Shahana Goswami believes she can grow as an actor only when she truly engages with every aspect of her life. That has resulted in a stunning performance as the titular character in British-Indian director Sandhya Suri’s Santosh, which is the UK’s entry for Oscars 2025. The Telegraph Online spoke to Shahana about the making of Santosh, her choice of films and Indian women leaving a mark on the world stage.

Your film Santosh is the UK’s entry for Oscars 2025. What was your reaction when you heard about it?

Shahana Goswami: Alan (McAlex), the India line producer, called and informed me very casually that Santosh had been nominated for the Oscars. I didn’t think it was possible but it makes sense because it is largely a British Production — BBC and BFI. It came as a surprise. I was excited and thrilled. Then I understood there is a shortlist and there is a final nomination process. I was happy that the film got a chance to make it there.

How did you happen to collaborate with director Sandhya Suri and what prompted you to go for this project?

Shahana Goswami: I had never met or worked with Sandhya. I hadn’t heard about her. (Casting director) Mukesh Chhabra was doing the casting and Sanjay Bishnoi, who is there in the film, was also casting for the film. They happened to come for the Zwigato premiere and after watching the film, I was told to go and meet Sandhya for an audition as they thought I was the right choice. I was in the middle of changing houses, so I had to just dump my things and go for the audition.

When we met, Sandhya gave me certain scenes, which I improvised. I am always happy to audition when the director is there. Then, after a few days, I was called for a chemistry test. In other films, the chemistry test is between romantic partners. In this case, it was between me and the other female lead — the character of Sharma. There is an important chemistry between the characters in the film, so it was important for Sandhya to see both the actors together. I did a bunch of chemistry tests with a bunch of actors. I wasn’t sure whether they would cast me. Then in a week, I was told about it. I was given the script. It was an immaculate script. Everybody who came on board was enchanted by the script.

Will you be at the Oscars in Dolby Theatre next year?

Shahana Goswami: I hope so! I have a feeling that we might. You know when you break it down to the logistics of the film, the deeper aspects of money, I don’t understand all that. But I do believe sometimes odd things happen, like this film getting selected from the UK. I do have a feeling this film will make it to the nominations.

Have you started planning what to wear?

Shahana Goswami: Oh, that is too far. (Laughs) The beginning of the prep is getting a US visa and that will be done at the beginning of next year because I am travelling.

Tell us about the journey of your character Santosh, a young widow who gets her husband’s job of a constable after his sudden death.

Shahana Goswami: I think what I like as a performer and an actor are characters that you are not constantly in love with because that’s not the reality of life. Filmmaking is such that when you have a protagonist, you are automatically invested in them as you are seeing the world through their eyes. The thing I like about Santosh is that she isn’t a bechari (helpless). It is about finding herself and there are many incongruous parts to her.

The other thing I like about her is the fact that she is largely a silent character and it is about experiencing the film through her gaze. It largely makes it a parallel reference between Santosh and the audience. You make of what she sees. The screenplay that has come out is something I am very happy and proud to be associated with. It is a different kind of storytelling.

2024 is ending on a high for you, with Santosh picking up praise, Despatch co-starring Manoj Bajpayee coming up for streaming and the Australian web show Four Years Later streaming on SBS Demand on YouTube. What has been your biggest takeaway this year?

Shahana Goswami: In a personal way, the universe is reminding me of my need for versatility and diversity, and my capacity to hold space in different realities and different characters. Despatch was shot a long time ago, Zwigato got its digital release and an English language Australian show — Four Years Later — with two Indians in the lead came up. It is a romance that is nuanced and pertinent to our age and the world I inhabit, and I played Santosh right before that. It is a reminder to myself and to everyone that I am capable of doing a lot more and I have the hunger to do a lot more, to work in different continents, roles, languages and personalities.

Pratima (Zwigato) and Santosh (Santosh) are very different though they are from the same socio-economic background. That is filmmaking because I am not creating those characters. I am putting life into a character with all the people involved in it, who help me embody the personality. It is an interesting, collaborative, creative work to keep pushing the boundaries for. I haven’t settled for less in my life. I like to become more aware and confident of the fact that I am capable of doing more and more.

Indian women are shining on the world film stage. Besides Santosh, there’s Laapataa Ladies and All We Imagine As Light. Have you watched the other two films?

