Shweta Tripathi Sharma on how playing Golu Gupta in ‘Mirzapur’ has affected her personally: ‘It does take a toll, sometimes a lot’

The first time Shweta Tripathi Sharma went on stage was when she was only six years old. While she had fun, she admits to never having imagined that almost 33 years later, her show would be one of the most popular. “She wouldn’t have thought that at this age, I would be here making all these choices,” she tells us in an exclusive interview. Basking in the success of her show, Mirzapur, and her character, Golu (Gajgamini) Gupta, she seems unstoppable. But she is quick to add that it is not just her work, but also the people she has worked with that have added to her experience and learnings over the years.

Talking about her journey, the Gone Kesh actor tells us about her career graph, her dreams, her on-screen roles, how they take a toll on her, her fitness routine, and her love story. Read the edited excerpts below:

Q. You’ve completed almost 15 years in the industry, how does it feel? Has your journey been as expected?

Shweta Tripathi Sharma: Wow, I have completed 15 years. I am not the best with numbers, and I think that works for me. I do more feeling-heavy work; that is my drive. So far, this journey has been incredible. It was only yesterday that I was thinking about my 6-year-old self – when I went on stage for the first time and had fun. She (my younger self) wouldn’t have thought that at this age, I would be here making all these choices, that my show would be the most popular and most watched in the world. I had never imagined it. Sometimes, I feel that this has been my dream since childhood, and it has brought me here, making it even bigger.

The experience has been very good because the people we work with make our experiences. Thankfully, it’s filled with people who are not just very talented but also excellent human beings. When we are in front of the camera, we learn a lot, but it is also our interactions with them off-screen that most of the learning happens for me. Working with my co-actors, be it Nawaz (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) Bhai, Pankaj Tripathi, or Vikrant Massey, there is so much to learn from all of them.

It has been a journey that is very fulfilling and interesting. I have dreams that I can’t wait to make a part of my reality.

 

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Q. What is the most challenging thing about being an actor today?

Shweta Tripathi Sharma: I think one of the most challenging aspects of being an actor today is dealing with information and opinion overload. We get bombarded with information from billboards, phones, and even from people who care for us. Everyone seems to want to do what someone else is doing or look like someone else, but that has never worked for me.

I am here because this is what brings me joy. I’m here because this is my journey and these are my choices. Yes, I want to learn and grow, and I want to be positively influenced by what I see and whom I admire. I think it is very important to take criticism only from the people whose advice you value. These days, everyone has something to say, especially about sports and films. But the kind of opinion you take is very important. Just like with salt, you should take these opinions according to your taste.

Q. You have performed opposite actors who have become extremely successful in their careers – from Vicky Kaushal to Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Do you feel the industry has given you your due as an actor? If not, how do you deal with this feeling?

Shweta Tripathi Sharma: I think the industry has given me a lot. Golu is the leading lady in Mirzapur, which is very different from Shalu in Masaan. It’s also very different from Haraamkhor. So, I think the industry, the people, and most importantly, the audience have given me so much love and respect.

They have created opportunities because what we see on screen is a reflection of what happens in our society. More women are educating themselves and making their dreams bigger. That is what we’ll see on screen as well. Now, women have desires, and those desires could be physical, sexual, political, or whatever. At least now, we are talking openly about them. We still face challenges, but it’s okay; we are headed in the right direction, and that is what gives me more power and makes me happy.

As an actor, as an artist, we are here to explore and experiment. Sometimes we fail, and that’s fine. Sometimes we get shocked, and that’s fine too.

Q. You play Golu Gupta in Mirzapur, which is a very intense role. Does essaying such a character affect you personally in any way? Have you ever felt disturbed with what you had to play on-screen?

Shweta Tripathi Sharma: Yes, it does because drama takes a psychological toll. It makes a difference because when you’re wearing costumes that aren’t yours, and you have makeup and hair that aren’t yours, you’re saying words that aren’t yours. It does affect you. I’m sure every actor has a different way of approaching characters, stories, and projects, but it does take a toll, sometimes a lot. Mirzapur took a lot out of me.

But now, I’m also learning. I’m trying to figure out how to give it my all without giving it my all. There should be a little detachment for your peace of mind and the safety of your friends and family. I don’t think they want to live with Golu. I love Golu, but there’s a deep-seated rage in her because of what people around her, people she studied with, have done to her. And now she’s a changed girl. Did she want this? No. She wanted to be in college, to be the president of the college, and to make the college clean. But maybe those things will come in the baahubali that she has become. So, I have hope.

