With Gaslight, Sara Ali Khan attempts an outand-out thriller for the first time in her five-yearold career. The Telegraph chatted with the actress on what made her pick the film that’s now streaming on Disney+Hotstar, the challenges of playing a character in a wheelchair and why versatility is important for her.

As an actor, what boxes did Gaslight tick for you?

What I aspire for the most is versatility. I want to be able to do every kind of genre. When I read (the script of) this film, it presented a genre and a world that I had never been a part of, and I was most excited to do it. It was also a story that was very thrilling to me as a reader and I was very excited to be able to bring it to the audiences as an actor.

What makes you a fan of the genre?

I love murder mysteries and thrillers. It’s so exciting and intriguing to watch a whodunnit, especially if there are twists and turns on the way to finding out who has done it. I would assume that music, editing and various other elements contribute as much to a thriller as the story and performances do. That’s why I am very excited to watch Gaslight. While the script and the acting part of it have been very exciting, I think the final product will be a whole lot more exciting than anything that any of us expected while we were on set. I can’t wait to see how the movie has turned out for all of us.

What were the biggest challenges, especially because you spend the whole film in a wheelchair?

I think challenges very often become creative highs. Number one was definitely learning how to use the wheelchair. The second thing was how to use my upper body as an actor enough that I wouldn’t need the lower part of my body to emote and express. Understanding the complex character of Meesha was also a challenge. She’s faced a far more troubled and harder life than I ever have. Being able to feel a good sense of empathy for her and being able to showcase that through my performance was definitely part of the big challenge of this film.

Along with the element of thrill and mystery, the film also explores the theme of gaslighting. Meesha’s situation is, of course, different but we all have faced gaslighting in some form or the other. Did that aspect feel relatable at any point to you?

What I really appreciate in Meesha’s character is her strength, determination and drive to overcome very dire circumstances. She doesn’t feel like she can trust anybody. She’s come back to this lonely estate after years and she is on a mission. Even though there is gaslighting involved, there is psychological play where she is made to believe that what she is seeing is actually part of her imagination... you get to see that even in the trailer where the doctor (played by Shishir Sharma) asks Meesha: ‘Are you sure Ratan (played by Shataf Figar) is back? Kya woh luka chhupi khel raha hain?’ But regardless of everything, she sticks strongly to her mission and with utmost determination. I think that is very, very admirable.

What she goes through may not be relatable to me because I haven’t gone through the kind of situation that she has but how she goes about it is definitely one to take inspiration from. I admire her strength and determination in the face of hardship.

Sara as Meesha in Gaslight, now streaming on Disney+Hotstar

In your five-year career, you have attempted comedy, drama, thriller, romance.... What’s the way forward for you? Versatility is at the centre of what I do. I would like to do action, drama...

I am doing a small-town relatable drama with Vicky Kaushal and I am also leading a film (called Ae Watan Mere Watan) on the 1942 Quit India Movement. All genres and all characters excite me as long as they are done well. As an actor, we have the privilege of playing so many different people on screen. We get to experience and portray a range of emotions.