She made a compelling debut in Bollywood with Shonali Bose's riveting story Margarita With a Straw and then appeared on screen along with Bollywood biggies like SRK in Fan and Akshay Kumar in Jolly LLB 2 but Sayani Gupta thinks that content cinema will always have an edge over commercial cinema.
Playing the role of blind activist and Kalki's lover Khanum, Sayani made heads turn with her fierce acting prowess and restrained mannerism. Her recent cameo in Jolly LLB 2 was again largely appreciated for its honesty. Talking to News18.com in an exclusive interaction Sayani says, "I'm happy that I'm doing the kind of work that excites me in my own way. I am happy because of the balance I've been able to manage but it's not success at all."
About her breakthrough performance as Khanum, Sayani says, "When Margarita came along, it was the story that compelled me to be a part of it. I auditioned for about a month and did everything in my capacity to understand my blind character. I started classes and even started living with blindfolds. I am so fortunate to get such a challenging part so early in my career."
She further adds, “Margarita gave me a platform to showcase myself as an actor and I am thankful to every person who rejected the part so that it ended up coming to me. I would choose Margarita over any big budget film's small role any day because it has substance and challenge. I don't take up parts which I know I can pull off easily. Where’s the thrill in that?"
After a challenging role of a lesbian-blind activist, Sayani appeared in more subtle roles in Fan and Baar Baar Dekho. About her graph, Sayani says, "I did a commercial film like Fan because I loved the film, even a Baar Baar Dekho, which people didn't like, I had a ball on that film! I enjoyed the procedure and made beautiful friends during that film." She adds that this is what she wants to do for the rest her life- find the right balance. "Today as an actor, tomorrow maybe as a director or a producer, films are going to be my life."
Shedding more light upon her choice of screen appearances in independent as well as commercial cinema, Sayani says, " I say no to a lot of work, I refuse many projects that are offered to me like big roles in big films because I am selective with my work and I like being like that." Sayani argues that the parts offered in big films are not well written for women.
So does her 'radical newcomer' streak comes from her theatre background and years spent at acting school? Sayani answers, "Everything I know related to films is because of FTII. I've not grown up on Hindi films and thus I'm never star struck on the sets while working with big stars or directors. I love cinema as an art form. "
She further shares that in institutes like FTII and NSD craft is your fodder and it exposes you to cinema beyond stardom. Your focus to do good work will make you happy and satisfied as a creative person."
Talking about one of the film industry's biggest problems, Sayani opened her heart out on censorship. She says, “I think Censor Board should be eradicated from its existence. Firstly, it should ideally be a certification board, prescribing films according to age. I have my creative liberties to make any kind of art and you have to certify it to an age-audience, not edit it and polish it. That is my film, who are you to comment? "
She further adds, "It should be a choice of the audience to decide whether or not to watch a film and a board should exist just to certify the films."
Sayani will next be seen in Bornila Chaterjee's short film starring Naseeruddin Shah titled Hungry. "The best part about our profession is that you get to interact with a lot of people. Not just your cast and crew but also when you are travelling, you meet people who help you reach a different understanding. Hungry is one such experience. This is something I'm going to be proud of for the rest of my life, “ says the actress.
In a short span, Sayani has done some serious work with female directors like Shonali Bose, Bomila Chaterjee and Nitya Mehra. Sayani feels there is a lack of women representation in the storytelling front. "I have worked with a lot of women directors and I feel very lucky like that. The way women storytellers depict politics and their understanding of every character, men don’t."
She further adds that there have always been women storytellers, around but never enough
Sayani will also be seen in Anurag Basu's ambitious project Jagga Jasoos. The film stars Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif in lead role. The actress says, "I am extremely fond of children and their world. If I ever make films it'll be a children's film because we are yet to tap on that genre. Jagga Jasoos has tried their hands on something new and I feel fortunate to be a part of it. "
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