Actress Komal Sachdeva, who was recently seen in Shah Rukh Khan’s Dunki, gets candid with The Pioneer, sharing her feelings about being a part of a Shah Rukh Khan-starrer, being appreciated by Rajkumar Hirani, and more.
Tejal Sinha
Every film aficionado, especially the 90s ones, says that Shah Rukh Khan was, for once in our lives, the dream boy whom we could never stop crushing over. And to have that one glimpse of his, to date, has been a dream to many. Getting to stand alongside him and making that eye-to-eye contact could be no less than a drop-dead heart-stirring moment.
Well, the same feeling, or in fact substantially more, was it for the budding actress Komal Sachdeva with her recent stint in the recent blockbuster Dunki, playing the character of Chameli.
Though she has worked on some great projects, be it her first commercial project, Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, Amazon Prime’s Tandav, Disney Plus Hotstar’s Criminal Justice, Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, or an ad with Rajkumar Rao for Glance Live, the turning point for her was the Dunki. The role, exposure, and amazing team, including Shahrukh Khan, Rajkumar Hirani, Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal, and Boman Irani, made it an incredible experience for her.
An elated Komal begins, “I’m short of words! It feels amazing and thrilling. I’m filled with gratitude to be part of this project. You know, what comes on screen is just a small portion of what actually happens behind the scenes. My shoot days were around 20 to 25 days, and there were rehearsals, look tests, and other things. The whole journey—starting with this team, rehearsing, developing the character, being part of the scenes—took about one and a half years. Overall, it has been an amazing experience, and it feels out of this world to be part of this project.”
Initially, since the day she arrived in Bombay, just like an outsider, she too had a routine to check for audition updates and look through various sources like Instagram and WhatsApp groups. And sometimes even visiting casting offices in Aram Nagar to see what’s happening. And then one day, “I came across a post from Mukesh Chhabra. They were looking for a Punjabi-speaking actor, and there was an email address in the post. I shared my profile with them through that email, and they sent me the script on WhatsApp. During those days, auditions were mostly done at home. You had to record your own audition and then send it to the casting people. It was right after the COVID-19 period, so I went through the script and the character brief and interpreted it my way. I recorded the audition and sent it back to the casting associate, who approached me. In a very short time, I got confirmation that I was locked for the project.”
Working with the OG SRK was no less than an incredible experience. “There’s so much to learn from him, not just as an actor but also as a human being,” gleefully enthuses the Toilet: Ek Prem Katha actress. “The way he behaves with his team and people around him, especially with women, is outstanding. He’s so courteous and gentle when interacting with you. What’s remarkable is his humility; he is so humble and grounded. He has no air around him, and he makes you feel very comfortable. It gives you the space to perform your part. Shah Rukh sir’s work ethic is out of this world. I’ve learned a lot from him in terms of work ethic. Even when he’s not in the frame and the focus is on another person, he gives his best cues so that you can perform accordingly and get those reactions. He doesn’t need to do that, of course, but I think he’s amazing. He’s not only an incredible actor but also an amazing human being.”
So, what actually happened was that filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani had seen her audition and had very much appreciated her work too. Her first meeting with him was on the rehearsal day for the classroom scene. For that scene, she recalls, “We were sitting there in the classroom setup when he entered the room. I said, “Hi sir, I’m Komal,” and he recognised me. He said, “I know; I’ve seen your audition, and we loved it.” Those two or three seconds felt like they were moving so slowly, and it felt magical. For someone like him, who has seen so many auditions, to remember mine meant a lot to me. When you’re in the field of acting, there are days when you feel low and doubt yourself. Getting feedback or validation from someone at the top of their game in the industry is motivating and inspiring. It encourages you to keep going.”
Apart from Shahrukh Khan, an ensemble cast includes Boman Irani, Vicky Kaushal, and Taapsee Pannu. Initially, before that, she could begin her shooting; she did feel very nervous, and why not? She recalls, “I thought it wouldn’t be easy for me to keep up with the kind of energy and performance they put forward. But it turned out to be the other way around. It was much easier with them because they made me feel very comfortable. They gave me space and made me feel like I was part of the team, an important part of our project. We were all one team working towards the same goal, and they created a safe environment that made it easy for me to fit in. I think it was amazing, and I learned so much from them.”
Looking at her filmography, she shares that every time she picks up a project, she aims for substantial roles. Though she has played good cameos in some great movies, she feels the projects she’s been a part of are significant because, she says, “of the good teams I worked with, whether it’s “Toilet: Ek Prem Katha” or “Tandav.” They had a good team and a very good script. The second thing is, even if my character has just one or two scenes, those are my scenes. I mean, in those scenes, I have the scope for performance, and I believe I have to get my foot inside the door. When I came to Bombay, I knew nobody, so my intention in starting to act was to do whatever I could. I wanted to show my work and give a small performance, hoping that people would support me based on that. I wanted them to wonder whether I was an actor. If I’ve mastered my craft and if I’m ready for more performances, I want to work on projects that have meaning, where I can portray the character well, and it helps me explore myself as an actor.”
