Forget me not!

Manpriya Singh 

It’s a place where getting typecast is easier than getting a break, where the struggle might actually begin after a hit film, where controversy might be good and no publicity is, well bad. When in Bollywood, anything is possible. 

Ishita Raj Sharma is yet another outsider joining in the big bad world f films. Currently high on the success of Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, she talks about her co-stars, her first lucky break, and the struggle that ensued after her first hit film. 

“I gave a gazillion auditions and at the end of every audition I felt I’d bag the role. Which didn’t happen but I have always been confident,” she says.  

After completing her majors in London, the first step towards a career in showbiz began with a portfolio she got done back home in Delhi. “I am born and brought up in Delhi, after my portfolio I started getting ad assignments.”  

A chance visit to family friends in Mumbai led to a meeting with a casting director, who was at the time finalizing the cast for Pyaar Ka Punchnama. Charu she was to be, for the entire series and even Sonu Ke Titu Ke Sweety. 

Small roles, getting typecast and more 

As long it is a small but significant role, chances are she’ll consider it. The length of the role or the fear of getting typecast doesn’t matter. “When I was given the brief of the character Charu, I thought it went through a spectrum of emotions; there was drama, tragedy and shades of grey. Basically, there was scope to explore my acting skills. If it’s a good story, with a good role for me, I go ahead and sign it. I don’t think too much.” She adds, “In fact, to be remembered despite a small role is more challenging.” To all the critics out there who did not approve of the misogynist nature of the film, she’d like to say, “It’s a fun film from a boys’ perspective.” 

An outsider’s diaries

She may have skipped the casting couch, courtesy her first film being a hit, but she didn’t escape the entire struggle that outsiders often have to go through. “All the struggle stories are for real. It is very very tough for an outsider to survive. There is nobody to guide, you don’t know whom to approach or even how to get started.” 

That’s not where it ends. “Two more things make it extremely tough. First the competition and second you are all the time losing roles to people who have some recommendation or the other.” 

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