In the ever-evolving landscape of Indian cinema, a new star is on the horizon, commanding attention with her exceptional talent and captivating presence. Amaara Sangam, a name that has begun to resonate with versatility and depth in acting, has graced the screen in Homi Adajania’s latest cinematic venture, ‘Murder Mubarak’. This highly anticipated movie, which also stars Sara Ali Khan, Pankaj Tripathi, Karisma Kapoor, and Vijay Verma, was released on March 15.
Amaara, whose career has been on a meteoric rise, was last seen captivating audiences in Ajay Devgn’s enthralling web series ‘Rudra – Edge of Darkness’. Her portfolio, rich with diverse roles, includes standout performances in the likes of ‘Luvdown’ on Hotstar and ‘Sanak – Ek Junoon’ on MX Player. Amaara’s versatility doesn’t end with the big screen or digital series; she has also mesmerized viewers in the music video domain with hits such as ‘Maira’ by the renowned duo Salim-Sulaiman and ‘Aadat’ by Shefali Alvares.
In an exclusive interview with News18 Showsha, Amaara Sangam got candid about her experience working with a stellar cast in Murder Mubarak, her acting career and more.
Here are the excerpts:
Can you share how you’re feeling about your upcoming role in Homi Adajania’s “Murder Mubarak” and what drew you to this project?
I am excited and nervous. I hope that people love it as much as I loved working on it. But I tell myself that it’s Homi sir, it’s Netflix, it’s the huge ensemble of iconic actors and stars, it’s got drama, thriller, love, music, comedy..the complete recipe for mainstream superhit. So logically I know it will be received very well. But ofcourse, as an actor who is part of a bigger ensemble, I’m curiously nervous about how my character and the performance looks after edits, how it will impact my future and career in the industry and just general excited nerves of being part of something bigger than me.
Without giving too much away, could you tell us a little about your character in Murder Mubarak and how you prepared for this role?
My character is called Minu. Minu is this young girl working as a barista in the elite Delhi club where the story is set. Homi sir encouraged me to add character nuances. Like you’ll often see her blowing her nose and crying about things etc etc. To the extent that I improvised things in a scene and both, Pankaj sir and Homi sir complimented me and made it a character nuance. Was talking to Panchmi, my casting director, after and she was so proud that I had this moment on set. And you’ll see it in the film. I hope it’s equally memorable for audiences but it was a special moment for me.
The look itself was something I have never done before. Noodle hair and staff costume beautiful designed by Venessa’s team Basudha & Ashi, and Anaita’s team Pranal, Amoli..is very different from me. I have fairly straight hair. So it would take my hair stylist an hour everyday to noodle curl my hair so it looks like its natural. In fact, it came to a point where one day Homi sir realised I don’t actually naturally have noodle hair and was shocked I did that everyday. Everyone in crew thought I had noodle hair. I’m fairly sure many of my friends and family won’t be able to recognise me in the film. It’s such a fun experience when you get to transform your look and personality. She almost comes across naive. But is she really? You’ll have to watch the film for that.
The prep for a character is the most fun part always. I am trained in many different techniques and my most comfortable is the Eric Morris system which I learnt from Daminee Benny Basu (The Class Act Commune). I spent time using the technique to develop truth in my character and performance. I also visited cafés, talked to baristas about their lives, understood the sociology of how class difference, aspirations and dignity of labour in our country impacts the psychology of someone like Minu, empathised with the people and their stories – And that’s how I let it grow on me. It was a proud moment when both Pankaj sir and Homi sir complimented me for a scene I was doing with Pankaj sir. And that validation was proof of when you work sincerely and shamelessly hard and enjoy the process, then in front of the camera we can let go and let that magic happen.
Working alongside stars like Sara Ali Khan, Pankaj Tripathi, Karisma Kapoor, and Vijay Verma must have been an enriching experience. Could you share one of your favourite moments from the set?
My most favourite was all my conversations with Pankaj sir. Every chat with him was adding a new leaf of wisdom to my acting career. He is so humble and wise, and I would keep asking him deep meaningful questions with genuine want to learn from him and he would patiently engage and share such pearls of wisdom!! He would only speak in hindi. Everytime he would finish and say ‘Agla question agle episode mein.’ We would find those little moments between takes and it was a surreal for me and extremely enriching time.
With Murder Mubarak releasing on Netflix, how do you feel about the growing trend of movies premiering on digital platforms, and what impact do you think this has on actors and the industry?
I used to do theatre in London for almost a decade when I was growing up there. My career on screen started during Covid. I was casting for Gehraiyaan, which was Deepika Padukone’s OTT debut! And now part of a film that has Sara who is a theatrical A-lister star, a Vijay Verma who has built career in OTT and Pankaj Tripathi who found his big break on OTT and now is a crowd puller in theatres as well. And all of us directed by the theatrical superhit director Homi Adjania! It has brought the biggest of A-listers stars to OTT and many talented actors who have curated their fame on OTT, and a rebirth to many actors who were stuck in stereotypical roles in massy theatrical releases. And one thing I can tell you though is, it’s not always hard for a nobody actor to enter the industry but it is very challenging to sustain ourselves. Our personal privileges definitely play a huge part in our careers. But with films releasing on OTT it’s given hope to many that may be they stand a chance here. Now we get to experience working in films and in web shows, without having to wait for that one producer who will take us on depending on how big a star we are. Instead people do look at craft potential, among other things. There’s more structure to the industry and quality check for content. Great time to hold on to our hopes while being strategic about how the industry is quickly changing.
