In an unique dialog with ETimes, Lehar spoke candidly about her expertise of working with Shah Rukh Khan, director Atlee, Vijay Sethupathi and Nayanthara in Jawan, her journey, her greatest assist methods and mentors within the movie trade.
You might be one of many few members of SRK’s crew who has been highlighted within the Jawan trailer…
It was clearly very surprising as a result of we hadn’t even seen the prevue earlier than it was launched. So we have been all very completely satisfied to see ourselves as a result of we thought it was going to be extra of the primary reduce of the trailer and will probably be concerning the hero, the entire aura of the character he’s bringing in. So it felt good. The truth is, it’s nonetheless very unbelievable that I’m on the display with Shah Rukh Khan. It was simply superb.
How did you land your position on this movie?
So I had an interview. I used to be referred to as for a gathering. I went to Purple Chillies workplace to satisfy Atlee sir and after assembly him I feel precisely 3 days after it was my birthday, 4th July and I had an audition on fifth. And on the sixth, I bought a name that you just bought the movie. It has by no means occurred earlier than as a result of they normally take no less than per week. So after I bought the decision in a day, I simply went in to inform my mother. Each of us have been leaping as a result of we each are like the largest followers of Shah Rukh sir.
Is that this your first time with Shah Rukh Khan?
No, no. This can be my second movie technically with Shah Rukh sir as a result of I used to be in Brahmastra however I did not work together with him actually. I could not meet him as a result of I did not get the character with him. I did not know when the subsequent mission with him could be. I feel internally I positively was manifesting it as a result of a really massive a part of my coronary heart was damaged. I knew he was enjoying a scientist and we did not meet him, so it was an enormous heartbreak.
So did you get an opportunity to work together with him in Jawan?
Yeah. We’re his ladies and he’s our chief. I had quite a lot of interactions with him. I keep in mind very effectively I had quite a lot of props in my palms and my collar was uneven for the shot. The costume crew was supposed to return in and repair it. However then he got here in and glued my collar. This was very pure to him however in my head I used to be like, ‘oh my god, oh my god.’ He’s that candy. So he simply set the whole lot and I checked out him and I used to be like. ‘thanks’ and he was like, ‘don’t fret simply give your shot properly.’ I used to be like ‘okay cool’. He’s that individual on set who makes everyone very snug and he’s so heat. He provides the perfect hug each time he is available in. You are feeling like you’re so welcomed on the set. That is one factor that stays in me.
And the way was your expertise with Atlee, Vijay Sethupathi and Nayanthara?
I’ll begin with Atlee sir. Working with him is an enormous factor. I’ve watched his movies. Once I bought to know that I’m working with him, we thought he could be completely different, however he has a really affectionate character. He’s very expressive in displaying gratitude in his work and behavior with everyone. He can be grateful and grateful to everyone equally. I like him rather a lot and dealing with him was an excellent expertise. As a director, he’s very affected person. He offers you inputs, he’ll see what you usher in. He is sort of a mix of each. It was very passable working in such an setting.
About Vijay sir, I noticed his movie Tremendous Deluxe and since then I’ve been following him like a mad individual. He’s a really shy and really quiet character, very well mannered, very light. He has a really playful course of. He stays in his character. I keep in mind he was there in a single place, I simply went to him and he referred to as me ma’am. He has a lot politeness and respect. As an artist, it was a really, very fulfilling expertise.
About Nayanthara, I used to be in awe of her. Her entire persona, her aura is so robust and she or he could be very candy. Together with her, you discover a sure inspiration in some actress to stay up for. That is one thing I actually wish to obtain. I favored her rather a lot and she or he is equally candy throughout our interactions.
How did you put together for this position because it entails motion?
Really, I ready rather a lot for Brahmastra as a result of I used to be enjoying a superhero. For six months, we did MMA, private physique coaching as a result of I used to be additionally very chubby at the moment. Whereas I used to be doing my audition for Jawan, they have been asking for bodily health for motion. So I informed them about my preparation for Brahmastra and that labored rather well for Jawan. I feel my fundamentals have been very clear already.
Inform me about your journey thus far.
