Adah Sharma on diet, journey, and the most challenging thing she has done as an actor: ‘Used to practice playing a dead bird…'

Adah Sharma has been in the film industry for 17 years, but as she puts it, 'it feels like 105'. From her breakout role in 1920 to the blockbuster The Kerala Story, Adah Sharma has quietly carved a space for herself in an industry often accused of gatekeeping. In this candid interview, she talks about the long haul, criticism over controversial roles, her diet staples, what keeps her grounded (spoiler: millet dosas and squirrel sightings), and why she's not here to promote nepotism. Read the edited excerpts below:
Adah Sharma: It feels like 105 years, honestly. From 1920 in 2008 to now in 2025. But all my bones are still intact!
Adah Sharma: I didn't even know I was allowed to dream this big as an outsider. I definitely couldn't have imagined being where I am today.
Adah Sharma: Traumatic, exhausting, and at the same time, very fulfilling. We had no idea it would become so big. Thanks to the audience. Even a year later, people come up to me and talk about specific scenes with so much emotion. It's nice to know we could transport them into the story. Their insights and understanding of scenes and my performance are so touching.
Adah Sharma: I thought everyone would stand against terrorism, and rape, and support a film about girls being forced into it. I understand now why some people had a problem with it and called it a lie. A lot of people react in certain ways because of their political affiliations. For me, the film is about the plight of girls being forced to become suicide bombers. The backlash had started 10 days before the release. But once people watched the film, the love we received drowned out the disapproval from those who didn't even watch it.
Adah Sharma: Not really. If criticism comes from people who haven't even watched the film and are just reacting politically, I don't take it seriously. I'm grateful I live in a country where women like me are free to act, travel, dress how we like, and where even my critics are allowed to openly make very personalised hate remarks against me publicly, and others are allowed to say they love the film. Freedom of thought and speech is very important for me. Our film did get banned, though, in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
Adah Sharma: There are several projects where I feel I have gotten my due. My debut in 1920 – I believe it was the role of a lifetime! To get to do all those crazy things in my very first film. The Kerala Story, Bastar, Sunflower season 2, and my latest release, Reeta Sanyal, where I got to play 10 characters in one show. I think I'm very fortunate. In Telugu as well, from my debut Heart Attack, which I still get so much love for. That said, I also think nepotism is doing very well and doesn't need me to promote it.
Adah Sharma: Being misquoted for clickbait headlines, and answering those 'what would you steal from someone's closet' and 'who would you like to be marooned on an island with?' questions. They give me severe anxiety. I start thinking, how long will we be on the island? What's the sleeping situation? Do we bathe in the ocean? What do we do for food? Am I responsible for the other humans' safety since I got them there? The list goes on.
Adah Sharma: Just like the X-ray machine can see the bones, I can read people's minds. Very, very clearly.
Adah Sharma: I used to practice playing a dead bird when we shot 1920. There is a scene where I eat a raccoon and then run and lie down like a dead bird. Birds, when they die, harden up. So I used to lie in contorted positions around the house, as still as I could, and hold my breath.
A post shared by Adah Sharma (@adah_ki_adah)
Adah Sharma: It's different every day. Rice is a staple, so are idlis and dosas. We make millet dosas when I'm home, so there's quinoa or raagi dosas. Also, seeds are a big part of my diet, especially when I travel. Pumpkin and sunflower seeds are high in protein and antioxidants. I've been a pure vegetarian since birth, and I don't eat onions.
Adah Sharma: In Hinduism, Devi resides in every woman, so I think the film's presentation will please the viewers.
Adah Sharma: I definitely use it out of will, and I think the randomness of my feed is proof. I like sharing random stuff from my life: a squirrel who comes to my house, a flower that grew in my garden, the BTS of how a shoot actually took place. I'm lucky the audience has embraced that. It feels natural and unforced.
Shweta Sharma leads the lifestyle section at IndianExpress.com. Over the years, she has written about culture, music, art, books, health, fashion, and food. She can be reached at shweta.sharma@indianexpress.com. ... Read More

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Economic Times

22 minutes ago

• Economic Times

‘What wrong is Deepika demanding?': Kajol and Rani did 8-hour shifts too, says director Siddharth P. Malhotra as Bollywood debate heats up