Every film aficionado, especially the 90s ones, says that Shah Rukh Khan was, for once in our lives, the dream boy whom we could never stop crushing over. And to have that one glimpse of his, to date, has been a dream to many. Getting to stand alongside him and making that eye-to-eye contact could be no less than a drop-dead heart-stirring moment.
Well, the same feeling, or in fact substantially more, was it for the budding actress Komal Sachdeva with her recent stint in the recent blockbuster Dunki, playing the character of Chameli.
Though she has worked on some great projects, be it her first commercial project, Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, Amazon Prime’s Tandav, Disney Plus Hotstar’s Criminal Justice, Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, or an ad with Rajkumar Rao for Glance Live, the turning point for her was the Dunki. The role, exposure, and amazing team, including Shahrukh Khan, Rajkumar Hirani, Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal, and Boman Irani, made it an incredible experience for her.
An elated Komal begins, “I’m short of words! It feels amazing and thrilling. I’m filled with gratitude to be part of this project. You know, what comes on screen is just a small portion of what actually happens behind the scenes. My shoot days were around 20 to 25 days, and there were rehearsals, look tests, and other things. The whole journey—starting with this team, rehearsing, developing the character, being part of the scenes—took about one and a half years. Overall, it has been an amazing experience, and it feels out of this world to be part of this project.”
Initially, since the day she arrived in Bombay, just like an outsider, she too had a routine to check for audition updates and look through various sources like Instagram and WhatsApp groups. And sometimes even visiting casting offices in Aram Nagar to see what’s happening. And then one day, “I came across a post from Mukesh Chhabra. They were looking for a Punjabi-speaking actor, and there was an email address in the post. I shared my profile with them through that email, and they sent me the script on WhatsApp. During those days, auditions were mostly done at home. You had to record your own audition and then send it to the casting people. It was right after the COVID-19 period, so I went through the script and the character brief and interpreted it my way. I recorded the audition and sent it back to the casting associate, who approached me. In a very short time, I got confirmation that I was locked for the project.”
Working with the OG SRK was no less than an incredible experience. “There’s so much to learn from him, not just as an actor but also as a human being,” gleefully enthuses the Toilet: Ek Prem Katha actress. “The way he behaves with his team and people around him, especially with women, is outstanding. He’s so courteous and gentle when interacting with you. What’s remarkable is his humility; he is so humble and grounded. He has no air around him, and he makes you feel very comfortable. It gives you the space to perform your part. Shah Rukh sir’s work ethic is out of this world. I’ve learned a lot from him in terms of work ethic. Even when he’s not in the frame and the focus is on another person, he gives his best cues so that you can perform accordingly and get those reactions. He doesn’t need to do that, of course, but I think he’s amazing. He’s not only an incredible actor but also an amazing human being.”
So, what actually happened was that filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani had seen her audition and had very much appreciated her work too. Her first meeting with him was on the rehearsal day for the classroom scene. For that scene, she recalls, “We were sitting there in the classroom setup when he entered the room. I said, “Hi sir, I’m Komal,” and he recognised me. He said, “I know; I’ve seen your audition, and we loved it.” Those two or three seconds felt like they were moving so slowly, and it felt magical. For someone like him, who has seen so many auditions, to remember mine meant a lot to me. When you’re in the field of acting, there are days when you feel low and doubt yourself. Getting feedback or validation from someone at the top of their game in the industry is motivating and inspiring. It encourages you to keep going.”
Apart from Shahrukh Khan, an ensemble cast includes Boman Irani, Vicky Kaushal, and Taapsee Pannu. Initially, before that, she could begin her shooting; she did feel very nervous, and why not? She recalls, “I thought it wouldn’t be easy for me to keep up with the kind of energy and performance they put forward. But it turned out to be the other way around. It was much easier with them because they made me feel very comfortable. They gave me space and made me feel like I was part of the team, an important part of our project. We were all one team working towards the same goal, and they created a safe environment that made it easy for me to fit in. I think it was amazing, and I learned so much from them.”
Looking at her filmography, she shares that every time she picks up a project, she aims for substantial roles. Though she has played good cameos in some great movies, she feels the projects she’s been a part of are significant because, she says, “of the good teams I worked with, whether it’s “Toilet: Ek Prem Katha” or “Tandav.” They had a good team and a very good script. The second thing is, even if my character has just one or two scenes, those are my scenes. I mean, in those scenes, I have the scope for performance, and I believe I have to get my foot inside the door. When I came to Bombay, I knew nobody, so my intention in starting to act was to do whatever I could. I wanted to show my work and give a small performance, hoping that people would support me based on that. I wanted them to wonder whether I was an actor. If I’ve mastered my craft and if I’m ready for more performances, I want to work on projects that have meaning, where I can portray the character well, and it helps me explore myself as an actor.”