So mainly, as an actor, my journey began after I was 11 and that too I used to be a dancer. I did quite a lot of competitions on the zonal degree then cable and TV. There was a present referred to as Youngsters Dhoom, I bought chosen after which I ended up coming first by the tip. From there I bought a brief movie referred to as Future which was from London Youth Movie Faculty. I simply bought on and I used to be not even certain if that is what I wish to do. I used to be 11 years previous, even my mother and father have been like ‘okay nice, you’re going to get an expertise from there’. After that, I used to be referred to as for this movie Jalpari. I went for a glance check and instantly I bought it. That was very surprising as a result of that was the principle lead. We shot for one month and naturally it was Nila Madhab Panda movie who’s mainly the director of I Am Kalam. It was a really massive alternative however even after that there was no readability. I used to be not mentally ready whether or not to behave or not. That was additionally extra like a enjoyable expertise however positively an enormous alternative. I bought to satisfy actors like Parvin Dabas, Suhasini Mulay and Tannishtha Chatterjee. After 2 years, Tannishtha ma’am talked to Leena ma’am and so they needed any individual of my age for Parched. She simply introduced up my identify and thru that Leena ma’am referred to as me. We did a video name and so they requested if I may reduce my hair like a boy. They gave a primary narration of all the movie. My dad cherished it, my mother cherished it. So at that second I used to be like okay I’ll reduce my hair. Then working with Leena (Yadav) ma’am in Parched and with the remainder of the solid Radhika Apte, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Adil Hussain, Sayani Gupta, all of those individuals have been so inspiring and so easy actors. I used to be additionally 14 by then and I felt that is what I wish to do. At any time when I used to be executed taking pictures, I used to help Leena ma’am or take her make-up bag, however I used to do one thing. There was a lot ardour and love on the set, I felt this bizarre power and that made me perceive that that is what I wish to do.
I feel the perfect factor as a toddler is that your mother and father assist you. I am from Delhi. My dad’s enterprise, the whole lot was in Delhi. And so they have been like ,’we are going to shift to Mumbai as a result of that is the appropriate place for you.’ It was an enormous factor that they did on their half. After shifting to Mumbai, I used to be additionally ending my college after which my commencement and part of me was so enthusiastic about that I did my commencement in filmmaking from Mumbai. Throughout my entire school yr, I ended up getting Brahmastra. Then Dahan occurred. It was additionally launched final yr in September after per week of Brahmastra and it additionally went rather well. After which I ended up getting Jawan. So this has been my entire journey as an actor.
Are your mother and father completely satisfied now?
The factor is I misplaced my dad in 2021 in the course of the second wave of COVID and quite a lot of issues modified inside me. I realised the entire power that I get as an actor to carry out comes rather a lot from my mother and father. However my mother could be very completely satisfied and I wish to hold working arduous. I do know that my dad is watching over me and he can be very happy with me as a result of he has been that one that has been my cheerleader because the day first. I used to be a toddler who used to attract very badly like previous hand drawings and he used to say that I’ve made some Picasso. He has all the time pushed me rather a lot. He was all the time the happiest and excited to see Brahmastra and it was a tragic factor for me that when the film got here out, he was not there with me. So issues have modified that method. However I’m fairly certain that I’m nonetheless working actually arduous to make them proud and I’ll get to do all of that we had deliberate in no matter method I can.
How has life modified after turning into an actor, are your pals already teasing you?
There’s a change however I’ve a really robust feeling that it hasn’t come to me but. The small ones have come however I feel the massive ones are but to return so I’m ready for that to occur. I feel everyone round me is getting used to me. At occasions after I sit at residence I discuss very usually. Then I instantly keep in mind a reminiscence from any set and I inform it to any individual very casually and it makes me realise that factor hits them in a really completely different method. Once I was 11, it was a really candy change. My college was very happy with me and I used to be in eighth customary at the moment. I used to play basketball and the children of the nursery used to return and watch me. My coach used to speak like me, ‘go go go meet them’. In the future, they got here within the queue and began taking autographs on their palms and so they have been like, ‘now I’ll by no means wash this hand.’ That was my section in class. I used to get very embarrassed in entrance of my class. And there have been quite a lot of issues like ‘oh standard woman in class.’ However I feel there may be nonetheless time for an enormous change however it would come.
Do you continue to love the eye that you’re getting?
I like the eye. I feel I’m not used to that. I’m not a really extroverted individual. I’m very introverted so I get very quiet in my life. So assembly new individuals is just a little tough for me however I feel it’s about getting snug. I feel as soon as I get used to it, I’ll prefer it rather a lot. As an actor I feel I’m very picky and my work could be very explicit.
Do you might have a mentor or somebody who has chosen to information you within the trade?
I feel I’ve been blessed with not one however a number of mentors. I do not come from a NSD background or one thing like that in relation to performing as a newcomer. I might say Mukesh Chhabra has been like an enormous mentor to me. He all the time remembers me. He has solid me. He retains telling me, ‘it isn’t performing you could go and study, it is one thing that I can simply observe after I see individuals and I feel I think about you.’ Mukesh sir is certainly one massive big mentor. Then director Leena Yadav has been extra like a mentor. Each of them have been a set of guardians or a second set of fogeys for me. At any time when they introduce me someplace, they all the time introduce me like their daughter. They’ve been in my journey all through. They’ve all the time been conscious of what I’m doing, all the time wishing me effectively.
