I love roles where there is more to it than meets the eye: Samvedna Suwalka

Samvedna Suwalka, who was recently seen in the Ram Kapoor and Mona Singh-starrer web series Mistry, says it is a “really exciting phase” in her career. The actress, who has done Bollywood films like Fighter and Drishyam 2, was in Ahmedabad recently for the muhurat of her Gujarati film Get Set Go.

She shares, “I am eagerly waiting for three Hindi films to release, which are very different from each other. In Bicycle Thief, I play a Dalit woman facing discrimination; in Ahuti, I play an NRI living in London and then there is Ek Ruka Hua Faisla.”

‘Excited about doing action in my latest Gujarati film’

Talking about Get Set Go, Samvedna, who has done Gujarati films like Nikki, Natsamrat and Bey Yaar, shares, “I am excited about doing action and that was the primary reason for taking it up.

Also, I said yes because Jhinal (Belani), who has written the film, reached out to me. It’s a terrific cast and the story is very interesting. This has been a very good year for Gujarati cinema, and it is heartening to see that the kind of stories, level of production, professionalism, everything is going up.

This is a great time for regional cinema.” She is enjoying shooting in Ahmedabad. “Ahmedabad feels like home away from home.

I am trying to catch up with my friends. I love eating dal dhokli at my favourite restaurant here. Being in Ahmedabad also means relishing fafda with papaya chutney and khaman. Deepak Tijori sir (her co-star) is also relishing these snacks with us,” she says.

‘Playing a negative character unlocked another level in my craft’

Samvedna, who was appreciated for her first negative role (inGyaarah Gyaarah) last year, says, “That character unlocked another level in my craft. It was a liberating experience because I didn’t know playing a villain was so much fun.

I want to play more dark and complex characters. I love playing characters where there is more to it than meets the eye. It was fun to play a role (in Mistry) where she turns out to be something completely different at the end.

The fun here was to not play her like a villain or a negative character. I loved working with so many amazing and experienced actors.”

‘I believe it’s an act of courage to ask for help’

The actress, who went through a phase of acute anxiety not too long ago, has been vocal about the need to normalize talking about mental health.

She says, “Talking about mental health should be celebrated. You must seek help and take care of yourself mentally and physically. I have always admired people who were honest about their struggles and when it was my turn, I decided to speak about what I believed in. If it helps even one person, it will be worth it.

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‘I am no longer ashamed of my body’

Samvedna, who lived with a deformity for 10 years (from the age of 13 to 23), grew up thinking that her body was not normal.

But finally, she has overcome that thought and recently, she felt confident enough to post her bikini pictures on social media, captioning it as “a huge milestone.” She shares, “I have never spoken publicly about this but now, I am more comfortable and accepting of my journey and my life. While growing up, it was an isolating experience and I would spend hours on Google, searching for people who had a similar condition and if they made it in life.

” She adds, “Now, I am at peace with who I am, what I was given and what I had to deal with. Each one of us has a story and now, I accept mine with grace. I am no longer ashamed of my body. I am speaking out about it for the 13-year-old Samvedna, who desperately wanted to know if she was going to be ok.”