Raw And Real: Adah Sharma
We have often come across the saying; “Appearances can be deceptive”, and couldn’t believe in it more, than the time we were face-to-face with the multi-talented actress, Adah Sharma. She charms you with her girl-next-door looks one moment, aided with an infectious smile; but also packs a pretty mean punch, much to our disbelief. A trained dancer, gymnast, and a rifle shooter, Adah is extremely passionate about her work. She believes in pushing her limits—be it with the diverse roles she plays onscreen, or the different fitness modules she loves to experiment with. In this exclusive interview, Adah shares her journey, workout routine, diet, and more. Edited excerpts...
From your debut Bollywood film 1920 in 2009, to exploring different platforms, including television and webseries, and transcending boundaries to work in the South Indian film industry, you have never limited yourself, creatively. How has the journey been so far?
I was very fortunate to get 1920 as my first film. The audience and critics have been very kind and supportive right from my debut. They wrote amazing things about me and even now, whether it’s a role I pick or something I wear on the red carpet, the audience always supports me. It makes me feel very brave. I wore a newspaper dress on the red carpet, sneakers with a saree, and through all this, even the fashion critics have been kind… In south also, I’ve received a lot of love, and all my south films are dubbed in Hindi, which a lot of people in the north watch. I also did a Punjabi music video, Life that got very popular. I feel lucky to be loved by people from all over India.
You have showcased your acting prowess in different languages, including Hindi, Telegu, Tamil and Kannada. What were the challenges you had to face initially? How did you overcome the same?
Not coming from a film background, bagging my first film was definitely a challenge. I wanted to debut with a film where I was the protagonist, and had a good scope to showcase my acting skills. I was a good student in school and even managed to top in Marathi, a language I wasn’t fluent in, yet managed to mug up. I am very good at mimicry also. Both the traits helped me in overcoming the initial challenges. Further, I think if you are intelligent and diligent you can excel in any profession you choose.
You are a woman of many talents and have added another feather to your cap, with 3.8 million followers on Instagram. What is your success mantra to ace the social media game?
I’m glad people find me different and entertaining. For me, there’s no mantra for social media. I prefer to portray my real self, a ‘no holds barred avatar’. On my Instagram, I share behind the scenes shenanigans to engage my fans and followers. Also, I try to stay unaffected by moral policing and do whatever I want to. It’s also extremely flattering when I see other actresses trying to do a look that I sported or a video like mine.
Being a part of both showbiz and social media keeps you under the public eye 24x7. Does it ever get daunting to live up to everybody’s expectations? How do you handle critics?
I’m one of those lucky actresses who have more fans than critics. If there’s one bad comment on my social media post, you will have to see the comments in reply to believe the kind of fans and supporters I am blessed with. The bad comment will have around 200 befitting replies to shut the troll down. It makes me feel that I have a whole army of people protecting me. As far as being under the public eye goes, I am comfortable in my own skin and often step out without a full face of makeup, or getting my hair done. I don’t even hide behind sunglasses on my ‘no makeup’ days.
You have explored the webseries format with Moh, and The Holiday, in 2019. Is it a well-thought-out move to stay relevant, keeping in mind the age of discerning viewership where online streaming platforms have come to the fore and revamped the entertainment industry? How do you find the online platform different from television and the big screen?
It’s not a thought-out move. I’m just living my dream. I enjoy doing different roles on diverse platforms. So, from my debut film 1920, to the work I’ve done in south, each role has something different to offer. I also don’t think the medium matters. Even films are released on the web two weeks after their theatrical release. Good content and entertaining stuff is what people like to watch, whether it is on their phones, laptops, or in a theatre.
You have time and again showcased your brilliant dancing skills onscreen. Please tell us about your formal training in dance. What kind of fitness routine do you have to follow for the same?
I’ve graduated in kathak. I think it helps me a lot with rhythm and picking up other dance styles. I got a chance to dance with Prabhu Deva in my debut Tamil film in 2019, and it was a dream come true moment. I practice dance almost every day. Before any dance routine, I warm up with Surya Namaskar and cool down with Chandra Namaskar.
