The husky laughter reaches before the visual does of a slim woman in jeans, boots and a transparent black Tee showing off perfect abs. Sandhya Mridul is at ease with her sexiness and the effect she has on men.
Right now, she's Rhea, the manipulative shrew in the play Double Deal, keeping her co-actor (Mahesh Manjrekar) on stage, dithering between come-hither and get lost looks. But she can be anything those killer cheekbones and attractive square jaw allow her to be.
Are you doing a play till a good film offer comes along?
I have been wanting to do a play. Theatre is a very satisfying medium. Doing a play mobilises your mind and body, I wanted that experience. I mean how many times do you leave a film or TV set with the feeling that you’ve learnt something?
When I got nominated for awards for Page 3, I thought I’d cheated because I was just playing myself. If praise comes easy, you get complacent. But at this play’s rehearsals, I’m like a child, craving to learn something new.
You did Zen Katha before Double Deal. What was that like?
I enjoyed doing Zen Katha because I had to take martial arts classes. But it was much easier compared to Double Deal, I keep thinking I can still make my character go places.
Do you think because you come across as a strong person, you get slotted in negative parts?
Probably, the old school thinks that way. Nadiraji once said, “Ek baar Shri 420 mein cigarette kya peeli, mujhe to vamp hi bana diya.”.
Do you think because you come across as a strong person, you get slotted in negative parts?
Probably, the old school thinks that way. Nadiraji once said, “Ek baar Shri 420 mein cigarette kya peeli, mujhe to vamp hi bana diya.”.
Yeah, so I am not a doll, I like strong parts. That's why I do films like Page 3 and Deadline 24 Ghante. I don't mind playing vamps, they don’t have to be sleazy.
And if you’re giving me sleaze, be clear about it. This kind of clarity comes only from a certain kind of filmmakers. I’ve been working with a new breed of directors who’re absolutely fantastic.