Q. Being an actor is no mean feat – from failures to criticism, many aspects of being one can take a toll on one’s physical and mental health. How do you maintain an equilibrium between your personal and professional lives?

Shweta Tripathi Sharma: Yeah, it does take a toll, but I think it’s also important to distance yourself from it. I do not read comments because I don’t want to. Sometimes it’s just a pool of negativity, and that is not going to help. I’m not saying we should ignore reality, but we should be mindful of how we engage with it. Growth and learning should happen throughout our lives.

So, if that is happening while you are reading comments, then go for it. For me, that does not work. I see the stories I’m tagged in whenever I can, and when people message me, I try to understand where they are coming from. It’s more important to understand why they are saying something rather than just what they are saying. I try to decode that because I want to learn and be better. I want to do as much as I can to meet Shweta’s goals.

It is annoying sometimes because you can’t be as open as you want. Like, I’m a girl from Delhi, and I’ve done a lot of shopping in Sarojini Nagar. But now, it’s a little difficult. Still, I keep reminding myself that I want to be as true to myself as possible, regardless of what is expected of me.

Now, women have desires, and those desires could be physical, sexual, political, or whatever. At least now, we are talking openly about them, the actor says. (Photo: PR handout)

Q. You come across as being extremely bubbly, having a ‘girl-next-door’ image. Was it to break out of this mould that you opted for a show like Mirzapur?

Shweta Tripathi Sharma: No, the goal was to redefine the ‘girl next door’ and that’s what we’re doing – redefining who the girl next door is because it could be anybody. I’m glad that these brackets we were put into are now expanding. Not just me, but many girls are going to be shattering a lot of gender and size stereotypes.

Q. You have often played strong women on screen, and your masturbation scene is also appreciated for portraying women’s sexuality. How important is it for you to play such characters, and what are your views about the entertainment industry’s representation of them on a larger scale?

Shweta Tripathi Sharma: I feel that not everything in the entertainment industry is the industry’s responsibility. It’s also the audience’s responsibility. If an actor is doing a scene, it’s not just a physical act that you should see. If there is a kiss, you should understand why that kiss is there. There is so much more to it than just reducing it to a physical act of masturbation or kissing. Understand the emotion behind it. As an actor, I feel disheartened when it’s just about the physical act. So, I think as an audience, whether it’s OTT or the big screen, we should respect and have the decency and dignity to appreciate the hard work that is put in. I’m not saying you should appreciate it if you don’t like it, but at least try to understand where the characters are coming from.

It’s not easy being an actor. The weight of the job is not easy, especially when your performance is judged by everyone in the world who watches it. I think we can be a little more supportive, not just to actors but to each other, and grow as a society as well.

 

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Q. A look at your Instagram is enough proof of your love to stay fit and exercise. Tell us about your routine. But in an interview with us, your husband Chaitnya Sharma revealed that when he had first met you, you were not all that into fitness. What brought about that change?

Shweta Tripathi Sharma: I was not into fitness. I used to think going to the gym and paying for a membership was a waste of money. I had done that and was not too happy about it because I wasted an opportunity and money. But thankfully, during the lockdown, because Chaitnya is very disciplined, he encouraged me.

He told me, “I’m not saying that you should work out because I want you to look a certain way, but because I want you to feel a certain way.” Initially, I did not understand what he meant, but once I started working out, I realised how true it was. I felt stronger, better, and more in control of whatever the world or the day might throw at me.

I feel good internally, I breathe better, and I want to eat better. Thankfully, I found a wonderful trainer who has also trained Kartik Aaryan. Two things I try to do regularly are yoga and strength training.

Q. Tell us about your love story.

Shweta Tripathi Sharma: My love story? Oh, it’s wonderful. It’s been six years since our wedding, and we’ve been together for, I think, 11 years now. I married my best friend, and I could not be happier. He’s the one who entertains me the most and loves me the most. He’s my anchor, my security blanket, and everything I would want in a human being.

Q. Where do you see yourself five years down the line, personally and professionally?

Shweta Tripathi Sharma: Five years? I don’t even know about five days from now! But okay, in five years, I definitely see myself attending film festivals across the world.

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