Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; September 17, 2019)
Being launched along with a star kid has its share of advantages and disadvantages. Besides the default media glare, there is always a risk of being overshadowed by the coactor. However, Sahher Bambba, who makes her acting debut with Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas (PPDKP) opposite Sunny Deol’s son, Karan, is unfazed by it. She believes that she couldn’t have asked for a better start. In a chat with BT, the Shimla girl talks about the struggle of finding her feet in Mumbai and getting a dream launchpad in Bollywood. Excerpts…
You are a small-town girl from Shimla, with no connections in Bollywood whatsoever. It must have been a tough journey…
Moving to Mumbai (in July 2016) was a big risk, as I didn’t have any friends or relatives here. I had no filmi connection either. Becoming an actor was a far-fetched dream, but it came true; this is what I always aspired to do. Fortunately, my parents have been very supportive. Talking about my struggle, it began from the moment I landed here. I had to secure admission in a good college and then find accommodation, which turned out to be a big problem. I finally found a room, which I shared with eight girls. Travel was another issue since I wasn’t used to travelling in local trains. However, I became accustomed to it soon and would travel regularly from Churchgate to Aram Nagar (Andheri) after college for auditions.
The biggest dilemma was who to meet, and who not to. During this time, I met all kinds of people, including the shady ones, who fooled me by giving me false hopes and promises. They would ask me to audition for ‘soon-to-commence’ projects, which never took off. Fortunately, I didn’t experience any casting couch and my struggle ended in eight months, as I bagged PPDKP.
How did you get selected for PPDKP?
The turning point in my life was winning the Bombay Times Fresh Face (2017) pageant. It gave me a lot of exposure and confidence, helped me overcome stage fright and learn how to face the camera. Winning that pageant was my first sense of achievement. A friend of mine, who also participated in the contest, shared my number with the casting director of PPDKP and I was called for the audition. After several rounds of auditions, I finally bagged the film. I will be eternally grateful to Sunny (Deol, director) sir for the opportunity. I had never imagined that I would do a film opposite his son.
Your debut film has been directed by Sunny Deol. Given that he has a tough and intense onscreen persona, was it intimidating to work with him, especially as a newcomer?
Not at all. Maybe, because I didn’t know what to expect. Besides, our priority was to get the shots right, as the weather (in Himachal Pradesh) was unpredictable. Above everything, Sunny sir is the most gentle and nicest human being I have ever come across. Sometimes, people around him would be scared to go up to him, but I have never felt intimidated by him, not even during our first meeting. He spoke about Shimla and rappelling, and made me feel so comfortable. Besides, it felt like family, as the whole team lived together in Manali for three months. It helped us to know each other better and become comfortable around each other. Every day, sir and the entire team, along with Rocky (Karan Deol’s nick name) and I would go for recce, get acclimatised to the place and hold workshops. Despite the many challenges, the shoot went off smoothly because of Sunny sir’s guidance.
On set, he is a taskmaster and doesn’t settle for anything less than perfect, even if it requires multiple retakes, but off camera, he is completely different and chilled out. With time, I have developed a rapport with him and today, he is like a father figure to me.
Along with you, this film also marks the debut of Karan Deol, who is Sunny’s son. Given his background, did you, at any point, fear being overshadowed by him? Were you apprehensive that it might be projected as his debut film?
Absolutely not. My dream is coming true and I couldn’t have asked for a better debut. Who was getting more limelight was never a concern and I didn’t bother about the screen time at all. It has also got to do with the friendship Rocky and I share. There is absolutely no competition between us. Also, Sunny sir made sure that we were treated equally.
Karan appears to be fairly shy, while you seem to be quite chatty. How did the two of you break the ice and what kind of equation do you share with him now?
Since I was the last person to join the team, it took me some time to become comfortable with them. Rocky and I would talk, but we didn’t become friends overnight. I am glad that we took a month to get to know each other before we became friends. Rocky is very shy, but he is like that only in the first few meetings. In fact, we are very similar — both of us are reserved and speak only when we are spoken to. Over the last two years, we have had our share of ups and downs and fights, but we have come out of it stronger. Today, I know him inside out and he is a friend for life. On the set, he was confident and wasn’t ever affected by the fact that his father was directing him. When I saw Rocky perform stunts, I realised that I was working with Sunny Deol’s son, as action comes naturally to him. I would tell him, ‘You remind me of your father.’
Today, a lot of new-age and unconventional films are being made with newcomers in Bollywood. In such a scenario, do you think being introduced in a quintessential love story is the right choice?
As a viewer, this is a genre that I love watching. I have grown up on quintessential romantic and larger-than-life films laced with songs and dance, like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. I couldn’t have asked for a better genre to make my debut with. Having said that, as an actor, I want to explore all genres and not stick to romcoms.
Becoming an actor was a far-fetched dream, but it came true-Sahher Bambba
