Aanchal Munjal, a familiar face from television, music albums, web series, and films in both Hindi and Tamil, has now made an appearance in the blockbuster Pushpa 2: The Rule. Speaking to SheThePeople, Aanchal shared her experience working alongside Allu Arjun in the film. She fondly recalled the moment she received a call from director Sukumar's team, which became a pivotal moment in her career.
"It Felt Like a Manifestation": Aanchal Munjal on Landing Pushpa 2
Aanchal, who portrays Saurabh Sachdev's girlfriend in the hit film, shared how she landed the role and her experiences. She said, “Honestly, it felt like a gift from God, more like a manifestation. I remember when the Pushpa title track came out; I loved it so much. I posted a reel about on one of the first songs of Pushpa 2."
She revealed, "The next day, my team got a call from a casting director from Sukumar Sir's team, saying they loved my profile and wanted to cast me for a prominent scene. At first, we thought it was a prank, but then the casting director called again, and we realized it was for real."
Watch that reel here.
Aanchal also shared her experience of working with Animal fame Sachdeva, who is also an acting coach, "He is like a mentor to me, working with him is like an award and after third day of our shoot, after shoots, we would sit together for coffee, and he’d talk about his daughter, films, and life. So, it's been a lovely experience.”
Experience Working with Allu Arjun
Pushpa Raj, played by Allu Arjun, is a labourer who rises to lead a red sandalwood smuggling syndicate, facing challenges from rivals and the police. Srivalli, portrayed by Rashmika Mandanna, is his wife, concerned about his safety and reputation. Aanchal shared her experience working with these pan-Indian actors, noting the impressive performances on the sets.
She said, "Apparently, it's a rule there, no selfies or photos allowed on set. One moment that stands out is when I asked Allu Arjun sir for a picture. It’s rare for him to oblige, but on my last day, I gathered the courage to ask. To my surprise, he said yes! He invited me to his caravan, where we had a short conversation."
"He said, you know when you came on the set, I actually thought you were an NRI from Dubai because you weren't speaking too much. I was like yeah, so I'm very much an Indian, been working in the industry for 18 years now. So, he was surprised and then he asked me what kind of work I've done. I gave him the list and he said good going, you have the potential to fly high. He gave me his blessings and I think that's all that matters." She added, “Unfortunately, I didn’t shoot with Rashmika because she wasn’t on set during my scenes. But I missed seeing her, and I hope we get to work together soon.”
Aanchal, known for her roles in films like We Are Family, Aarakshan, and Ghayal: Once Again, shared how her family and friends reacted to her recent appearance in Pushpa 2. She noted, “Initially, I was a bit disheartened because two of my scenes were cut, and my dialogues weren’t kept in the film. I wasn’t sure how to tell people I was part of Pushpa. But once the film was released, my DMs started flooding with messages of love, and people were calling me the “new National Crush.” It felt amazing!”
Aanchal, who began her career as a child artist and has worked across commercials, TV serials, music albums and films, spoke about her aspirations. She shared, "I like to keep my projects a secret until they’re ready, just as I did with Pushpa. But soon, I’ll surprise everyone with something big! I’ve always embraced diverse mediums—be it films, TV, or commercials. Now, as I focus on films, I aim to take on varied roles. The love and support from the audience mean the most to me, and for that, I’m always deeply thankful."
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