Banita Sandhu, renowned for her role as Shiuli in October, mesmerised fans anew as Miss Malhotra in Bridgerton. In an exclusive interview with indianexpress.com, she delved into the workings of both industries and teased what lies ahead in her career.
Reel life often takes inspiration from real life, but many acclaimed movies and shows fall short when it comes to representation. Even today, people of different ethnicities and races, from various gender identities, and disability identities do not find as much prominence in stories—like in our real lives—as they should. Truly inclusive content helps people expand their perspectives on different cultures, societal norms, identities, and even themselves.
At such a time, despite the limited screen time, Banita Sandhu’s portrayal of Miss Sita Malhotra in one of the biggest Netflix shows—Bridgerton Season 3—has been met with excitement.
In an interview with indianexpress.com, Sandhu spoke about her journey from her first big role in Shoojit Sircar’s October opposite Varun Dhawan, to joining the fancy world of Bridgerton. Here are the edited excerpts:
Q: How does it feel being a part of such a popular show?
Banita Sandhu: It’s the biggest show on the planet right now. Joining a Shondaland production, being a part of the world of Bridgerton was a no-brainer. Being dressed in those stunning costumes felt magical. Everything about it felt so right, and I’m so glad I took it. It was a wonderful experience, and I’ll cherish these memories forever.
Q: What was it like joining an already established cast?
Banita Sandhu: I think it was really warm and inviting on set. Everyone was incredibly welcoming. We’d hang out together, enjoy our time offset, and connect. This made the whole experience so much more enjoyable and helped ease any initial nerves I had about fitting in with the rest of the cast.
Q: How was your experience working on a such a stunning set?
Banita Sandhu: I have never seen anything like it. We were shooting in actual palaces. Everything from the set design to the costumes and even the hair and makeup was on point. Seeing it all come together in real life was another surprise for me because when you watch the show, you’re always wondering how much is real and not real, and I can tell you ninety five per cent of it is real. I got to experience that firsthand.
Q: Did you wish to keep Miss Malhotra’s costumes?
Banita Sandhu: I adored all the Regency-era outfits. But personally, the gown with the pink ruffles and sleeves stood out for me. Initially, I doubted the colour would not pop well on screen, but when I saw it, the pink just burst through
Q: If you had the chance to marry one of the characters from the Bridgerton series yourself, who would you choose?
Banita Sandhu: Benedict Bridgerton! He’s the only one currently unattached, after all.
Q: What are the similarities and differences between working in shows and films in the United Kingdom (UK) and in Bollywood?
Banita Sandhu: The filmmaking process is kind of similar but they are worlds apart.
Bollywood is super organised. They really stick to their schedules. It might look like chaos, but it’s organised chaos where everything just clicks into place. A 12-hour shoot in Bollywood is always going to be exactly that – they’re so timely.
In the UK, they like to see people a lot and do multiple auditions, which is their way of making sure everyone is the right fit. It’s more about working your way up, slowly building your career. But in India, it’s different. From what I noticed, Bollywood is super star-focused. There’s this huge thing about big stars debuting out of nowhere and becoming the next big thing overnight. It’s less about climbing the ladder and more about having that star power right from the start.
Q: What are your next dream roles or which genre do you want to try next?
Banita Sandhu: I am leaning towards portraying complex villainous characters, who are more grey and devious, a departure from my previous roles as sweet and simple women in Indian cinema. I have a keen interest in exploring comedy as well. Crying on camera is relatively easy, but mastering comedic timing is a skill one either possesses or lacks and I really want to try it.
I am currently shooting an action film but I like continuously switching genres to challenge myself creatively.
Q: Any recent Bollywood films you watched and wanted to be a part of?
Banita Sandhu: I really liked Crew, which is a comedy film. I would love to have been part of the film, possibly as the fourth member of the team.
Q: How do you navigate your presence on social media?
Banita Sandhu: It does dominate a huge part of my daily routine from the moment I wake up to when I go to bed. Despite utilising a tracker to monitor my screen time and recognising the need for breaks, I find it challenging. I am trying to balance boundaries to protect my mental health, and maintain a healthy daily routine.
Q: What are your thoughts on paparazzi culture?
Banita Sandhu: I am living outside the city of Mumbai in a quieter environment with my family and this has shielded me from the intense scrutiny that many celebrities face. When I do venture into the public eye or attend events, the paparazzi have generally respected my wishes not to be photographed, and this respectful interaction led me to realise that social media is far more invasive than the paparazzi.
Q: Any valuable lessons you have learned from co-stars or other celebrities you have worked with?
Banita Sandhu: During the premiere of October, Varun Dhawan used to tell me this industry is half creativity, half business, and I have been trying to follow this advice and lean onto the business side of the industry. My job is to be an actress, playing diverse characters, but the business side of the industry requires significant attention and effort. This often demands more time and energy than the creative process itself.