You are a trained gymnast as well. How does it help you to prepare for diverse roles onscreen, for instance, films like Commando 3, which require agility to perform breathtaking stunts?
It’s good if you are trained, then the choreography can be worked upon accordingly. With Commando 3, we raised the bar of action films in Hindi cinema. Also, an actress doing action and stunts is kind of rare, and to be able to do that in one of the biggest action franchises in India is an awesome experience.
Being a part of showbiz, constant demands of transformations, added to hectic work schedules can be really overwhelming. How do you push yourself to stay on track and workout amidst all the frenzy?
I love to do this. I’m getting to live my dream so I welcome all the frenzy. I live for this madness; the demands of transformations, sleepless nights, preparation, pushing myself and working out in all the madness.
What does your current workout regimen look like? Do you prefer sticking to a routine, or experimenting with different fitness modules trending these days?
I’ve never stuck to one particular routine. I like to set trends, not follow them. India is very rich in its forms of art, and I enjoy practicing Silambam, Mudgal, Kalaripayattu and rope Malkham. I’m happy to be able to promote these forms on social media to spread awareness among people, about the rich cultural heritage of our country.
How do you approach diet and nutrition? What are your views on supplements? Do you think that the right knowledge about supplements can actually help in achieving fitness goals?
I haven’t tried supplements so I won’t be the right person to endorse or defy them. I’m pure vegetarian and don’t eat eggs or consume protein shakes. I can vouch for a vegetarian diet to be effective in achieving a fit and flexible body. I have spinach, legumes, and lentils for protein.
Do you think technological advances are one of the driving factors that can be attributed to the rise in awareness about fitness in India? How do you think it has impacted your fitness mantra?
It’s nice, because with internet we have access to videos of people from across the world, and can learn about fitness regimens, dance videos, and get inspired. I think the level of fitness in India has increased. I just hope more people would look past their fixation on six or eight pack abs, and focus on getting stronger and flexible.
If you had to debunk fitness myths, what would those be?
The first myth is ‘eat less to lose weight’. It might be true initially, but eventually, you will start eating and your metabolism will drop so low that you will end up putting on weight faster. The second one would be ‘carbs are bad for you’; avoid processed food, but unrefined sources of carbs like quinoa, vegetables, oats, pulses, brown rice, to name a few, provide your body with the essential vitamins and minerals. Lastly, listen to your body. People tend to compare workout routines and progress, but there isn’t one exercise that fits all. Body compositions are different and instead of blindly taking advise, connect with yourself and discover what is best for you.
What would be your go-to advice on fitness for our readers?
Fitness starts in the mind, and honestly, that’s most important. If you are not strong mentally, physical fitness doesn’t count. Learn to focus and discipline your mind. Try meditating. I’m a very hyper person and my meditation is shooting (the rifle). A lot of people don’t know that I’m a sharpshooter. It requires a lot of focus and concentration along with breath control.
Tell us something about your upcoming projects.
After Commando 3, I will be doing Commando 4. People find the character Bhavana Reddy very sexy. She does action stunts, cracks jokes and has a weird accent. Quirky is now the new sexy and I’m glad. My next project is Man to Man, a romantic comedy, where a boy gets married to a girl, which he finds out is a man. I play a man in the film, a first for someone in Hindi cinema. I’m very excited with how the film has shaped up. I also did a short film Tindey, and we won a Filmfare award for it. My web series The Holiday, about a girl who goes on her bachelorette to Mauritius with three of her guy best friends, received rave reviews. We will be coming up with Season 2 as well. There’s another international project in the pipeline too. Also, I shot this big single with T-Series and Adnan Sami, which will be out soon.
How was your experience of shooting with FHM India?
I had fun. It was amazing to work with FHM India. They let me kick and climb up walls wearing a gown. The photographer also ensured that I look sexy.