Soundarya Sharma, who made waves after her appearance in the hit reality show Bigg Boss 16, will soon make her Bollywood debut with Akshay Kumar and other A-listers in Housefull 5.
In an exclusive conversation with Money Control, Sundarya told us about her 'dream debut' and that she waited for the right opportunity with patience. Soudarya further revealed that in the mean time she also worked hard on her acting skills and undertook an acting course.
Soundarya is a qualified dentist and is from Delhi, but she shifted her base to Mumbai to be a part of the film industry. Her acting is like 'oxygen' and she says she is thankful to God and her God sister Wardha Khan Nadiadwala for giving her this opportunity.
Soundarya said initially her parents were worried about her, but now they are very supportive and are sure she has a long way to go. Soundarya says while she was in the Bigg Boss house, she had to say no to many big projects, but after coming out, she didn't want to rush into anything and waited for the right opportunity to come her way.
She then bagged her first big ad with Vimal Elaichi, where she was seen along with three superstars of the industry: Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Akshay Kumar. Not many know, but the actress said she didn't even tell her parents about it and waited for it to go on air as things were on a standstill for long.
The actress is now in a happy space and is also in talks for two more big projects and said she can't wait to share them with her fans and the world.
Excerpts from the interview:
Dream opportunity
It's like a dream opportunity. We all have grown up watching them. I mean, this line sounds so cliche, but then that's true. Right? As a kid, I used to dance to Housefull songs. Mhmm. Little did I know that one day I would be one of the leads of household 5. House, you know? So this is a dream opportunity. It is a dream come true. I didn't know that I would ever be part of such a huge movie, and God is so kind. It's a great experience right from just being featured in an ad opposite the greatest superstars (Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, and Ajay Devgn) to be working alongside and opposite Akshay sir. It's a great feeling and amazing actors and, you know, talented actors around me. We've always seen them.
'God Sister' Wardha Khan Nadiadwala believed in me
I must thank my producers for this, especially my god sister, Wardha Khan Nadiadwala. I'm so grateful for her having believed in me. I'm the first one who has a God sister to thank and thank God for her. She's so amazing. She saw me in Big Boss, and she loved me. She saw my show and also saw the ad. I was like, bro, what is this? And then she would call and say, Oh, we're going to sign you for Housefull 5. So, you know, it takes at least one person on this planet to believe in you. Alone, you can't do anything. She is that person who held my hand and said, You deserve this. I'm, of course, thankful to God for bringing all that opportunity together, but greatly to her, like my producers.
Thanks to the ad with Ajay, Akshay, and SRK
If I hadn't done that, I wouldn't be working in Housefull 5. This is what I can tell you. Because I think you should be known for your work. People had seen enough of me for five months. I was going to do a very big project, which has become, like, a very big project right now. I had let go of that project because I stayed inside the Bigg Boss. I had in my mind I was just going for, like, 3 or 4 weeks because I've never done community living. I don't know how to fight with people. I've never seen Big Boss in my life. It's just because my dad and mom decided—you know, they're reaching out to you. Why don't you go and do this and that? You know how parents are. They don't understand the vision because I don't come from that kind of family where I have the support system for, like, in terms of work. Yeah. So they knew little about the industry, and they were like, This is the only way.
You don't have a support system. At that time too, there were a lot of opportunities I let go of. Thankfully, I consciously decided. With so much difficulty and a heavy heart, I used to let go of work, and it was so difficult to convince your parents because they ask you what's next.
Conscious decision to stay away from public eye after Bigg Boss
It was a conscious decision not to do anything random. And I knew that I'd shot for an ad, which is, like, opposite 3 superstars. So for me, I was very calculative strategy or calculation, jo kaam aata hai vo karna hota hai, halaan ki maine apne dil ki suni, you know, mujhe bahut kuch bola ja raha tha uss time pe, karlo phir yeh time wapas nhi aaeyga, phir koi baad mein kaam nhi dega, but mujhe yeh lagta tha itne sarey log itna kuch kar rahe hai aur unko koi yaad nhi rakhta, rather do something for which you are remembered.
Worth the wait
It was worth it. For me, I am pursuing this for my passion. I'm already a dentist. So that way, God is kind, and I mean, it's not like if I don't succeed in movies then I won't have any work. But for me, acting is like my life—I need it as bad as I need oxygen. For me, I'm that passionate about this work. I had to just do acting, and I want people to remember me as a good actor. It's very important for me to do something that makes me happy.
Working with Akshay, SRK and Ajay Devgn
It's humongous to just share the screen space with among the 3 superstars of our country today. So it was really a difficult decision. Ki aap mujhe aur kuch nhi karna hai, yeh aagyaa hai, vo bhi raato raat hua tha, its not like ki maine mehnat nahi ki, manifest kiya maine, din raat I've worked hard to go about it, I have worked hard towards how to go about it. I believed in myself when nobody did. Mujhe kitna bolte they mere ghar mein he bolte they, forget about others. So everyone used to tell you how much gyan they gave you. Don't do this. Do this. They don't give you work, but they give you free ka gyan.
My parents were skeptical initially
Honestly, that way, initially,jo mere mom dad ka skepticism tha industry ke liye, sirf vo he tha, uske baad toh mujhe support he mila hai, but after getting that, they were worried. Ki bhai, what next? Why aren't you doing it? And plus even your friends, even the people you meet, the directors. Because suddenly, they think that you are there, and because of them. Then you're going up to the ladder, sabko own up karna hai vo, which is okay, which is fine. But mujhe lagta hai ki agar app kise k sapne toh badha nahi skte na toh, don't belittle the person. Toh mujhe vo bahot cheez ho rahi thi beech mein, ki tum aab nhi krogi toh kab karog, you have the potential. You have that quintessential heroic material, but it's not them who are giving me work.
Tough competition from influencers
If you see back 10 years or 8 years from now. Uss time pe bhi aasan tha, abhi itne infulencers hai, itna competition hai, saray star kids mere sath aagaye hai, influencers competition. In today's scenario, the social media world to make a space for yourself is something I don't know how to express that feeling. It's very difficult.
Thankful to God for this opportunity
more than butterflies. I'm so grateful. Mein subha uthke pehle bhagwan ji ko hath jodti hoon aur mein bolti hoon. Thank you, bolti hoon. Thank you for showing me this day. Thank you for letting my parents enjoy this, that I'm capable. Ek hota hai na ek aapko khud ko proof karna hota hai proof. Constantly, you've been proved wrong. Ki iska toh dimag kharab hai, isko kon samjha raha tha. You know how parents are. So challenge at least that she's doing something right. So God is kind, and, yes, hopefully, if all goes well, maybe in December, we'll be talking again for a big announcement.
Soundarya was seen in Ranchi Diaries and Thank God, but she became a sensation after her participation in Salman Khan hosted reality show Bigg Boss 16. She has also worked in a few OTT shows such as Raktanchal and Karm Yuddh.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
