JOIN USHer elfin looks and dainty features can easily fool you. But appearances can be deceptive. Sayani Gupta has packed a punch with her powerhouse performance as a visually-impaired activist in her upcoming film, Margarita With A Straw. A critically-acclaimed film, Margarita... is soon to hit the theatres on April 17.
Unlike her contemporaries who have struggled to find a footing in the film industry, Sayani seems to have been destined to become an actress. Born and brought up in Kolkata, she was exposed to the arts even as a child. “My father Kamal Gupta was a musician and played several instruments. I was enrolled in a performing arts school as a child and fell in love with the stage instantly. Growing up, I figured that this is what I wanted to do. I couldn’t think of a life without performing arts,” she says.
Bollywood dreams
A Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) graduate, Sayani landed the lead role in Gaurav Punjwani’s Second Marriage dot com in 2012, and she later went on to act in Anurag Kashyap-produced Bengali venture called Tasher Desh. “God has been kind to me. I never had to face any hardships. But at the same time, I don’t take things for granted. I am extremely critical of myself,” the actress contends.
Speaking about her upcoming release Margarita..., Sayani says, “I was working on a travel show when I got a call for auditions. But when I got back after four months of travelling, the auditions for the role were still on and I decided to give it a go.”
A perfect performer
Sayani started preparing for the physically and emotionally gruelling role of Khanum, a blind activist. “I was warned that it would be a tough role. I auditioned for a month and rehearsed every scene in at least 60 to 70 ways. Before I even got the part, I started practising for the role by performing my day-to-day activities blindfolded. My FTII teacher, actor Naseeruddin Shah, gave me pointers for the role,” she explains.
But it was the phone call from the film’s director, Shonali Bose, that sealed the deal. Sayani stayed in character till the last day of her shoot for the film. Recalling an anecdote from her shooting days, “On the last day of the shoot, an old spot boy came up to me and told me to take care of myself since I was blind. None of the spot boys actually figured out that I am actually sighted!”
As far as co-stars are concerned, Sayani has been lucky. Her chemistry with Kalki Koechlin is something to watch out for in the film. The pair had to engage in some risqué intimate scenes. In awe of her energetic co-star, Sayani says, “Working with Kalki was enjoyable. She is one of the most hardworking people I have ever met. When we rehearsed together, we were completely in the scene, and she outdid me in every shot.”
Apart from Margarita..., the duo has also been a part of the theatre circuit with their latest play Trivial Disasters. When asked about her tryst with theatre, Sayani says, “Theatre keeps the actor in me humble and gives me a sense of calmness.” The actress has made her mark on stage as well with plays like Noises Off and Cock.
Despite having acted exclusively in parallel cinema so far, Sayani, who is inspired by actresses Smita Patil and Deepti Naval, says she is open to acting in commercial films and doesn’t mind all the song and dance as long as the role is meaningful. Incidentally, the actress is eyeing the big leagues, as her upcoming films include a Hollywood production called Parched and the much-anticipated Ranbir-Katrina starrer Jagga Jasoos, which is being directed by Anurag Basu.
However, when asked what her future plans are, the young actress smiles, saying, “My plan is to make no plans.”