Exclusive - Yeh Hai Mohabbatein fame Karishma Sharma on trolls: If I wear a bikini, I get slut-shamed and if I wear a saree, they comment 'arre isko kya hogaya'

Actress Karishma Sharma, who started her career as a model and then went to do popular TV shows like Pavitra Rishta and Yeh Hai Mohabbatein, has come a long way into the industry. After doing TV shows, the actress bagged films and web series. Karishma joined ETimes TV for an exclusive chat and spoke about her journey in the showbiz industry. From facing rejections to getting typecast and handling trolls, the actress bared her heart out in the interview. (Photo: Instagram)

I just saw a small girl who came to Mumbai with dreams in her eyes and I am still working hard. I've come a long way and am still working hard, learning a lot in this journey. Initially, I thought it was just the fame that I wanted. I just wanted to be famous when I was very young and new to the industry, but with time and experience I learnt that you need to work on your craft. With time I realised that I have to focus on my acting and look is also important but that I've been gifted, craft is something which I have to really work on. People are going to see that eventually. I am a huge fan of Tabu ma'am, she's so talented and she is still so relevant and doing well. I really look up to someone like her. (Photo: Instagram)

Yes of course I faced rejections in the beginning especially when I was young and had just started off. But initially it didn't bother me much or affect me. Now, when I get rejected I see it very differently, I start thinking what was it that I didn't do right, what can I do to better my performance, now I try to take criticism more constructively. So I believe with age you just kind of evolve. (Photo: Instagram)

When I started my career I was very young and I came from Patna and at that time I didn't have that much knowledge nor I thought about what I should do or how I should go about my career. I feel that if I want to reach somewhere I will somehow reach there. I felt bagging a good film will take time as I didn't have contacts and meeting a right casting director won't be that easy. So I just wanted to work on my craft first. TV was something very easy and I could just go and audition easily. I remember auditioning for it and bagging a project. So I thought why not and I believe it's the journey. I feel every small thing takes you to a bigger place. I still believe that no work is small and big, it just adds to your journey. (Photo: Instagram)

I did go through a phase where people did say that she is a bold actress. It affected me initially but I took it in a positive way. I felt that maybe I need to work on my craft more and have to become a better performer, actor. There are so many actors who are doing bold roles but at the end of the day it's all about the performance and it is in our head that this is bold. It is very subjective I feel. There are so many web shows where bold scenes are filmed and done so well that see it coming across as very powerful. For me my mother was very supportive and I got my strength from her and she told me if you feel happy, then I don't really care about what others say. (Photo: Instagram)

I just don't want to be typecast. I don't want people to think I can only do certain kinds of cinema, web shows. So, I took a step back and saw if I am not doing things correctly. It was difficult and I did go through ups and downs. I recently saw Priyanka Chopra's interview where she said we all go through failures but what we do with that and what you do after that is what makes the difference. I learnt and I am trying to do things differently.(Photo: Instagram)

It was very difficult to just wait for the right kind of project and let go off all the projects that's coming your way because they are the same. Then you see everyone doing so much work. It puts you in that place when you start thinking oh my God everyone is working and what am I doing? But I know what kind of work I believe in and the kind of project I want to see myself in. So sometimes it takes time and you have to just patiently wait. Like I did a role in Ujda Chaman, it was a small role but people appreciated me in it. The audience liked me and enjoyed my acting. (Photo: Instagram)

Honestly, I don't care what someone is writing about me on social media. If I ever come across anything nasty, I just go and block that person. I just feel why have such negative energies around. Obviously, I can't sit and block everyone. But sometimes if I see and it affects me, I just straight away block that person. But honestly I don't care because there are so many people saying so many things that if you start caring you won't be able to live and you will lose focus on your work. It's really sad that girls have to go through so much more than men. It's just not fair and I hope some action is taken. (Photo: Instagram)

I feel it is a deep rooted problem. Because when a girl, like for example me, if I am wearing a bikini, trolls start slut-shaming me and if I wear a saree, they will comment 'arre isko kya hogaya'. It's my page, my body. If I want to wear a saree and feel graceful I will do that, if I like to wear a bikini I will do that too. If you like my content, you are more than welcome, if you don't just unfollow me. Nobody is forcing you and that's the rule I follow in life. (Photo: Instagram)