MUMBAI: Shweta Tripathi Sharma showed promise as an actor ever since her debut in 2011 with the hit television series Kya Mast Hai Life. She has come a long way since then. Her big recognition came with Masaan in 2015 alongside Vicky Kaushal. 

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There has been no looking back ever since. Breaking away from the conventional choices as an artiste, the talented lass, who has been well armed with the experience of theatre, continued to deliver memorable performances in projects such as Haraamkhor, Gone Kesh, Mirzapur, Cargo, The Gone Game, Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhein and quite recently, Kanjoos Makhichoos.

Incidentally, buoyed by a zest to bring about change, she actually wanted to pursue law at first. “I wanted to be a lawyer because I wanted to make a difference in society. I wanted to be the voice for all those people who couldn’t speak up. I still remember how reading the newspaper affected me so much. It made me want to stand up for those who didn’t have the power, strength, or voice,” she reveals.

But here’s the thing: She also had this hidden desire for acting, even though she came from a family where her dad was an IAS officer and her mom was a teacher. Her sister was into theatre, and that’s what attracted her to it too. 

“My sister and I used to do theatre workshops during the summer, just for fun. We didn’t have any specific goals in mind. And you know what? It taught me that sometimes, not having a clear goal is completely fine. Sometimes, you just do what makes you happy and that helps you grow.”

Shweta’s story from a mere intern to steadily climbing up the ladder and becoming a bankable actress is indeed the kind of success story any outsider would want to emulate. Hailing from Delhi, she wanted to work in Femina and understand what goes on behind the scenes in the world of glamour.

Travelling has been an important part of her journey, both as a person and as an actor. She opens up about how it has had an impact on her and the choices she makes. Soaking in different cultures, cuisines and landscapes has moulded her into what she is today. She advises all young people to take time off to travel before settling in. 

“Even today, I just take off into the wild blue yonder whenever
I have free time. Chaitanya (Sharma), my husband loves to travel as well, so we’re on the same page regarding this. We’ve both been bit by wanderlust.”

Some of her performances in violence-filled shows like Mirzapur and Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhein affected her emotional health. She says she did those projects because they were way out of her comfort zone. 

Comparing the stark difference between her character Golu in Mirzapur and Shikha in Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhein, she says, “It was challenging for a different reason. I love being Golu. But I realised that this girl was not me. I resonated more with Shika, who doesn’t like violence. The loud, over-the-top atmosphere is not pleasant. I knew we were shooting, I knew I would not get hurt and I knew I had a hero who would help me out. She is delicate in a way. Both were challenging because they were away from me as a person.”

Talk about Masaan, and her face lights up. There’s a rollercoaster of emotions attached to Masaan, as it was her breakthrough film. She says she loves to go back to it often and asserts that it’s great for an actor to do an out-of-the-box film early in her career. 

“Numbers don’t excite me. Emotions do. What am I doing next? When my audience sees me, what am I making them feel this time? So if I get a Masaan or a Haraamkhor, I will do it again. I will do it 10 times over. As an actor, that is what I’m chasing — the heart, the soul of the stories of the characters, not budget.”

It is typical to get stereotyped in the industry, and while Shweta doesn’t fear that, she does want to dabble with different genres. Which is why she gave a nod to her last release, Kanjoos Makhichoos, a black comedy in which she starred alongside Kunal Kemmu.

It added another notch to her versatility by teaching her the ropes of comedy. “I was looking at my lineup for the future and thought that this is becoming too serious. Comedy is needed. I realised that I wanted a breather. I put it out in the Universe that I wanted comedy and literally within two weeks, Kanjoos Makhichoos arrived with Kunal Kemmu in tow. He is a gem of a person. Our director, Vipul Mehta, is such a cutie. I just had so much fun with my character. So many people think I’ve done something to my voice while enacting it. It was so much fun doing that film, and I was like, I should do more things like this. Comedy is not easy. I realised I needed to step up my game. I used to ask Kunal after the day’s shoot if there was anything more I could do because he’s an actor I trust. It is also not just about the acting and performance; it is also about how you portray yourself.”

Living with an actor isn’t easy, they say. They’re prone to tantrums and mood swings, and half the time they remain immersed in the character they’re portraying. You sometimes need to walk on eggshells around them, but Shewta says the same isn’t the case with her. 

She mentions that she shares a warm relationship not only with her own family but with her in-laws as well. She shares an anecdote about the same, involving her mother-in-law’s reaction when she returned home after completing Mirzapur. 

“When I entered the house, she hugged me, and said, “Something for Golu?” That hug was not for me, it was for Golu. She’d seen some portions and knew how tough it was to portray that kind of character. And I felt so happy because she was crying as she was moved by Golu. The first hoarding of mine I saw was of Mirzapur. In fact, we all drove around town, counting the hoardings, and were generally going crazy. So that was a huge thing.”

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She has some of her most anticipated sequels coming out soon. She does not reveal much about Mirzapur 3, but lets her excitement speak for itself. “I’m growing with Golu. You know, it’s a journey together, and it’s one of the most challenging roles I’ve played. I’ve gone down the spiral because of Golu, where I didn’t know what was happening to me. Just thinking about it and talking about it makes me emotional. But I love her. She’s so strong,” asserts Shweta. Rounding off the conversation, she says, “I want people to be excited when my trailer comes out. I want to keep surprising people.”

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Credits - Filmfare