Saiee Manjrekar: Acting in a period drama has always been my dream

A long-held aspiration is taking shape for Saiee M Manjrekar as she steps into period cinema with The India House. Set in 1905 against the backdrop of love and revolution, the pan-India film features her as Sati.

Produced by Ram Charan and Abhishek Agarwal, the Ram Vamsi Krishna directorial also stars Nikhil Siddharth and Anupam Kher. Saiee shares, “Acting in a period drama has always been one of my dreams. As soon as I knew I wanted to be an actor, I knew I wanted to be in a period drama, so it feels like a dream come true. Being part of The India House feels special and surreal. When I first heard the narration, I knew this was not just another film, but a story that carries emotion, history and purpose.” Her character brings together contrasting traits. She says, “My role is Sati, and it’s a beautiful part. She is strong-willed, yet soft and kind-hearted. Finding that balance within myself has been a very exciting process.” Adapting to the demands of a period setting came with its own learning curve. She says, “I remember in the middle of a scene, I would end up saying ‘please’ or ‘thank you’, phrases we use casually in other genres.

I would then apologise and do the scene again. It has been an interesting process, learning about that time and understanding how people lived, dressed and spoke. Shooting in Hampi, surrounded by such a rich past, has added another layer of emotion to my performance.

” The experience of working with the film’s team has also been significant. “Working on Ram Charan sir’s maiden production is something I truly value. He is one of the biggest stars in the South industry, yet his vision as a producer is rooted in storytelling and authenticity. The respect he has for cinema and everyone involved reflects in every detail of this film. Sharing screen space with Nikhil Siddharth and Anupam Kher sir has been a huge learning experience.

Being on set with actors of such calibre pushes you to give your best every day. I feel fortunate to be part of a film that celebrates love, revolution and the spirit of India,” she concludes.