Actress Alankrita Sahai, who has received much praise for her performance in Tippsy, opens up with The Pioneer about the dissimilarities of her character and Alankrita in real life, and shooting in the serenity of Goa, among the rest.
Subodhini Purohit
Alankrita Sahai, the all-round actress who has played explosive characters, notably in the film Tippsy, was seen portraying a character named ‘Pony’ and has received much praise for shattering stereotypes!
Initially, she was invited to play a different character named ‘Tanya’, but she says, “I no longer wanted to play the conventionally affluent, beautiful woman. I was keen to break free from being typecast and try new roles. My job is to experiment and progress my career through different genres! That’s when I discovered another character named ‘Pony’. When I read about her role, I thought she was hilarious and naive, unlike any other character I’d played before.”
This film highlighted women’s camaraderie. She explains the same: “You don’t need a man for a bachelorette trip, but a man’s bachelor vacation is never without women. Tippsy’s idealised premise is that it’s acceptable for women to celebrate their bachelorette party, have fun, and not experience prejudice simply because they are women. It’s like a Hangover movie of girls, and Kainaat and Nazia, who are my good friends, were Charlie’s Angels for Deepak Tijori, and the myth that Bollywood actors can’t become friends is entirely wrong because we can be friends and boosted each other and built beautiful memories during the shoot.”
She did this movie since her father died in a horrifying incident in 2022, and she says, “This film came as a saving grace for me because losing a parent so suddenly at a young age is traumatic and depressing. I did not want to do anything in my life. I left Mumbai and travelled to Chandigarh. When I received this movie offer, I assumed that my father would have expected me to work hard and regularly because he wanted my aspirations to come true. So I thought, let’s do this for real.” Within two months of her father’s death, she had to begin shooting. She met several lovely and friendly people, and it was great to be back in Mumbai!
Pony’s character is amusing and a little naive, but unlike Alankrita, she is quite subservient; she explains, “In real life, I am the leader of my group, whereas Pony is a follower in her gang. Pony is a top student at her college, something I can connect to. She is, nevertheless, a glamorous middle-class girl attempting to fit into society while dealing with hurdles from both her family and society. Unlike Pony, I am a strong and courageous individual, but she is fearful, scared, and vulnerable. To prepare for the role, I needed to play a submissive, sensitive, and emotionally motivated character.”
Also, Pony’s voice was slow and charming, so the actress needed to adjust her tone of speech and modulate her body language! This role represented the various types of girls we may encounter in a friend circle.
When they were shooting in Goa, they realised they were away from home because of the beach and the scenery, which she appreciated. She says. “The most important thing about shooting there was that we had great food and an environment. Even though we were working in Goa, it felt like we were partying, despite the long hours. Surprisingly, when we completed shooting late, we could always relax at a restaurant, where the women could sit and get to know each other before going for a walk on the beach. Working for me is like a party, and I like it. It was a pleasure to shoot with these gals. Goa is a safe area for women to enjoy themselves, but exercise caution at all times.”
She believes Tippsy resonated more with a female audience, and that people struggled to accept women partying, being powerful and opinionated, and having independence. Gen Z and millennials will accept it, and the film focused on camaraderie, various people coming together, and harmony.
Despite the severe accident she has been involved in lately, she is already working on two projects, and the announcements will be made soon. She remarked, “I feel that regardless of whether movies are successful or not, one should continue working. We have received positive media coverage, which I am quite happy for. A movie is something that some individuals may enjoy while others may not. We cannot please everyone, but we must ensure that we do credit to the role.”
