So ABBA, first of all, congratulations on Heramandi.
It's amazing and your performance has been lauded by everyone
who has watched the show and it's been brilliant and
the
show has been successful. How does it all feel like
now that it's been 17 days since Hiramandi released?
First of all, thank you so much for having me,
Xena. And obviously because the performance is being appreciated,
I feel very validated as an actor.
I mean, it was my first web show ever.
And you always feel like the that you're,
you can act and, you know,
you know, your craft. But when the audience starts saying
that,
that's when you feel like,
yeah, that I'm doing something right.
And if I keep going on this way,
I'll be able to give better performances.
So it feels amazing. Wow.
And like you said, it's been your first web series,
and that was with someone like Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
I mean, that's like a dream come true,
right?
Yeah. And in fact, I think Sanjay,
Sir was the first director I ever manifested working with.
I mean, whenever I would think about cinema,
I remember watching Ram Leela and just being like,
it's magic. Like, how is it so beautiful?
How are the frames so beautiful?
How's the emotion captured so beautifully?
And I always wanted to work with him.
And I was like, if given a chance,
I would love to be on his set.
And who knew that the life would span out such
a way that my first web show will be with
Sanjay Sir and I will have the opening sequence.
I mean, it's out of the world.
OK. Do you know we have all heard about Sanjay
Leela
Bhansali's anger. His he strives to be the perfectionist.
So it's just he scolds people till you get that
shot,
right. So did you encounter that
Sanjay Leela Bhansali anger that we only hear about?
So luckily for me, he only called me beta on
set.
And all the time when he he would explain things
to me or whatever would happen,
he would be very nice and very
soft with me. I don't know if he understood that
my personality is such that if somebody gets angry with
me,
I would start crying. But I was also so aware
of what I was going on set and whatever Sir
wants.
Like my attention was constantly on what he's saying,
like how does he want this thing if the costume
is not proper?
What does Sir feel about the costume?
What does Sir feel about the lighting?
Because I myself was afraid he,
if that happens with me,
I don't know how I'll perform.
So I was putting my
500% into it to make sure that I'm able to
give the take that he wants.
And I just remain in that space where he keeps
calling me Beta.
So luckily for me, I think we had this understanding
that I was able to understand what he wants with
me at a specific point like on his set.
I feel like everything is a choreography.
Like I remember this one scene where I'm running looking
for Imad and I
call out Sato Fato Imad Kahani to Usmiju voice modulation.
I hope you would just certainly set Piva Taiki.
You know, I want you to take this dialogue like
that.
So I took the dialogue like that and Usmiji specific
music,
timing specific beats sticky. How many in how many seconds
they want me to reach on that window?
How do they want me to open the window?
And when I pick up the lamp that it should
not be placed in the center,
it should be placed sideways to give emotion,
give that kind of choreography and
do everything all together. I mean,
like Sir would say Ki Ek acha actor vote
alag alag action score saath me mala Ki Tara pirodita.
But he said something along these lines.
He did you, I'll give you these directions,
but if you beautifully make it into a song
and I I it's not exactly what he said,
but this is what he meant,
then then you are a good actor.
So I would always strive to do that.
And because I am a professional dancer,
I've learned hip hop, jazz,
funk. So choreography was in my body.
So when he was doing all that choreography,
I was able to pick it up.
I think that's one of the reason why
that whatever take he would want from me,
I would be able to do it that way and
he would not
take up that zone with me.
Like luckily it didn't come.
Or maybe we worked for such a small standard with
no much bigger sucker me by.
When we do a bigger web series or bigger film
together,
then maybe I'll have more instances to talk about.
OK, no, but your character is very central.
Like you said, you appeared in the opening sequence and
you are the person who take it forward.
Through you, we understand what
manufacturing's back story is. Why is she bitter the way
she is?
She's not a bad person.
She's just bitter because how everything around her has been.
Also, you play a character that's later played by your
veteran actress,
like Manisha Kodala. So was that was that in baggage
when you were told that this is the role that
you need to play?
When I read the script,
the script that came for an audition was the murder
scene.
So when I started reading the script,
I could visualize everything in my head.
I knew how it's going to happen,
how I'm going to do the countings,
how it's going to work out.
So the character felt so mine,
like young Mani, young Mallika Jaan just felt like she's
mine.
And I just felt it felt very personal and
there was number baggage as such.
Because as a prep, I did see Manisha Mann's films,
like when Dil SE Dekhi and I,
I was like looking at everything,
the way she acts, the way she talks and everything
to be able to imbibe that in the performance.
But overall, I just let my creative side take lead
onto how I want to perform this.
And the script was so beautifully written.
And because I understood the character so much that
I let the emotions take over.
And that's how whatever performance happened,
happened. Wow. And also the fact that you are a
professional dancer and this was a film,
you know, it's a, this was a series,
it's essentially Love and Sally series.
So there were a lot of dance sequences.
Do you somewhere like feel bad that you couldn't showcase
that side of yours in this series?
I would like to correct you.
I'm not a professional dancer.
I'm a trained dancer. I said that
I'm a trained dancer. I've done training for dancing.
