86 COSMOPOLITAN AUGUST 2019 FOR MORE GREAT STORIES, VISIT COSMO.INdoing much better and
bigger roles in the future.”C: What are the kind of
roles that you’re looking
forward to?
TS: “I’m really looking
forward to doing a musical.
I have always had a
penchant for it. Even as a
young girl, my dream has
been to star in a musical. I
hope we make one, and I
hope I get to act in it.”C: Speaking of musicals,
you have received
formal training in music
and dance. In fact, you
have even performed in
operas...
TS: “My twin sister and I
started training since we
were kids, all thanks to our
parents. By the time I was
five, I was already
performing. I have never
known anything else. I’m
trained in westernC: You don’t come from
a film background. Do
you think you have had
to work harder to make
it in the industry?
TS: “No. Everyone faces
the same kind of pressure
when you are doing a film,
irrespective of where you
come from. You have to do
well and give your best,
because you are as good as
your last film. This applies
to both people from inside
and outside the industry.”C: As a young actor in
the industry, do you
think women are getting
better roles in
Bollywood today than
they did before?
TS: “Things are changing.
Today, we have female
writers, actors, directors,
and producers in the
industry, and they are doing
such amazing and inspiring
work. For example,
Priyanka Chopra [Jonas].
She’s doing so well for
herself, both in India and
abroad. So, I’d say, it’s a
very exciting time for all of
us in the industry.”C: And what about
female characters? Are
they as substantial as
the male leads’?
TS: “I mean, I literally just
finished my second film,
and I’m quite certain that
the role I’m playing is not
something I have seen
other young actors do. So,
I’d say I’m lucky enough to
be working in such great
films. But, having said that,
I’m just starting out and
I’m looking forward tocosmo interview
C: How did SOTY2
happen?
TS: “I met Karan at the
Dharma [Productions]
office, and we were just
chatting when he asked me
to sing for him. I did.
That’s when he said that
his team was in the process
of writing SOTY2, and
asked me if I’d be
interested in doing it. A
few months later, when the
script was ready, I
auditioned for it and got
selected for the role of
Mia Chawla.”C: What was it like
working for SOTY2?
TS: “It was so much fun!
The energy on set was
young and palpable. We
spent a year making the
film, and during the
process, Tiger [Shroff] and
I became close to each
other. In fact, we have
maintained our friendship
even after the film. He’s an
amazing co-star and such a
genuine person. Ananya
[Pandey] was great, too.
She and I are both
Scorpios, but such
different ones at that. Over
the course of the film, I
had a lot of fun working
with her and we
complemented each other.
Apart from the cast, I also
got along well with Puneet
[Malhotra, the director of
SOTY2]. And Karan is now
my go-to person for any
career-related advice. So, it
was like one big family.
Honestly, it’s the best first-
film experience anyone
can ever have.”C: You made your debut
in an ensemble cast. Did
you constantly feel the
pressure to do better
than your co-actors?
TS: “No, not at all. We all
had our own space. I don’t
think any of us can do what
the other does. So, I didn’t
feel any pressure. I think
that holds true for the rest
of the cast as well.”C: Female actors are,
unfortunately, often
pitted against their
female contemporaries.
Does that affect you?
TS: “No. I was raised with
a twin sister. I have never
understood this whole
concept of pitting women
against each other. It’s
almost 2020! Everyone
needs to really get over the
fact that a woman has to
contend against another
woman. It should be a
myth by now. Honestly,
during SOTY2, Ananya
and I had a blast. In fact,
we spent so much time
together that we ended up
picking a lot of traits off of
each other. In terms of our
roles, they were quite
different...there was never
any competition.”C: Sisterhood is so
important, isn’t it...
TS: “Absolutely...it’s been
a significant part of my
upbringing. I think it’s
about time we started
promoting sisterhood
instead of pitting girls
against each other,
especially in my line
of work.”“It’s almost
2020!
Everyone
needs to
really get
over the
fact that a
woman has
to contend
against
another
woman.”