‘Drawing inspiration from real-life experiences gave me the emotional depth for Mrs.’

In ZEE5’s latest movie Mrs., Sanya Malhotra delivers a remarkable portrayal of Richa, a woman caught between traditional expectations, family responsibilities and her own dreams. The film explores the struggles of women who are burdened with managing a household while their personal aspirations are often sidelined. In an insightful conversation, Sanya shared her thoughts on the role and how it allowed her to reflect on stereotypes deeply ingrained in society.
Sanya acknowledged that portraying Richa was both challenging and deeply moving, as her character mirrors the experiences of millions of women. “Portraying Richa made me reflect on the deeply ingrained stereotypes, especially the idea that managing a home is solely a woman’s responsibility,” Sanya shared. She emphasised the importance of equal sharing of responsibilities, noting that the film reinforced the need to break outdated norms. “In reality, it’s essential for everyone to understand that it’s important to share the workload equally. The film highlights how crucial it is to recognize the effort that goes into these everyday tasks and to challenge the traditional notions of gender roles.”
Richa’s emotional journey, particularly her aspiration to become a dancer while being forced into domestic chores, offered Sanya a unique opportunity to dive into the internal struggle of women who are often expected to give up their dreams for the sake of family. “Richa’s emotional journey was both challenging and moving because her story mirrors the reality of millions of homemakers,” Sanya explained. “Drawing inspiration from real-life experiences gave me the emotional depth and authenticity needed to bring Richa’s internal struggles to life.” For Sanya, it was important to develop a backstory for the character to better understand her motivations and balance the emotional complexities. “For every character I work on, I love developing a backstory. This helps me navigate and balance the journey of the character,” she added.
Sanya also spoke highly of her co-star, Nishant Dahiya, who played her husband Diwakar in the film. “He played Diwakar’s character with so much empathy,” Sanya praised. She recalled a memorable moment during the script reading, “I remember the first time we were reading the scripts over a Zoom call, I texted Arati (Director Arati Kadav) on the side saying, ‘Oh my god, he is so much into Diwakar’s character!’ I was like, ‘What’s going on?’ But then I realised, he was just so deeply connected to the character, and I feel that’s the only way you can truly play such roles.”
In Mrs., Richa’s journey to reclaim her dreams amidst mounting expectations and a husband who is oblivious to her struggles paints a poignant picture of many women’s lives. Sanya’s portrayal of Richa not only highlights the sacrifices women make but also urges a broader conversation about shared responsibility in relationships and the importance of supporting women in their dreams.