Waheeda Rahman's pro tip for Saiyami Kher

Waheeda Rahman and Saiyami Kher

Armed with the acclaim she has received for her SonyLiv series, Faadu, Saiyami Kher gears up for multiple releases in 2023. Her upcoming slate includes R Balki's Ghoomer, with Abhishek Bachchan, an Anurag Kashyap production, and Excel Entertainment's drama film with Pratik Gandhi.

Gradually ticking off names from her list of directors she desires to work with, Kher admits she's come a long way since 2016, when several folk had written her off following the debacle of her debut film, Mirziya. Her trick to find her space in the industry, she says, is selecting intriguing characters that can display her versatility. "Waheeda Rahman ji told me something that I believe is among the best compliments I have received. She said, ‘You are choosing different roles each time. This is something I used to look out for during my prime as well.' I wish to lead different lives, and I hope they get meatier." Her diktat of choosing meaty characters, she says, can only be relaxed if she is presented offers from Zoya Akhtar, Vikramditya Motwane, Neeraj Ghaywan, Vishal Bhardwaj, or Imtiaz Ali.

Introverted as she is, she also finds acting to be an outlet for her emotions. "I like being on a film set because acting is therapeutic for me. There are times when things happen in life, but you are unable to express your feelings. There's a lot that's built up within me, so I use the angst, sorrow, happiness, and jealousy to bring out better performances."

Also Read: Saiyami Kher opens up about her role in 'Faadu: A Love Story'

Balki's Ghoomer, she says, made her tap into "really dark spaces of my mind". "He is the most intelligent director I have spent time with, and the film has been emotionally challenging." Rahul Dholakia's Agni, which features an ensemble cast including Gandhi, and Sai Tamhankar, sees Kher as a fire-fighter.