kabhi unko bahar nikaalke dhoop bhi lagwa deta hoon. Woh mere liye badi prized possessions hai. When everybody in my home sleeps, I sometimes put those clothes on, and take a trip down nostalgia lane (laughs!).