Music as a healer

After exploring her acting prowess to the fullest in her last film ‘Angry Indian Goddesses’, Sarah-Jane Dias is set for bigger things. The model-turned-VJ-turned-actress was in the City recently to promote her upcoming film ‘Zubaan’, opposite Vicky Chauhan and directed by debutant Mozez Singh. Booted to perfection and cheerfully posing for selfies, she even sang her favourite song from the movie for her fans. A multi-faceted actress, she is excited about the film which will release on March 4. In a chat with ‘Metrolife’, Sarah throws light on her role, on her life on and off-screen and her inspiration.

Tell us about your role in ‘Zubaan’.

I play the role of Meera Mathur, a musician (like I am) in the movie. She is a free-spirited Bohemian who goes through something traumatic in her life. But unlike Dilshesh (Vicky Chauhan), she turns to music to help her heal. She is an extremely interesting girl.

She is a musician like you… So, is Meera’s character similar to Sarah-Jane Dias?
She is a lot like me, but not completely. What Meera has gone through (traumatic experience) is something that I have never been through. It was difficult to understand that aspect. But otherwise, Meera is very similar to who I am. Like Meera, I am a very forward thinking bohemian hippie kind, who loves music. I am a performer as well. However, she comes from an extremely affluent family and I come from a very simple family. So there are a few differences.

The turning point in your career…
‘Angry Indian Goddesses’ is definitely a turning point in my career.

How do you choose your scripts?
 I am a gut person and I really trust my gut. It can’t be true all the time. As human beings, you have fears and insecurities and you tend to doubt yourself. But if you train yourself repeatedly to trust your gut, you rarely make the wrong choices. You will just know. It doesn’t happen to me a 100 percent, because then I will be god. But the older I am growing, my gut is growing stronger.

From being an interviewer (as a VJ) to being interviewed. How does it feel to be on the other side of the seat?
It feels cool… feels like from being a manager to being the general manager. I feel I have progressed and it is a proud feeling.

Other interests…
I am a certified yoga instructor. I like to cook, travel and I am a real good interior designer. There are very few things that I do not do. I do anything and everything creative. I am the queen of DIY— I like making my own accessories.

Your place of peace…
On my yoga mat, in front of the altar.

Your inspiration in the industry…
I love Zeenat Aman, Waheeda Rehman, Naseeruddin Shah…all the old-school actors. The new school actors are phenomenal; I am a huge fan of Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra. But it is the old- school actors who inspire me as they are something that I aspire to be. There is a long line of musicians too that I am a huge fan of. I love the new underground independent musicians who are coming out in the country.

Your role as a musician in real life…
I have a band and we have performed at festivals. I have my own music video posted on my website, which I have produced, directed and sang myself. I keep busy.

Your take on feminism…
Actress Sandhya Mridul is like my sister and she is one inspiring woman. She said, ‘if being strong, independent and standing up for myself makes me a feminist, then yes I am a feminist’. This is my answer too.

Reveal one secret about yourself.
I have minor OCD. Not major, actual OCD… but I have my little quirks. I recently discovered that I can’t shake people’s hands. That is not necessarily a bad thing as it is a matter of hygiene. I act like I don’t mind a good hand shake, but again ‘OMG’, its germs. I can be silly about such OCD issues.

Life’s philosophy…
Let it go.

(As told to Prajna GR)