And yeah, I mean,
it's every actresses dream to dance on a Bhansali set.
I mean, you want to be in those costumes and
you want to be giving those expressions.
And for me, it was like,
I just felt like it's an interview.
I'm just giving my interview right now and the job
will come later.
So I just feel like I have a long career
ahead and I'll definitely get that chance.
So it doesn't feel bad.
I just feel hopeful that if I was able to
make it to a Bhansali set,
I think someday I'll be able to be the one
who dances on his on his set as well.
So I'm just hopeful. Fingers crossed.
Yeah.
Also, you know,
I've heard the fact Richa Chunta very recently said that
she had to give like
99 tates aid during Kiramandi.
What was your highest, you know,
number of Tates?
My highest, I don't think I was counting because
it was so overwhelming to be on that set that
to be able to do it was a big thing
for me.
And JAMA scenes, Devi my whole concentration is on how
the scene should be done.
Even though I think the first scene that we have
and when I'm talking to Rihanna Appa and I'm like
you to come in my child and go all I
just seen it. Mohammed Dobar shoot Yeah.
So first we the first time we shot it,
it was just like a
mid shot. And then so so said,
you know, I want close-ups also.
So we did the whole setup again and then we
took close-ups.
Even the murder sequence. We shot it twice.
The first time we shot it,
whatever weight came out, Sir,
I think was not happy with the way it was
coming.
So he's like, I want to reshoot it.
He came to me and he was like,
your audition was way better,
so I'm going to reshoot that scene with you.
So we shot that scene again.
So we gave two different days to the scenes that
we had already done.
So that level of like
that level of attention to detail that Sir brings to
his work,
It was evident when I just had like
limited number of scenes for us.
Maybe I have to do retakes because this is how
he wants it to be.
Wow, wow. And the fact that,
you know, your sister is also part of the show.
So, you know, two sisters here.
How did you talk about it?
Did you guys discuss it?
Did you like, did you meet on sets?
Because you don't share the
screen, obviously. So how did that pan out?
So first of all, when I got selected for the
web series,
I didn't tell anyone. I didn't tell my sister.
I didn't tell my family because
there have been so many times that you're about to
get something and then for some reason it doesn't happen.
So I just made myself a certain way that when
I reach on set,
that's when it's real for me.
Like when I'm in conversations,
when I'm doing anything else,
it's not real. When I reach on set,
that's when I'll be like,
you, OK, It's finally happening.
And this was such a big deal that I didn't
tell anybody.
And then my sister auditioned for
Shama's character, and I recorded her audition.
And I was telling you,
do like this, do like this.
And we both recorded the audition.
We sent it ahead and then she got finalized and
she's like,
she came to me like this in a final and
I'm like what you're I'm also.
Then she was so shocked.
You didn't even tell me.
I was like, I didn't know if it will happen,
but like I'm so happy that's happening for you also
now.
And I don't really wanted key
somewhere we would meet on set or have a scene
together.
But because the timelines were so different,
so we never met. And
overall, our family was also very happy because I mean,
everybody dreams of being on a Bhansali set and two
sisters coming from Shimla,
which is a small city like today only a friend
of mine was saying that
her friend's mother was like,
I am able to give my daughter more chances because
I've seen those two girls reach that place like
comfortable.
If it can
happen for them, it can happen for my childhood.
So that I was I felt was so
big. Wow, wow. And you know,
Hiramanti has been successful. Your performance is being loved by
the audience so much.
Are there more offers coming now Host Hiramanti?
Yes, there are offers coming in and some things are
in the pipeline.
But once everything is confirmed,
only then I would like to,
you know, come out. Of course,
of course, let's not jinx it because you know,
it's it's once I want to set,
I'll let everybody know.
This is the entertainment industry and things are really volatile
and has that
has that happened to you ABBA that like you said,
that things don't materialize till you reach the set.
Has that happened to you that you have been in
talks and you know you're finalized and things didn't turn
out to be?
It was supposed to.
I think it happens with everybody.
I have accepted it as part and parcel of the
job and that's why I've made-up my mind.
Once I'm on set, that's when I'll get happy because
there have been times that I've been finalized,
but I went for script readings and the next day
it's like,
no, we are replacing you.
There have been times that I've been given dates.
My dates are blogged and I'm waiting,
oh, this shoot is going to happen.
And I don't get response.
So I call them up like,
what's the update? And they're like,
yeah, oh, we took this person and all that.
So all that has happened and now I don't even
take it personally.
I'm just like,
whatever work is meant for me.
I think God will look at my hard work and
I get the work.
And apart from that, once I'm reset,
everything is totally ready before that.
Like let's just keep it
to ourselves. Also, how do you handle this rejection because,
you know, being turned down so many times can really
get into your norms,
especially since, like you said,
you're from a small place?
Because I can relate. I'm from a very small town
and just
just thinking that, you know,
you go there all alone and you try to get
into an industry where you don't know anybody and you
are facing rejection.
How do you handle it?
How do you get back up?
How do you go to work again with the same
kind of motivation?
Because I've been auditioning for a while now.
