When Saiyami Kher made her debut in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Mirzya in 2016, she was touted as the ‘next big thing’ to happen to Bollywood. The film didn’t work and the curly-haired actress was almost dismissed from the industry. But true to her name – derived from the word ‘Saiyam’, meaning patience – she kept herself away from the negativity, focusing solely on her work. The result – three back-to-back projects on digital platforms, which have brought her appreciation and acclaim from all quarters. Playing diverse roles in Special Ops, Choked, and Breathe: Into The Shadows has been a blessing, the green-eyed girl tells TMM. Excerpts from the conversation:
You recently asked your fans to guess what C-16 is and got some really creative responses…
(Laughs) Yes, a lot of people have been asking me that post-Breathe 2. There were some very innovative answers. I was going through a few of them and was wondering how people come up with them.
First Special Ops, then Choked and then Breathe 2… these releases have brought in so much appreciation. How do you feel?
I’m so glad that in these last four months, there have been these back-to-back projects that have been liked by people. It’s extremely overwhelming because the response had not been so positive with Mirzya. With social media now, you know when love and hate come directly to you. You know that when they say they have liked it, they have genuinely liked it.
Any particular comment or reaction that has stayed with you?
One of the nicest things that these three projects have done for me and that people have commented on is about how versatile they find me. Every character has been so different. I feel the word versatile is the biggest compliment for an actor. Then there are filmmakers like Imtiaz Ali, Vishal Bharadwaj , and Anubhav Sinha who I really respect, who have reached out to me and said they liked my work. These are people Saiyami Kher would love to work with, so it felt really good.
Do you think people were also taken by surprise when they saw you playing such diverse roles?
That’s the exciting part – to be able to do different kinds of roles. If you get the opportunity, then you should explore diverse roles. I have been lucky. It was exciting to play a RAW agent, then a middle-class banker and then an escort. A lot of people felt that my screen time wasn’t much in Special Ops. Of course, one would love to get front-lining projects like Choked but the screen time does not really matter if you are getting to play interesting roles.
From the start, you have had the opportunity to work with some really senior directors and co-actors. How has that helped you grow as an actor?
As an actor, the directors you work with can make a huge difference. For Choked, I give a lot of credit to what Anurag (Kashyap) sir has gotten out of me. Rakeysh sir has done films like Rang De Basanti and Bhaag Milkhaa Bhaag, stories that I have enjoyed watching. I did Special Ops with Neeraj Pandey. These are directors with a respected body of works, and that definitely helps an actor understand themselves better. I have a long wishlist of people I would like to work with, but I have been extremely blessed that Rakeysh sir and Anurag sir have been great sounding boards on and off the camera. Without intending to, they have given me a lot of advice on how the industry works.
There was a lot riding on you with Choked. Were you nervous about working with Anurag Kashyap?
More than nervous, I was in disbelief! I met him at the Mumbai Film Festival in 2017. That’s where he offered me Choked. I read the script and I loved it. I was completely drawn to Sarita and that world. I didn’t think it would happen and that maybe, it’s one of these false promises. For two years after that, he was busy with Manmarziyaan and Sacred Games. I kept chasing him and asking when are we making it. I wanted it made but a part of me didn’t believe it would happen. Then he started the film and called me for it. He wanted to start in three days and I come from the Rakeysh Mehra school of acting where we rehearsed and did readings for six months before starting the shoot. That’s when the nerves set in. We had no rehearsals or readings with the cast. On the first day of the shoot, Anurag sir came to me and said, ‘You don’t take any tension. I know you have it in you’. That’s when I knew everything will fall in place. It just gave me so much confidence. When somebody as talented as Anurag sir has your back, any insecurities you may have about yourself just vanish.
Your debut film Mirzya didn’t work as expected. What kept you going?
I think I’m blessed to have grown up in a small town in Nashik. I have been very aware of what the reality is. That’s why I never get carried away with success or failure. I have grown up playing sports. I’m fortunate that I have other things that have been a huge support system in my life, to have friends who I have known from school time, who have regular jobs. It’s important to have other things and to realize that acting is just another job and not give yourself so much importance.
There are a lot of ups and downs in the industry but I got to know about the downs when Mirzya didn’t work. I would speak to Adil Hussain, my acting teacher who would tell me to ask myself why I have become an actor. If it is because I enjoy acting, then it’s correct but if I want to act for the fame, glamour, and money, then those reasons are wrong. So, it’s been a combination of sound advice from my teachers, filmmakers, and friends and my sporting background which has instilled the idea of working hard and being patient.
You have acted in Telugu, Hindi, and Marathi projects. Language doesn’t seem to be a barrier for you at all…
Not at all, I see it as an opportunity to live a different life. In my Marathi film Mauli, I played a villager from a small town in Kolhapur. That’s so different from anything I had been offered before. I’m now doing a Telugu film with Nagarjuna sir where I’m again getting to play a role which is so far removed from what I have done before. I would love to do Malayalam cinema because they are making such wonderful stuff there.
What’s next in the pipeline?
The Telugu film is 80 per cent done with and the last schedule is remaining. That’s probably the first thing I will complete once the shootings resume. I’m also supposed to shoot for the second season of Special Ops.
Saiyami Kher for TMM
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