Sara Arjun on her debut Telugu film: 'Signed Gunashekar's 'Euphoria' before 'Dhurandhar' was even on my horizon' - Exclusive!

Sara Arjun has come a long way into this film industry. She started her cinema journey when she was just 18 months old with a TV commercial. Her movie debut was made when Sara was just 6 years old with a Tamil movie, ‘Deiva Thirumagal,’ in 2011. For Bollywood, Sara’s debut was in the 2013 horror-thriller ‘Ek Thi Daayan,’ and now with Aditya Dhar's 'Dhurandhar,' she has finally cemented some space in Bollywood. In an exclusive conversation with ETimes, Sara opened up about her career, bagging 'Dhurandhar,' and about her upcoming Telugu film. Excerpts from the interview

How did Gunasekhar’s 'Euphoria' come your way?

I have always been hungry for challenging, extraordinary roles and strong stories. For me, that is the most important thing. Everything else comes after. It’s the kind of work that pushes me, shapes me, and allows me to grow as an artist. Chronologically, I actually signed Euphoria before Dhurandhar was even on my horizon.


You actually weren’t ready to be an actor as yet?

My initial plan was to pursue further studies in acting at Lee Strasberg post boarding school. But after the release of 'Ponniyin Selvan 2', many offers began coming in. Even though I wanted to continue with that Strasberg plan, two films, Euphoria and Magic, truly stood out because of the subjects they explored and the issues they addressed.

What made them so outstanding for you?

These were stories that I felt needed to be told in our society, stories that could spark conversations and reflection. So beyond the hunger of an actor to perform, I felt, on a human level, a deep urge to be part of bringing these narratives to the screen. For today’s youth, which I am a part of, I feel these themes are not just relevant but essential. That is why we chose to do these films first and then continue with my plan of pursuing further studies in acting abroad. But life had other plans.

Yes, Dhurandhar happened?

While I was giving my 12th boards, I signed and began working on 'Magic'. And immediately after finishing 12th grade, I signed 'Euphoria'. Both films revolve around emotionally intense teenage characters. I feel these roles helped me grow as an actor as well. While shooting for 'Euphoria', I flew overnight after pack-up to meet Aditya Dhar Sir the next morning and then returned the same day to resume shooting. It ended up being a really fun day.

Tell me about 'Euphoria'

Euphoria is a youth-oriented film that deals with relevant issues like Children in Conflict with Law (CCL) and POSCO. I play a young character who shows resilience despite the circumstances she is placed in. Working under Gunasekhar Garu has been an honor. He is such a senior and respected director, and I believe in his vision. One of the most heartwarming parts of the experience was seeing how involved and creatively united his entire family is. Watching all of them contribute towards the same artistic purpose was very wholesome. The film weaves together multiple tracks, each adding to a meaningful and socially important narrative. I truly hope it connects with the audience.