- Thursday, February 06, 2025
By: Vibhuti Pathak
Getting a break in Bollywood opposite Aamir Khan is a dream come true for any aspiring actor. But for Sanya Malhotra, who made her debut as Babita Kumari in the blockbuster sports drama Dangal, the success of the film came with unexpected challenges. While the movie was one of the highest-grossing Hindi films and brought her into the limelight, Sanya recently revealed that it also had a “negative impact” on her career in an unusual way.
During a podcast with Shubhankar Mishra, Sanya opened up about the lesser-known struggles she faced after Dangal. She revealed that regrowing her hair after shaving it off for the role was an uphill battle. “The negative impact was that my hair wasn’t growing back. I had done everything—I tried massaging my head, stood upside down, even applied oil regularly,” she said in a lighthearted manner.
Despite her best efforts, her naturally curly hair took its own time to grow. She even resorted to biotin supplements and other hair growth techniques but saw minimal results. This phase was frustrating for the actress, as she struggled to land roles where a more conventional Bollywood look was required.
It wasn’t until 2019, when she was cast in Photograph opposite Nawazuddin Siddiqui, that she was specifically asked to grow her hair for the role. Sanya admitted that the process took months, but it was a turning point in her career. After this, she began securing roles that showcased her versatility, proving that she was much more than just her debut character.
Post-Dangal, Sanya delivered critically acclaimed performances in films such as Badhaai Ho, Shakuntala Devi, Ludo, and Pagglait. Her performances in Meenakshi Sundareshwar, Love Hostel, Kathal, HIT: The First Case, Jawan, and Sam Bahadur further cemented her position in the industry as a talented and versatile performer. Her ability to adapt to different genres and narratives has made her one of the most promising young actresses in Bollywood.
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Sanya is now all set for the release of her upcoming film Mrs., directed by Arati Kadav. The film, which premiered at the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) and the 14th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM), has already received praise for its compelling narrative. A ZEE5 original, Mrs. also stars Nishant Dahiya and Kanwaljit Singh. The film is a remake of the critically acclaimed Malayalam film The Great Indian Kitchen and is scheduled to release on February 7, 2025.
Despite the early struggles that came after Dangal, Sanya Malhotra has managed to carve out a strong career in Bollywood. Her journey from being known as ‘Babita Kumari’ to taking on diverse roles in multiple genres is a testament to her talent, resilience, and determination to keep pushing boundaries.
