In an exclusive interview with The Pioneer, actress Puja Sharma opens up about her inspiring journey from Cuttack to the silver screen, making her big-screen debut with Mission Grey House
Tejal Sinha
Making her big-screen debut with Mission Grey House, actress Puja Sharma is ready to captivate audiences with her compelling portrayal of a fearless cop. Having already made a mark in the entertainment industry through ad films and popular television shows like Choti Sardarni and Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, as well as web series such as Johri and Dus June Ki Raat, Puja’s journey from Cuttack, Odisha, to the silver screen is nothing short of inspiring.
Initially, a career in entertainment was never part of her plans. Moving to Mumbai for her studies, Puja aspired to enter the corporate world. However, her adventurous spirit and eagerness to explore new opportunities led her down an unexpected yet rewarding path in acting and modeling.
“Since childhood, I always wanted to learn horse riding, kickboxing, and be aware of everything around me, which wouldn’t have been possible in my hometown,” she shares in this exclusive chat with The Pioneer.
Her entry into acting was purely accidental. “A casting director approached me, and that’s when I got to know how things work in acting and modeling,” says Puja. Initially hesitant about how her family would react, she found unwavering support in her sister-in-law. Encouraged, she participated in a beauty pageant – just for fun – only to emerge as the winner.
The victory brought unexpected recognition. “My story was published in newspapers, including my hometown’s local press, and people started congratulating my parents. When I went back home, I was even felicitated by my school,” she recalls. That moment made her realise she wanted to pursue a career in entertainment rather than the corporate world.
Upon returning to Mumbai, she actively sought opportunities in acting and modeling. “I got my first break in an ad film, and that’s how things started out for me,” she adds.
Every project she has worked on has contributed to her growth as an actor. While Choti Sardarni is widely known as her television debut, she reveals, “I haven’t told this in any of my previous interviews, but before Choti Sardarni, I had worked on a web show in Goa. It never got released, and honestly, now I don’t want it to,” she laughs. “Back then, I was a fresh actor with no knowledge of anything.”
Her role in Choti Sardarni was emotionally intense. “It was a very ‘bechari’ type role, full of rona-dhona, and I learned a lot about performing emotional scenes there,” she explains.
Switching gears, she played a humorous role in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah as Popatlal’s love interest. “When you see actors on-screen, you don’t realize how they work, but on set, you observe everything. Watching Popatlal, I noticed how his expressions would instantly change when the director said ‘action’ and then go back to normal once the shot was over. In real life, he is an introverted person, which is so different from what we see on TV,” she shares.
Her versatility continued with Dus June Ki Raat, where she played a drug addict, and Johri, where she portrayed a love interest. “Both were fun and enriching experiences,” says Puja. Now, with Mission Grey House, she steps into yet another unique role.
For her, Mission Grey House is a dream come true. “Every actor dreams of seeing themselves on the big screen, and I feel so lucky to get this opportunity so soon in my career,” she says excitedly.
Playing a cop was particularly thrilling for her. “I used to watch Chandramukhi Chautala as a kid, and I always felt that, given my height, I should play a cop at least once,” she shares. However, her height initially posed challenges. “In television, most lead actresses are of short height, and I was often told that my height was too much-more than the lead actor’s. I always thought I’d only get to play an inspector’s role, and I didn’t realize it was something I had manifested until I got this role in Mission Grey House,” she says.
Her character in the film is a determined and confident officer who will stop at nothing to complete her mission. “She’s fearless and driven, which I relate to in real life as well,” says Puja. In the film, veteran actor Rajesh Sharma plays her father, who assigns her and the lead actor to investigate a mysterious house where multiple murders have occurred.
To prepare for the physical and emotional demands of the role, Puja underwent rigorous training. “I joined the gym to get physically fit and took action classes where I learned kickboxing. Though my character doesn’t have a lot of action sequences, I worked hard to perfect the ones I had,” she explains.
One of the most cherished experiences from the shoot was working with Rajesh Sharma. “One day, I was exhausted from the heat and was sitting in my makeup room. He walked in, recited some shayari, and asked his spot boy to bring me buttermilk and nimbu paani. His positivity as a co-actor and a senior actor made a big impact on me,” she recalls fondly.
While many cop dramas focus solely on the professional aspects of the role, she emphasizes that her character in Mission Grey House has multiple layers. “She’s not just a cop – there are so many different aspects to her personality, which makes this role special,” she explains.
Looking ahead, Puja is eager to explore more genres – especially horror. “I haven’t done horror yet, but it excites me the most. I’ve actually completed a web series based on paranormal activities, which is currently in post-production,” she reveals.