I think initially, initially also,
I understood very early on that in this industry,
you will be rejected. Like
you will not resonate with everybody.
Your performance will not resonate with everybody.
People will say certain things about you that this is
not OK,
this is not OK. And I stopped taking it personally
very early on.
I understood that this is the part and parcel of
the job.
Like other people have a nine to five.
This is our 9:00 to 5:00 to get up,
get ready, go to auditions,
auditions. I have auditioned so many times,
like I've been part of a lot of ad films
luckily.
But in that also, it's me giving
567 auditions for three days straight and then getting shortlisted
for like 2 auditions I think.
And then maybe none of them materializes or maybe one
materializes.
So you develop this thick skin where you're just liking
whatever is meant to me,
meant for me will come to like.
Apart from that, I'm not bothered.
And if it's not coming from me,
it's for the best. So that's the way I look
at it and
Kabhi kabhi AAP ke dil ka ho to,
acha dil ka na ho to or
so these are certain things that have really kept me
grounded and given me that stable anchor to sustain in
this industry where you will be rejected and so many
times. So which is OK.
All you have to do is have faith in yourself,
never doubt yourself, like have that clear vision as to
what you are and keep working hard.
I feel like as long as you're working hard,
these things won't matter. Like for me personally,
it's like if I'm not acting,
I should be working out or I should be dancing.
Because as long as I'm growing in one field or
the other,
I'm hopeful because I can see growth.
I think just stagnant in sanu jata jabu grow karna
ban karte da and rejection will that is perfect karte
mujhe jaga SA rejection mujhe patanjhe do or jaga say
for validation.
So like that, it keeps me stable.
Wow, that's such a positive outlook.
I must say ABBA and also you are into painting.
You have an entire page dedicated to all the artwork
and they are amazing.
Thank you so much thank you so
much. Also, you're in your latest post.
People have been commenting that they want to see you
in Nargis that's biopic because of
how much you look like her.
Have you seen those comments?
Yes, and it's so flattering to be honest,
to like just to read something like that.
I, I'm very grateful. Like the audience is showing so
much love.
I'm so grateful. And also I would really like to
know,
do you have any trivia or any behind the scenes
story that the audience is not aware of from Niramanti?
So
this one time, the first day I met Sanjay Sir.
So I knew that I was going to this office.
I was super nervous. And
when I go to the office,
they take me to a higher floor where he's sitting
in the hallway
with some lady. And I look at him and I
get goosebumps.
Like, you know the time when you go on stage
and you freeze.
It was that moment for me.
And instead of walking straight,
I walk into a ball
because I could not fathom where to go.
And then I recollect myself and
I entered the door and I'm waiting for him to
come.
So he comes, he sits right next to me,
and he's like talking about black,
that we short black and Shimla.
And it was such a wonderful experience.
And I'm also saying to you,
oh, yeah, Shimla is very beautiful.
Midway through the conversation, he goes,
like, so ABBA, do you think you're a good actor?
And I'm blank. Like, I mean,
Sanjay, Sir, is asking me if I think I'm a
good actor.
And I don't know what to say.
So I'm just like, meekly,
I say that I think so,
Sir, If you think so.
So he's like, bring me her audition.
And then he sees my audition right in front of
me.
And then he's like, you know,
this is a strong part because you'll be opening the
web series.
We need a strong actor for all this and I
hope you'll be able to do it.
Yes, Sir. I'll try my best.
And then we get up.
We're about to leave. And by leaving,
he shakes my hand. He's like,
you're very good. And I could not understand that thing
till the time I went to the cab.
When I'm in the cab,
I'm just like going through the entire incident that just
happened and I'm like,
did he just say that?
So that was a very crazy incident for me.
And this another one, I mean,
when I was shooting for the first scene when they
wanted our close-ups.
So after that, it was a very tiring day because
emotionally also it took a lot out of me to
be in that emotion for such a prolonged time.
And by going to the vanity,
he was working 10 feet ahead of me and I
was behind and I was about to get into my
vanity.
That's when he looks back and he comes to me
and he's like,
ABBA, you were there today.
And I was like, at that time,
I again
didn't
understand like. And he was like,
he your murder scene will reshoot that as well because
your audition was better.
That's when he told me and
and then I told everybody,
you know, this just happened.
And then it hit me like what he meant by
that
small sentence. So that these were,
I think 2 experiences from his cell that I will
never forget.
They are going to be in my personal diary,
in my heart, everywhere, like
and coming from someone like Sanjay Leela Bhansali because you
know,
everybody wants to work with him.
Everybody like craves for that one line of praise to
come from him
and this is huge. And
for us as the audience,
we would want to see you more in another Sanjay
Leela Bhansali set where we probably get to see you
dance in those heavy.
You know that we have only heard about 20 kilos
and everything.
So fingers crossed for that.
And thank you so much,
Abha for joining with India Today.
It was just amazing talking to you.
Thank you Xenia. Thank you for having me and all
the best for your life ahead.
Yes. Hope to speak to you soon.
Yes. Let's catch up. Super.
Alright, take care. Bye.
Bye. Bye.