Reflecting on your role in Ajay Devgn’s web series ‘Rudra – Edge of Darkness’, how do you think your acting has evolved since then?
I used to work as a data analyst. So I naturally pick up patterns and trends in a space. And my observation tells me, an acting career is 60% business and 40% craft. With every project I do, I definitely understand the workings of the business of acting better, while actively working on my craft with discipline. Rudra was a thriller too but I was a victim. In Murder Mubarak, I could be a suspect, could not be too. So very different prep style although technique is the same at core, to bring utmost believability. But I do think I understand the technique better now. And that’s natural when you practice acting like you practice any art. More nuances and clarity reveals to you. Also Rudra was a webshow. This is a film, which feels like an upgrade because traditionally Indian audiences mostly watched films. So, I feel like my acting ki dukaan is growing. It’s now a small showroom. Not just a kirana shop. Haha.
What did you take away in terms of learning from Rudra? Can you recall the kind of atmosphere you got from the sets of that series?
The most important was I learnt to be so calm in intense scenes. The set can be quiet in a story like that. When I was doing a Rudra, I spent 10y on stage and 2y in front of camera camera. On Rudra sets, my anxiety found a safe space in front of camera as I saw how my director, my costar and the working of a set.
From Luvdown to Sanak – Ek Junoon, and now “Murder Mubarak” on Netflix, you’ve been part of projects across different platforms. How do you choose your projects, and is there a particular genre you’re looking forward to exploring?
Its fairly early in my career to be too choosy or picky, to be honest. It’s a privilege a young actor working actor in India trying to pay bills and survive the industry – doesn’t have. I seek opportunities to act and when I get them, I embrace them with open arms and immense gratitude and sincerity. But I do have 5 parameters for my projects – either the character makes me excited to explore and empathise with human parts I would love to express, or I love the story, or I really want to work with the director/ coactors/ production house or I just really want to be on a set or need the money if anything! If it meets any one or more of these criterias, I entertain or pursue the project. As you see, I’m very methodical with my approach. But above all, eventually I end up following my gut. I truly believe my inner intelligence is bigger than any pragmatic approach and it makes me fairly spontaneous.
Music videos like “Maira” and “Aadat” feature you in a different light compared to movies and series. Can you talk about your experience in the music video industry and how it complements your acting career?
Music videos for me are just another medium to play a character. Maira was a fun affable character who walks away from her love, and Aadat was powerful hurt wife dealing with her husband’s infidelity and goes through a grief cycle of anger, depression and acceptance by walking away. I don’t see it as a different process, to be honest. I build a story and live that to complete believability. The only technical difference is it’s a shorter shoot, the character and story arch is experienced in a shorter time and very quickly. And of course, I do understand the music industry is a different beast of its own. But for me it’s not a complimentary track to my acting career but it is my acting career. I am still acting.
Every actor faces their own set of challenges and experiences significant growth. Could you share a challenge you’ve encountered in your career and how you overcame it?
So many! I think Actors are a culmination of their hardships. I certainly am. We face rejections every single day like no other career and still have to show up like we own the world. We don’t work all the time but have to look worth a million dollar often. These are just some of the juxtapositions built into the career choice I have made. My biggest hardship is also where I utilise my biggest strength. I think every actor who doesn’t come from a financially supported background has had times where you have nothing left in your account. I had 230₹ left on me not so long ago. I have debts and responsibilities that are above my neck. And have had financial anxiety over time. But I continue to overcome it by working hard and not putting all my eggs in one basket. My strength is discipline and systematic thinking. I am obsessively good at time management and at any given times I am doing multiple other roles of being a founder of The Acting Biz or a consultant to brands or working as a producer or teaching at universities or speaking at conferences or anchoring – I earn from multiple sources, so I never depend on Acting to pay my bills while still pursuing it full time. I approach my acting career like a business I am investing and any returns I get, I reinvest into running my acting business and sustaining it. That’s exactly why I prefer to be called an actorpreneur instead of just an actor. It’s a business I run where I am the product. Currently I am at start up stage, not pre revenue anymore but still margins are low even if revenue is high. Not broken even yet but getting close. Being a female actor is a high maintenance job. (You see why I love watching shark tank from all over the world. I love to speak shark tank).
Looking forward, what are some goals or aspirations you have for your career? Are there any directors or actors you’re particularly keen to work with?
My parents, Bandita Sangam and Devi Prasad, are humble, loving people whose love language is service. I don’t have the privilege to sit still and savour my wins. I am fiercely ambitious and not afraid to work hard for it, so, I am hustling hard these days. My immediate goals in the future right now are intertwined with focusing on serving my parents, giving my dog ‘Cuddles’ her best life possible, and continuing to make them all proud of me by serving every project I am part of, with utmost passion and sincerity. And lastly, serving my fellow actors’ community through my venture ‘The Acting Biz (TAB)’ where we workshop about the business side of acting for aspirant actors. The workshop is called MBA – Masterclass in Business of Acting. How all of that happens will depend on how the magic pans out. But something I learnt from Pankaj sir, is this idea of small dreams and enjoying the wander after. I want to live in the now, do my best NOW, work with inspiring people and give every audition, every interaction my authentic best version, without any regrets, knowing I gave it my very best I could in that moment. I like to keep life simple that way. Ofcourse, I want to work with all the who’s who’s of our industry who tell inspiring stories to challenging stories to shamelessly entertaining stories. I want to work them all. But I want to let life happen. The one thing I know is I want to be a trailblazer, and pave my own career. So I look forward to warmly welcoming all that my career holds for me in the future.