Actress Elisha Mayor, who is currently basking in appreciation for Dil Dosti Dilemma, opens up with The Pioneer about the lessons she learned from her character and many more revelations in this exclusive chat.
Subodhini Purohit
From a wildcard entrant on India’s Next Super Dancer to her current status as a multidimensional actress, it exemplifies actress Elisha Mayor’s unshakable dedication and passion for the craft.
Navigating the difficult landscape of Bombay’s entertainment industry, she has auditioned thousands of times, each encounter moulding her into the vibrant actress she is today!
A little while back, her portrayal of Tanya, taught her the significant distinction between independence and hyper-independence, which mirrored her own challenges and development. Her ability to create depth in her characters, as seen in the Dil Dosti Dilemma, demonstrated her awareness of complex human emotions and relationships.
As an actress, especially during Bombay’s difficult period, she strived to do everything alone, attempting to be strong and fight for her aspirations, saying, “I ended up living like an army officer—disciplined to the point of becoming a machine. For a few months, I forgot how to have fun, the value of establishing friends, and how socialising can refresh your mind, allowing you to be more productive and creative.”
But Tanya’s character taught her that attempting to solve everything on your own might be unproductive. Tanya keeps things private, believing that she must address all of her difficulties before discussing them with her friends and family. She considers herself a problem solver, even at home, where her parents haven’t spoken in months. Tanya is in denial about her parents’ possible separation, and she is anxious to make things right without contemplating that they may have fallen out of love. She explains, “Playing Tanya required me to focus on her vulnerabilities and the emotions she was concealing. She is afraid that her family will come apart, but she keeps her anxieties to herself, attempting to maintain a veneer of strength. This job taught her that expressing vulnerability is critical.”
From the initial table read, they understood they had a well-written series with rich character sketches and a well-connected plot. “It’s not just about teenagers and grandmothers; it’s about everyone in the series, and how they all learn and evolve by the end of the story,” she says. “As actors, we play a role in choosing characters and roles, and I feel that Dil Dosti Dilemma has a major talking point that I connected with deeply: the idea that the elderly must make an effort to connect with teenagers.”
On the other hand, she noted how pageants can be a terrific learning experience, particularly if you’re just getting started. “What you take away from them is determined by how you approach the situation. While pageants are competitions, if you step back and think big, they provide an excellent opportunity for development. They boost your confidence, train you to give your all every day, and help you manage demanding schedules and function on little sleep. When I first started acting, these talents came in very handy.”
However, she discovered that, as an actor, you must be free. She describes, “You cannot constantly be graceful, sit in a certain way, or talk in a specific way. You must let go of your limitations and adapt to whatever the role requires. When I portrayed Aloka in Kala as a footballer, my training as a dancer allowed me to release my body and adapt to footballer body language. This represented a significant departure from the poised and polished approach necessary in beauty pageants.” This event demonstrated the distinction between pageantry and acting, and the expertise she earned from pageants aided her acting career! A well-written script and character development are critical, and while she works hard and thoroughly prepares, she has also discovered that teamwork is essential. “What I’ve learned is the value of asking the correct questions. These questions not only clarify my character but also help me comprehend the larger story and the director’s vision for telling it.”
A lesser-known fact: She was a wild card entry on India’s Next Super Dancer, and she says that starting as a wild card contestant had its own set of challenges: “By the time you join, the audience and judges have already picked their favourites and are deeply invested in the journeys of the contestants who have been competing for three months or more. I remember vividly my first performance, when I achieved a flawless score of 5 out of 5 from judge Karan Johar. His good reaction provided the drive I needed to embark on that journey.”
However, during that show, Elisha encountered something she had never thought of. One of the most difficult problems she encountered was her health. As she spelled out, “I later discovered that I had Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), which significantly affected me during the competition. The format of the show required us to stay in a house surrounded by cameras and without access to our phones. This made it difficult to obtain the medical assistance, attention, therapy, or rest I required to manage my problems. I was battling with terrible bleeding, bloating, and acne, which drained my confidence. Competing to be India’s Next Superstar while not feeling or looking my best was really challenging. I recall avoiding mirrors because my face was covered in acne, which even makeup couldn’t hide.”
Despite these obstacles, she grew more focused. She realised the only thing she could control was her performance on stage for those ten minutes, whether she was acting or dancing. She put on blinders! This approach took her through to the semi-finals.
She is quiet and prefers to be present in real life rather than spend time on social media. However, as an actress, she recognises that social media is an important tool for promoting her work and reaching a larger audience; she states, “I am extremely cognizant and conscious of the contrast between Elisha the actor and Elisha the person. This separation allows me to disconnect from whatever happens online. Humans have an inherent desire for affirmation outside of themselves, and social media is an extension of that propensity. When helpful criticism turns into trolling, it’s critical to disengage and disconnect from social media. By striking this balance, I can protect my health while also connecting with my audience.”
Throughout her career, she has auditioned about 2000 times and continues to do so on a monthly basis. She has never let the term “rejection” affect her! “Some roles are simply different, and your talents may not always match exactly what the role requires. As an actor, this understanding allows me to let go of the pressure and enjoy the experience. By focusing on the process rather than the goal, I can genuinely appreciate each audition.”
Meanwhile, her “mantra” as an artist is to explore and express; the Kala fame adds, “I don’t limit myself by saying, ‘This is who I am and this is who I am not.’ I am continuously looking for opportunities to develop, improve, and expand as a person and artist. While I have a strong moral compass, I am also open to a variety of roles. This stems from acknowledging the various aspects of my personality—some days I begin with religious music, others with hip-hop or rap. I’m excited and grateful for my upcoming projects. While I can’t give too much information about my new characters or the plots just yet, I can say that these endeavours contain a lot of dance. For the first time, I’ll be dancing on television, and I’m excited to share that aspect of myself with the public.”
