Jeena Dil Se actress Ruma Sharma: I rebuilt life from zero when I moved to Mumbai

Actress Ruma Sharma is gearing up for the release of Jeena Dil Se, a film that brings together friendship, love, humour, chaos and unexpected turns. Set to release on May 29, the project marks a significant moment for the actress, who has steadily built her presence across television, digital platforms, films and reality shows, with projects including Temptation Island India and the web series Honey Trap.

What makes Jeena Dil Se particularly special for Ruma is that it was never part of a carefully planned career move. The film came into her life through an unexpected phone call, at a time when she had no idea it would eventually become such an important chapter in her journey. She says, “There was no audition, no look test and absolutely no indication that I would become part of the film. It all happened very suddenly, and at that point I had no idea how meaningful this project would become for me. Looking back now, it feels like destiny had different plans.”

The journey became even more unexpected when Ruma stepped into the project at the final stage, replacing another actor shortly before filming. Rather than focusing on the circumstances, she chose to look at it as an opportunity. She says, “Replacements are a very normal part of the film industry, and sometimes they happen because of scheduling changes, creative decisions or production timelines. For me, the focus was never on the circumstances, but on the opportunity and the experience. I was grateful to be trusted with the role and simply wanted to give my best to the character and the film. Every project teaches you something, and I genuinely believe every experience helps you grow as an actor.”

The film’s release also comes after nearly two years of work, patience and delays before finally reaching audiences. She says, “A film coming together involves much more than just shooting. There are multiple stages involved, including scripting, schedules, production planning, post-production, music and release strategy. There were also a few unavoidable delays along the way, but the team wanted to ensure the final product came out exactly the way they envisioned it. Sometimes good things simply take time.”

Away from the film, Ruma traces her acting journey back to one person — her mother. “Honestly, all the credit goes to my mother. She always had a dream of seeing herself on the big screen, but at that time she never had the support system to pursue it. Eventually, she began seeing that dream through me. She made one of the biggest sacrifices of her life by leaving her job, and we moved from Delhi to Mumbai to begin this journey together. It has been almost ten years in Mumbai now, and those years have been filled with struggle, learning and rebuilding life from zero. I also trained at NSD, which helped me grow deeply as an actor and understand the craft better. Whatever I am today, and whatever I have achieved so far, is entirely because of my mother’s support, belief and sacrifices,” she concludes.