Shahana Goswami: I haven’t watched Laapataa Ladies. I watched All We Imagine As Light at Dharamshala (International Film Festival). I watched Girls Will Be Girls. I am guilty of not watching Laapataa Ladies yet. It is good to see this kind of varied filmmaking coming through different women from different parts of India. It talks about different lived realities and different storytelling as every person is different.

You have worked with several women directors in your career...

Shahana Goswami: I am one of those rare people who has worked with women directors in most of my projects. There is a mutual gravitation that happened. I am lucky to have worked with women directors who are all South Asian. I am hopeful and happy with the change and the shift. It is not about creating a tilt in the other way of making it about women. I like the balance of more opportunities. I am happy to see more women in all aspects of the industry.

Did you meet Kiran Rao and Payal Kapadia recently?

Shahana Goswami: Sadly, Payal and I haven’t ended up crossing paths. I have spoken to Kani (Kusruti) as she is a friend, and Kiran (Rao) is also a friend and I am a champion of her filmmaking. We both had a moment of congratulating each other for the Oscars run, a very sweet exchange. People have a notion about competition but it doesn’t feel like one, as whoever gets it it is a victory either way. If we both get it, great! Even if we don’t, there is a lot of buzz around Indian indie content coming through parts of India and different tonalities of storytelling.

Despatch will start streaming on ZEE5 from December 13. Did you have a good time working with Manoj Bajpayee?

Shahana Goswami: It was amazing. Initially, I didn’t want to play a small part. But Kanu (Behl, director) told me to give it a second thought. He told me that he works differently and then I thought that I would get to work with Kanu and all my scenes are with Manoj. It was a rewarding experience. All the actors were involved in a workshop for 10 days. It was extensive, in partnership and individual. Manoj and I developed the characters, the scenes, the history and the background of the relationship. All of it was so moving, emotional and beautiful.

Kanu likes to shoot many times, so it was also a new experience on how it keeps improving with every new take and I started seeing the beauty in it. Manoj and I did not have any scenes in Gali Guleiyan. We just met at the premiere. I thought he was excellent in the film and in Despatch, I got to work with him and play him off. He was a very generous and spontaneous actor.

How do you choose roles now versus how you did it earlier?

Shahana Goswami: It is more or less the same. I am instinctive, barring a short phase when I was trying to strategise but I quickly gave it up. I am spontaneous and I say yes as per my gut without any rationale. I have learnt to follow that very strongly and let it play out. I value my contribution as a member of the team. I don’t want to be bored or do what feels easy. I want to be challenged.

It is easy to get typecast. We typecast ourselves. Post-Rock On and Firaaq, everybody came to me with mother roles as nobody wanted to play a mother and get typecast. I have experienced it. The more I do, the more it will become a norm. The cop aspect was very crucial to the storytelling in Santosh and the character building. I don’t want to embody a cop so soon again.

What do you look for in the script now?

Shahana Goswami: The authenticity of the characters, the way they speak and communicate, the progression of their interactions, the way the scenes play out, and the way information is given. The moment there are more things being told than shown, I find it less interesting.

What do you do when you don’t have shooting?

Shahana Goswami: I am very busy. I have a lot of things to do. There are way too many people in my life who I love. Between spending time with my friends, who live in various parts of Bombay, India and the world, I am either travelling for work or to meet friends.

I love to spend time by myself also, which I don’t get enough of. I have varied interests such as watching films, dancing and listening to music; then I am obsessed with tarot cards and the occult. I am into spirituality and wellness. I like reading. The lockdown was an engaging time as I managed to engage all parts of Shahana that otherwise didn’t engage (Smiles).

Does it all help you be a better performing artist?

Shahana Goswami: I only grow as an actor when I truly engage with my life and give myself time and space outside the worries of society, people and obligations. When I engage with my life, I can translate that to my work and bring all my learnings and self-observation to the workspace.

Is there anything you do to train yourself every day as an actor?

Shahana Goswami: The honest answer is nothing. I haven’t read a single book on acting or filmmaking. As a person who is in cinema, I haven’t watched as many films as most people have. I haven’t even watched the classics. I love watching films but I have 20,000 other things to do. I am not someone who has gone by the book. I had insecurities because I was not trained. I thought I didn’t know how to build characters. I had a big cry the night before I started Santosh. Then, my close friend Sahil told me that maybe this was my style. My biggest lesson is just living life. I am an ardent student of life and I will remain that way. I am curious and open. I want to grow from the conversations and the circumstances around me because it gives me perspective.