As Mala in Uunchai, Sarika brings both depth and mystery to her role. The film brings the 60-year-old actor back to the fold of Rajshri Productions, almost 50 years after she starred in their film Geet Gaata Chal. A candid chat.

What were the boxes that Uunchai ticked for you to want to sign on? Was the fact that it would give you a chance to work with Rajshri Productions again a big reason?

Yes, that was the reason to begin with. Once they approached me with this film, I suddenly thought, ‘Yes, I want to do this!’ It felt so good.

When this project came to me, I had no boxes to tick. The boxes came into the picture when the shooting started. When I worked with Sooraj ji (Barjatya, director), I realised, ‘Oh, this was a good box to tick.’ It was a dream to work with a director like Sooraj ji. One thing that I had always wanted to do was to work in an ensemble film. In India, we are still not making ensembles and Uunchai is a film with the perfect ensemble cast.

What were the emotions like being on a Rajshri set after so many years? How was the experience different from the first time?

I felt very happy. But one must understand that the present times are stronger than nostalgia. I was creating new experiences while working on Uunchai (smiles). All the emotions that I felt were from the fact that I was working on Uunchai, and not really from nostalgia.

As far as working with Rajshri Productions is concerned, there was really no difference. There was Guptaji, who was with Rajshri even in the ’70s and he’s seen me as a 14-year-old! (Smiles) Even today, he remains the backbone of Rajshri Productions. The atmosphere on the set was the same as it was during Geet Gaata Chal... even their office is the same. Working with Rajshri is like working with family.

Mala in Uunchai is an independent woman who makes her presence felt even when she remains quiet. Does she mirror you in any way?

As a character, she does not. Mala is very different from who I am. And that’s what is exciting... I like to pick up characters who are not like me. As for being quiet, yes that’s one side of me that is similar to Mala. I am not very talkative. It’s only when we were all stuck at home during Covid, I started talking much more and now I feel I am talking too much! (Laughs)

You have been choosing pretty interesting and eclectic parts over the last few years. Modern Love: Mumbai is a prime example. What is the primary thing that you look for in a project and in a character now?

There are so many interesting women living such interesting lives around me. They are from all spheres of life. They are my friends or somebody I know.... I would like to play their lives and bring their stories to the screen. In my career now, I am looking at doing more fulfilling roles, rather than just going to set, doing my work and coming back.

As actors, we have the blessing to bring somebody’s life to the screen. I am looking at those kinds of roles... ones which are substantial and to which I can do full justice and work with a good director.

Would you say you are being offered your most interesting work now in terms of opportunity, variety and scope?

No, I don’t think so. I think some of the good films that I have been fortunate to be a part of have been coming to me since 2004. Be it Bheja Fry, Parzania, Club 60, Tahaan... these are very interesting films which offered me very good roles.

Both your daughters, Shruti and Akshara, are actors. Are their processes as actors like you in any way, or completely different?

They are completely different. They are a different generation. Shruti, Akshara and the actors of their generation have a different way of approaching their work. How they prepare, how they perform is a totally different approach.

I am sure that when I was their age, my seniors would have thought that my way is very different. When I did something like Griha Pravesh (1979, directed by Basu Bhattacharya), it was the time of a very different kind of cinema.

Honestly, I like the way this generation approaches their craft. What I follow as my process is no longer applicable to them.

Is there a recent film or series that you watched that left a huge impact on you?

Yes, absolutely! It would be (The) Sandman (on Netflix). I have always been a big fan of The Sandman and I wish I could have been part of it!