Alankrita Sahai has never been one to fit into a box. From beginning her journey as a beauty queen and model to carving a space for herself across films, OTT and music videos, the actor has steadily evolved with every role. Having explored varied characters in projects like Namaste England, Sacred Games and Made in Heaven, she is now more instinctive about the stories she wants to be part of. Beyond the glamour, Alankrita is keen to challenge perceptions, embrace complex female characters and let her work speak for itself. In this conversation, she reflects on ambition, agency and evolution.
Your latest release feels like another interesting step in the choices you’ve been making. What was it about this project and this character that made you say yes?
What drew me to the project was the character’s emotional journey. She wasn’t someone who could be understood in a single glance or defined by one quality. There were layers to her strength, vulnerability, contradictions and a very human side that I connected with.
I’ve reached a stage where I want to be part of stories that stay with people after they’ve watched them. This project gave me the opportunity to explore something different and work with people who were genuinely passionate about the story, so saying yes felt very natural.
You’ve moved quite fluidly between films, OTT and music videos over the years. Do you feel you’re finally at a point where you’re choosing roles purely for the actor in you, rather than the opportunity?
I think I’m becoming more instinctive with my choices. Earlier, I was grateful for every opportunity and rightly so but now I understand myself better as an actor. I know what excites me, what challenges me and what kind of work I want to invest my time and energy in.
Of course, the scale and visibility of a project matter, but they’re not the only deciding factors anymore. The character, the writing and the people involved are equally important. I want to choose work that allows me to grow rather than simply be seen.
From Namaste England to Sacred Games, Made in Heaven and the more recent work you’ve taken on, there’s been a gradual shift in the kind of characters you play. How conscious has that evolution been?
It has been both conscious and organic. When you’re starting out, you’re still learning about the industry and trying to understand where you fit in. With time, you become more aware of the kind of stories you want to tell and the kind of characters you want to represent.
I’ve always wanted to avoid repeating myself. Even when the roles have been different in scale or format, I’ve tried to take something away from each experience. The evolution has come from growing as a person as much as growing as an actor.
You started your journey in the spotlight as a beauty queen and model before moving into acting. Was there ever a point when you felt you had to work harder to be taken seriously as an actor?
Yes, I think that perception does exist. When people first see you through the lens of beauty, fashion or glamour, they sometimes assume that you may not have the depth or discipline required for acting. I’ve never taken that personally, but I have understood that the best way to change that perception is through my work.
I’ve always believed that credibility has to be earned over time. Every character, every set and every performance has taught me something. I didn’t want to argue that I was serious about acting I wanted the work to speak for me.
You’ve spoken about wanting to explore characters with more depth and substance. What is the one kind of role that you still feel people haven’t seen you do?
I would love to play a deeply flawed, complicated woman who is not necessarily looking for approval or redemption. Someone who makes difficult choices, sometimes gets things wrong and still has the freedom to be fully human. I want to play a cop too.
I’m also drawn to characters who go through a strong internal transformation. It could be a woman from any background or profession, but I would love for the role to demand something emotionally and psychologically challenging from me.
Looking back at your early work, is there anything you would tell that younger Alankrita about navigating the industry and handling rejection?
I would tell her not to take rejection as a judgment on her worth. In this industry, a rejection can happen for so many reasons someone may be looking for a different age, appearance, energy or interpretation. It doesn’t always mean that you weren’t good enough.
I would also tell her to be patient and not compare her journey with anyone else’s. The industry can make you feel like everything has to happen immediately, but every person has a different timeline. Stay prepared, keep learning and don’t lose your sense of self while trying to become successful.
You’ve also been quite vocal about women having agency over their choices, both personally and professionally. Has your understanding of that changed as you’ve grown older?
Definitely. Earlier, I saw agency mainly as the freedom to make your own decisions. Today, I also understand it as having the confidence to live with those decisions without constantly seeking validation.
Women are often expected to explain or justify their choices whether it’s their career, relationships, appearance or lifestyle. With age, I’ve realised that agency also means knowing when not to explain yourself. It means understanding your boundaries, negotiating fairly and choosing what brings you peace and purpose.
There’s often an assumption that being glamorous and being a serious actor exist on opposite ends of the spectrum. Have you ever felt boxed in by your appearance?
I have felt that assumption, yes. Glamour is only one aspect of a person, but people sometimes mistake it for a complete identity. Looking a certain way doesn’t determine how seriously you take your craft or how much emotional depth you can bring to a role.
I don’t believe I should have to choose between being glamorous and being a serious actor. Women are complex and multifaceted. We can be confident, stylish, vulnerable, ambitious and flawed all at once and our characters should be allowed to reflect that too.
At this stage in your journey, what matters more to you, being part of a big project or being part of a project that genuinely challenges you?
A project that genuinely challenges me. A big project can offer visibility, but a meaningful role can change you as an actor and sometimes even as a person.
I’m interested in the kind of work that makes me nervous in a good way work that requires preparation, emotional honesty and a willingness to step outside my comfort zone. If a challenging project also reaches a large audience, that’s wonderful, but the challenge comes first for me.
If you look at Alankrita Sahai today versus the girl who entered the industry with a completely different idea of what this journey would look like, what has surprised you the most?
What has surprised me most is how unpredictable the journey has been. When I entered the industry, I had a fairly clear idea of how things would unfold, but the reality has been much more layered. There have been unexpected opportunities, disappointments, lessons and moments that have pushed me to grow in ways I hadn’t anticipated.
I’ve also surprised myself with how resilient I can be. The journey hasn’t always looked the way I imagined, but it has taught me to trust myself more. Today, I’m less focused on controlling every outcome and more focused on doing honest work and continuing to evolve.
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: filmfare.com