Agencies Deepika Padukone's reported exit from Spirit over her request for an eight-hour workday has reignited debate on humane work hours in Indian cinema. Director Siddharth P Malhotra defended her stance, citing past examples like Rani Mukerji and Kajol who also worked limited shifts post-motherhood. Last month, reports broke that Deepika Padukone had stepped away from Sandeep Reddy Vanga's much-anticipated Telugu cop drama Spirit . The reason? Her request for an eight-hour workday. The demand, made just eight months after the birth of her daughter Dua Padukone, sparked debate across the industry and social media, with many questioning whether actors should dictate such terms in big-budget productions. Now, director Siddharth P Malhotra has come out in her support, pointing out that such working conditions are not only reasonable but have long existed in the industry. Speaking to IANS, Malhotra recalled wrapping his 2018 film Hichki —starring Rani Mukerji—in just 28 eight-hour shifts. The film, produced by Aditya Chopra under Yash Raj Films, marked Rani's return to the screen after giving birth to her daughter Adira in 2015. 'For 14 months, I have been there in front of her face. So I kept asking myself, 'Is it going to be worth it?'' Rani had shared in a past interview, reflecting on her emotional struggle as a new mother rejoining work. But Malhotra confirmed the working hours were kept tight and clear. 'She's asking for family time, what wrong is she demanding?' he asked bluntly. 'People are just gaining publicity in the name of Deepika Padukone.' Malhotra also pointed to his debut film We Are Family (2010), in which lead actor Kajol, a mother herself at the time, insisted on fixed working hours. 'When I shot with Kajol in 2010, she used to do eight-hour shifts. She made it very clear she'd either come from 10 am to 6 pm or 7 am to 2 pm,' he said, underscoring that the practice predates the current noise around Deepika's decision. Kajol recently echoed this sentiment to PTI, stating, 'I didn't work for 20 or 30 hours. I was always very clear that we would work a certain amount only, and my mom (veteran actor Tanuja) also backed me up big time on it.' Malhotra believes that directors should match their production plans with the availability of their actors—especially when such conditions are set transparently from the outset. 'If Deepika Padukone has made these conditions clear right from the start, then the director shouldn't work with her if it doesn't suit them,' he said. 'If I need an actor and am confident I can finish the film within those working hours, I'd work with them even for six hours a day.' He added that if Vanga's vision for Spirit required longer working hours, he was within his rights to recast. And that's exactly what has happened: Vanga has now brought Animal star Triptii Dimri on board as the lead opposite Prabhas in the film. While the industry is known for grueling shifts and punishing timelines, the conversation sparked by Padukone's stance opens a new chapter—one that addresses work-life balance, especially for women returning to work post-motherhood.

The Hindu

an hour ago

• The Hindu

Telugu actor Vijay Deverakonda booked under SC/ST Act for derogatory remarks against tribals

Telugu actor Vijay Deverakonda has been booked under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act by the Raidurgam police for allegedly making derogatory remarks against tribal communities during a public event. The case was booked following a complaint filed by Nenavath Ashok Kumar Naik, State President of the Joint Action Committee of Tribal Communities, citing the comments made by the actor on April 26, 2025, during the pre-release event of the film Retro. According to the First Information Report (FIR), seen by The Hindu, the actor allegedly referred to tribal people as lacking intelligence and common sense and likened them to Pakistani terrorists. 'He insulted their tribal community by saying that they had beaten them 500 years ago without any intelligence and minimum common sense. Moreover, he made comments comparing them to Pakistani terrorists,' the complainant said. Attaching the YouTube link in the written complaint, Mr. Naik stated that these comments were not only offensive but deeply insulting to the dignity and self-respect of the tribal community. He said that the content was shared across multiple media channels, including YouTube via Sithara Entertainment's channel, drawing widespread criticism. Investigation is under way.

Time of India

an hour ago

• Time of India

Oka Brundavanam OTT Release, when and where to watch, details bellow:

The heartwarming Telugu family drama , Oka Brundavanam received widely praised by the viewers, upon its theatrical debut. On May 23, 2025, Oka Brundavanam premiered on the silver screens. Despite being mainly a family movie, it was praised for its emotional depth and the narrative. And now, a month after its theatrical run has ended, it will be available on OTT. Here is all the information you need about it: Where and When to watch Oka Brundavanam: The family drama is airing on the ETV Win , since 20th June 2025. The streaming platform shared the official news with the film's poster on their X (formerly twitter) handle. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like What She Did Mid-Air Left Passengers Speechless medalmerit Learn More Undo Sharing a poster they wrote 'New vibes. Fresh faces. Pure emotions! Oka Brundavanam is now streaming on @ETVWin!' Plot of the movie: The plot of the film is very unusual, as the family they create is not by blood, but by the bond they share. The movie revolves around a financially struggling cameraman, Raja Vikram who meets a woman named Mahi. Mahi is on a journey to record her deceased mother's story and as the film progresses, the two cross paths with, Nainika, a lively young girl, who is on a quest to search for her long-lost parents. As the three come together, they eventually unravel a Christmas mystery and set off on a path of self-discovery and healing. Cast and Crew of the beautiful movie: The star cast of Oka Brundavanam includes Balu, Shinnova, Sanvitha, Subhalekha Sudhakar, Sivaji Raja, Annapurnamma, Rupa Lakshmi and more. The script of the movie was given by Chetan Bandi, with Botsa Sathya directing the masterpiece.