Sandeepa Dhar Talks About The One Audition That Changed Her Life

"I didn't grow up wanting to be an actor. I had a very different path planned out for myself," Sandeepa Dhar confessed. But if acting wasn’t the dream, what was? And how did she end up carving a space for herself in the industry? In a candid conversation with SheThePeople, Pyar Ka Professor actor Sandeepa Dhar shared the nerve-wracking reality of her first audition, the lessons she learnt as an outsider in the industry, and why stepping into acting without a plan turned out to be the biggest adventure of her life, or not.

Her Journey from Advertisements to Movies

Sandeepa started acting at a young age, doing commercials even before finishing school. But her first film audition was an entirely different challenge. “I started doing ads very early on, probably in 8th or 9th standard. So, I don’t remember my first ad audition, but I remember my first film audition. It was for the Rajshri film, Isi Life Mein (2010)."

She recalls feeling unprepared and overwhelmed when she received the script. "I kind of knew I probably wouldn’t get it because I had never done a film audition. But I thought, let’s see what this is about. They gave me a monologue from one of Rajshri’s films, Maine Pyar Kiya, a Salman Khan monologue that was altered for a female character. It was a huge monologue, and I hadn’t watched the film back then. I just couldn't understand how someone could say so much in one go."

Sandeepa spent three days memorising the monologue, struggling with the lengthy Hindi dialogues. "I remember realising, 'If this is what films are about, it’s going to be a tough journey.’ I went into the Rajshri office for the audition, and their casting director, Vicky Siddhanath, was there. I got so nervous that I fumbled a lot." However, she was lucky to have a patient team who encouraged her to take a break and try again.

The audition, however, felt like a life-or-death situation at that moment. "At that time, not cracking an audition felt like the end of the world. It was such a crisis in my head. But somehow, I managed to finish it, and eventually, I got the film."

Sandeepa recalls the toughest phase of her career when she took an unconventional path after her debut. Instead of immediately pursuing more films, she chose to refine her craft, she shares, "It's been a very different journey for me because right after my first film was released, I decided that I needed to do theatre, because I didn't grow up thinking that I wanted to be an actor. So, I didn't prepare. I didn't go to an acting school. I didn't go to a film school. I didn't do workshops, nothing."

I realised that if this is what I want to do for the rest of my life, if I want to be an actor, then I should train myself. I went to Australia to study theatre and to study dance.

For five years, Sandeepa dedicated herself to theatre but made sure she remained connected to Bollywood. "I used to, I remember, come back to India once a year during my vacations because I was studying. Each time that I would come for a vacation in those five years, I would do one film. So, the first time I came, I did Dabangg 2 (2012). The second time that I came, I did Heropanti (2014)."

What Sets Trained Actors Apart?

Reflecting on her early days, Sandeepa shares that one of the biggest misconceptions about acting is the lack of emphasis on training. "When I started out, I don't think I realised the importance of it. You somehow, you don't hear too many people talking about how important it is to train as an actor. Everybody tells you dance seekho, gym jao, take care of your body, take care of your face, all of that. Not many people tell you that you have to learn the craft." 

Moreover, she shares that there was no one to guide her on what was right or wrong, making her journey one of independent learning. Emphasising the importance of training, she advises aspiring actors to focus on honing their craft, investing in workshops, exploring various methods, and continuously evolving as performers. 

"Your performance is the only thing you can control. Everything else, the film’s success, audience reception, marketing, and production, is beyond your hands. Since filmmaking is a director’s medium, an actor can only focus on delivering their best. So work on that."

What’s One Stereotype About Women That Needs to Go?

Having spent over a decade navigating different roles, industries, and countries, she pointed out a common stereotype that women often face but men rarely do. "I just recently spoke about this because a male journalist asked me how I balance work life and personal life. I found that so sexist in a way because when do you really hear men being asked the same question? Nobody asks a man how he balances work and home. So why do you ask a woman the same question? Because the notion is that a woman is meant for home. If she works outside, she needs to put in extra effort to make it happen.”

She explained, “But if you really look at it, women are naturally gifted multitaskers, while men can only do one thing at a time, and that’s scientifically proven. So I feel like these stereotypes should change because society is far more aware now. If you're still asking questions like these, it’s really sad."

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Why Women Should Stop Putting Off Travel?

When the conversation shifted to passions beyond acting, she spoke about her deep love for travelling. Scrolling through her social media, one can see glimpses of the breathtaking destinations she has explored.

"Oh, I feel like I was born to travel. Everything else is something I do in order to make travel happen. My main goal in life is just to travel the world, see as much as I can, and learn as much as I can. I take off every three to four months to some place or the other. I'm a mountain person, so you’ll see me going to the mountains a lot more. I’ve been to Uttarakhand, Almora, and Binza, absolutely stunning places. I keep going back to Almora over and over again."

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Among international destinations, one place holds a special spot in her heart. "I absolutely love the UK, especially Scotland. It’s just breathtaking. Photographs don’t do justice to it. Even the green of the grass, the blue of the sky, it all feels different, as if God has taken extra time to create it. I can keep going back there. My plan is to retire, buy a house by some stream, grow my own vegetables, and live a quiet life."

For many women, travel often takes a backseat to responsibilities, with the mindset of working first and travelling later. She challenges this notion with a refreshing perspective. "The sad part is, you don’t know if you have that 'later.' You don’t know how long you’re going to live. Who knows about tomorrow? Who knows if you get into an accident and can’t walk? You may never get to do those treks. So, do whatever you want to do now because no one knows about tomorrow."

Understanding that travel requires money, she also suggests alternative ways to explore without breaking the bank. "If you really want to travel, you can figure out cheaper ways. There are so many budget-friendly ways to do it. You don’t have to do luxury travel just for Instagram. India itself has the most diverse geography, and travelling within the country is stunning and affordable. So, do whatever you want to do now. Don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today."

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Here's our conversation as Sandeepa Dhar talks about Pyaar Ka Professor, breaking taboos, filming intimate scenes, and reshaping conversations around women’s pleasure.