Ideas Of India Summit 2026: 'I Hate Being Comfortable,' Sanya Malhotra On Exploring Every Role

Ideas of India Summit 2026: Sanya Malhotra opens up about how Dangal shaped her acting journey, the impact of her debut, and her promise to keep making audiences remember her.

Ideas Of India Summit 2026: Sanya Malhotra speaks about Dangal’s impact, breaking stereotypes, taking risks in Bollywood, and why she believes growth begins outside comfort zones.

Source : ABP Live

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At the ABP Network Ideas of India Summit 2026, an inspiring and thought-provoking conversation unfolded under the theme ‘The Natural: Sparkle and Spontaneity’, capturing the imagination of audiences across the nation.

Adding both star power and insight to the discussion, Sanya Malhotra shared her perspectives, making the session even more engaging and memorable.

'I Hate Being Comfortable, There’s No Growth In It'

Sanya Malhotra is not here to fit into a box. From her breakthrough in Dangal to choosing unconventional scripts across OTT and theatre releases, the actor has consistently pushed herself beyond comfort zones. In a candid conversation, she reflected on risk-taking, not being typecast, experimenting with characters, and why acting will always remain her first love. Here’s everything she said, sharper, clearer, and more powerful than ever.

“I want to do everything. There’s no role in acting that I don’t want to try. I want to experiment with my characters, and with my life too. I don’t want to be put in a box because I hate being comfortable. When I’m stuck in comfort, I feel there’s no growth in it.”

For Sanya, growth lies in discomfort. The idea of safety doesn’t excite her, evolution does. That mindset defines every decision she makes as an actor.

On Her Debut Dangal: 'It Helped Me Prove Myself'

“Dangal gave me a lot of opportunities. It was the film that helped me prove myself as an actor. It was an overall performance.”

For the role, she learnt wrestling and cut her hair, physically and mentally preparing for the transformation. “Mentally, I knew that every character I would take on after this would require a different kind of hard work.”

She acknowledges the impact of the film on her career trajectory. “I did get most of my opportunities because my debut was Dangal.”

'You Get Typecast Only If You Don’t Step Out'

“I’m not from the industry, so I had nothing to lose. I felt I could take more challenges and risks with my career and the roles I chose. I never thought anyone could typecast me.”

Her film choices reflect that belief.

“After Dangal, I did Photograph with Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Ritesh Batra, it was a completely different character that required emotional depth. Then Badhaai Ho happened. After that came Pataakha, which was the complete opposite of Dangal. I kept pushing myself, asking, ‘Will I be able to do this as an actor?’”

She credits the directors she has worked with. “I feel very lucky to have collaborated with amazing directors who pushed me and brought me out of my comfort zone. When I was auditioning for Pataakha, I had doubts. It wasn’t easy to impress Vishal Bhardwaj.”

Her takeaway is simple, “You get typecast only when you don’t step out of your comfort zone.”

Films Close To Her Heart: Pagglait, Kathal, Mrs.

“Pagglait was a very risky choice for me. Many people told me it was my solo lead and that I should first build my audience by working with more actors before venturing into a solo film. I’m glad I didn’t listen.”

That decision changed her career.

“That film gave me immense confidence. It made me believe that if the script is good, I can make it work with my confidence and hard work.”

Then came Kathal, “While working, I don’t look for validation, not even awards. My only motive as an actor is to entertain the audience. Kathal is such a beautiful satire. The story and its message were very special. I’m so grateful that Guneet believed I could be a part of it.”

'I Think From The Audience’s Point Of View'

“The story has to be good and entertaining. When I read a script, I keep the audience’s point of view in mind. I don’t think about what I will gain from the film. I think about how I can elevate and contribute to the character.”

“I know I can make a character unforgettable through my hard work.”

While preparing for Photograph, she witnessed something that stayed with her.

“We were reading the script when Geetanjali Kulkarni came dressed in her character’s attire, along with a playlist she believed the character would listen to. That’s when I learned how to build a backstory.”

It took months and even another film like Pagglait, for her to fully detach from that role.

First Love, Platforms, And Growth

“My first love is acting. If I wasn’t an actor, I would have been a dancer.”

On OTT versus theatre, she refuses comparisons. The actor says, “For me, there’s no comparison between TV, OTT, or theatre. OTT truly changed my career. The first film of mine that released on OTT was Ludo, and it was received so well. On OTT, you can experiment more with stories and characters. But I love theatre films too, going with family and friends has a different charm. I can’t compare the two.”

On Speaking Out And Social Media

When asked whether Bollywood stays silent on political matters, she responded thoughtfully:

“Everyone has the right to speak. But do people also want to listen? I talk about what I want to talk about on my social media without caring. I post whatever I feel like.”

However, she expressed concern about digital culture.

“Social media has made things very unserious. Even if someone has a valid point, people don’t want to receive it. Within days, sometimes hours, people forget. Important issues get stuck in the algorithm.”

She adds, “The sad part is that people only speak on social media. Sensitivity has gone down. People are less empathetic, and that’s worrying.”

Upcoming Projects

“Toaster with Rajkummar Rao and Bandar with Bobby Deol are releasing soon. From March, I start shooting for other films as well.”

She’s also ready to explore uncharted territory. “I would love to play a negative character, someone I don’t like. That’s very difficult because as an actor, you have to empathise with every character you play.”

Sanya Malhotra’s Recent Work Highlights

Sanya Malhotra was most recently seen in Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumar, a Karan Johar-produced film featuring Janhvi Kapoor, Varun Dhawan, and Rohit Saraf alongside her. Prior to this, she captivated audiences in Mrs., an Indian Hindi-language drama directed by Arati Kadav. Mrs. is a remake of the acclaimed 2021 Malayalam film The Great Indian Kitchen, where Sanya plays a newly-wed navigating regressive patriarchal traditions.

From heartfelt dramas to high-profile Bollywood productions, Sanya continues to impress with her versatility and authenticity. Her ability to breathe life into every character has established her as one of the most promising and talented actresses in contemporary Indian cinema.