After debuting in Aamir Khan-starrer Dangal in 2016, Sanya Malhotra has played a range of characters in her eight-year career. The actress won the Best Actress award at the New York Indian Film Festival 2024 for her yet-to-release film Mrs. In a candid chat, Sanya talked to us about the film, the award, and her journey so far.

You won Best Actress for Mrs. at the New York Indian Film Festival. How much do awards matter to you?

Sanya Malhotra: It definitely feels good. I do care about winning an award. I feel grateful for the appreciation I get for my work. In this case, it also gave me a sense of confidence that the film would do well. Not just me, but the entire team feels that things are looking good for the film’s release. It is important to get that sort of validation.

Mrs. was screened at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival and Palm Springs International Film Festival. What was a reaction to the film that stayed with you?

Sanya Malhotra: I watched it too [giggles]. Usually, I am very critical of my work. I find some mistake or the other in my performance. It’s very difficult for me to make myself happy in that sense. I am not saying it in a pompous way but I really liked my work in Mrs. I feel that I have done a good job and we have made a good film. And I don’t say that quite easily. I am feeling very shy about admitting this to you right now. Radhika Madan (actress) watched the film in Tallinn and called me. I was quite happy to hear what she said about my performance in the film.

Mrs. is the official remake of The Great Indian Kitchen (2021). How did the film come to you?

Sanya Malhotra: I consider myself very lucky. I attract good films and great characters. Harman (Baweja, producer) got the rights. My agent called me and said that Harman was considering me for the character. I was quite blown away because I loved The Great Indian Kitchen. I am a greedy actor and I knew that I would get to do so much in this film and I’ll learn a lot in that process. So, I jumped at the opportunity. I didn’t even think for a second.

Having watched the original film, how did you make the character of Richa new for yourself?

Sanya Malhotra: For me, she is a different woman going through a struggle of her own. Sadly, it is something that a lot of women in our country go through. I think it is a universal thing that is expected out of women – being in the kitchen and doing the household chores. Like, it’s a woman’s duty. A lot of women relate to this and that’s how I made it personal for me. Richa has her dreams and aspirations and goes through emotions. Her world is different from the original film.

What did you like the most about Richa?

Sanya Malhotra: I like that she’s ambitious and she has dreams. She loves to dance and so do I. She’s perfect.

How do you look at your journey so far that started with Dangal?

Sanya Malhotra: Dangal played a major role in my career. I got the opportunities that I got because of my debut film because so many people watched it. It set my career for sure. I never look at the roles I play as a supporting character, parallel lead, or protagonist.

When I was doing Dangal, director Nitesh Tiwari told me that in Bollywood people only think about the screen time of the character that they are playing. But as an actor, one should see how they can add to the story with their acting. That perspective kind of stayed with me and I apply that to the films I do. It has worked very well for me.

When I do a film, I have confidence in myself that I’ll give my hundred percent to it. For Dangal, I did wrestling for one minute in the film but I trained for one year. I think because that’s my conditioning as an actor, I carry it forward to whatever I do.

Please tell me something about your latest films Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari and Anurag Kashyap’s next.

Sanya Malhotra: In Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, I play a character unlike what I have done so far. I am excited about it. I am happy that Shashank (Khaitan, director) thought of me for this character.

As for Anurag Kashyap’s film, I feel very fulfilled every day after work. I feel like I have accomplished something as an actor. It’s a very actor-friendly set. I am thrilled to work with Anurag Kashyap.

You’ve grown up in Delhi and have been living in Mumbai for a decade. How have these two cities shaped you as an actor?

Sanya Malhotra: I used to dance a lot when I was in Delhi. I used to teach dance in a school there. I have performed a lot on the stage in Delhi. So, being expressive, movement of the body, and the flow which I use while playing characters in films.

As for Mumbai, living in a new city has taught me a lot. Moving away from my family, being on my own, and whatever I went through before bagging Dangal… people like to call it a struggle period which I don’t like at all. That period taught me a lot. I am a professional people watcher and watching unique people in Mumbai is constantly inspiring. These little things somewhere shape you not only as an actor but also as a person.

What choices did you make so that you could do the films you wanted to do?

Sanya Malhotra: I think I have that confidence and patience. I don’t mind waiting. As I am an outsider, I am in no rush to be at any position or to reach a milestone. When I moved to Mumbai, for months I used to wait for a call back from casting directors. I am sort of used to the uncertainty of my job. I have immense trust and confidence in myself as an actor that whatever work I get I will give my two hundred percent. I’ll make sure that I’ve done a good job. Keeping patience and accepting and embracing the uncertainty of the job is the key.

What did you learn very early on about the way the film industry functions?

Sanya Malhotra: There is no Saturday-Sunday off. And I am not okay with that [giggles]. I don’t like that people here are constantly working, for what joy? I don’t get it. As artists, as creators, it’s important to take time off to do other things in life. Fill your cup so that you can pour into your work and get inspired. People here are constantly running. I like the chill aspect. People should get a Sunday off at least. Take at least one day off for yourself. I have found my balance. I don’t work on Saturdays and Sundays unless I am shooting.

I work on my hobbies. I know for a fact that these hobbies are also helping me in my job. I dance. I skate. I am learning tennis. I am constantly learning something or the other. We kind of celebrate hustling and being busy but many people are not even aware of the burnout. And in that state, how can they take creative decisions?

You have acted in quite a few biopics. Who would you like to play on screen?

Sanya Malhotra: Amrita Pritam. Also, recently, I read The Last Courtesan: Writing My Mother’s Memoir by Manish Gaekwad. He has written the memoir of his mother who was a courtesan in Kolkata and Mumbai. I was really inspired by that story and I think that it could be a good film too.