From struggles to stardom: Neha Saxena's inspiring journey in showbiz

JAMMU: In an exclusive online interview conducted by Ajmer Alam Wani, the Editor-in-Chief of JK Monitor (www.jkmonitor.org), readers are invited to delve into the remarkable life and career of Neha Saxena, an Indian film actress who has conquered multiple film industries with her exceptional talent and unwavering determination.

Neha Saxena's story is not your typical Bollywood fairy tale. Born into a middle-class family, she epitomizes the essence of a self-made passionate actress who is unapologetically chasing her dreams while working relentlessly to make her mother proud. Her journey in the world of cinema has been nothing short of extraordinary, as she has left an indelible mark in Malayalam, Tulu, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi films.

Neha's filmography boasts an impressive array of roles, with standout performances alongside industry legends. She is best known for her roles in Malayalam blockbusters like "Munthirivallikal Thalirkkumbol" and "Aaraattu," sharing the screen with iconic actors such as Mohanlal and Mammootty. In the Hindi film "Chef" (2017), she made her mark alongside Saif Ali Khan. Additionally, her portrayal of Mandakini in the Kannada soap opera "HaraHara Mahadeva" garnered widespread acclaim.

However, Neha Saxena's journey to stardom was far from easy. She understands that pursuing the extraordinary comes with its share of struggles, challenges, failures, and betrayals. Yet, she firmly believes that a positive mindset, unwavering hard work, practice, patience, self-respect, and adherence to life ethics and principles are the keys to success. Neha encourages everyone to craft their own narrative, one where they learn from failures, rise stronger, and believe in their potential and dreams.

Neha's path to success was fraught with adversity from the very beginning. She lost her father in a tragic car accident before her birth, and her mother, seven months pregnant at the time, faced the immense challenge of raising her as a single parent. This early experience shaped Neha's sense of responsibility and determination. She began working at a young age while juggling her studies, driven by the desire to support her mother and secure their future.

The road to her dreams was a battle between responsibilities and aspirations. Multiple loans, the responsibility of building a home for her mother, and securing their future weighed heavily on her shoulders. Neha Saxena never shied away from any work, always committed to earning money with dignity. Although her heart longed to be an actress, the demands of responsibility delayed the pursuit of her dreams. It was a challenging, suffocating, and often lonely journey, but Neha remained resolute, determined to conquer every obstacle.

Her tenacity faced an additional challenge in convincing her hesitant and protective single mother to let her enter the unpredictable world of showbiz. It took time, patience, and understanding for her mother to come to terms with Neha's ambitions, eventually realizing that it wasn't as scary as some had portrayed it to be.

In conclusion, Neha Saxena's story is a testament to the power of belief in oneself and one's dreams. Her journey from humble beginnings to the glitzy world of cinema is a source of inspiration for anyone facing adversity and struggling to balance their responsibilities with their aspirations. Neha's message is clear: write your own story, don't let anyone dictate or validate you, and always shine on. In this exclusive interview, readers will gain valuable insights into the life and wisdom of a true Indian cinema trailblazer.

For the detailed interview read questions and answers below till end:-

1. DIVERSE ROLES AND LANGUAGES: You've ventured into various film industries, including Malayalam, Tulu, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi. How do you manage to adapt to different languages and cultures while portraying diverse characters? 

Answer: It's always about having passion and dedication for something .Since my childhood I wanted to be an Actress. Journey was definitely not so easy how I made it look like. There is a saying "the right time to jump off the cliff is when you are scared to death". Taking up CHANCES and accepting CHALLENGES been my key weapons to success. I am a quick learner and a knowledge seeker. I love to do multitasking. It's my passion and undying interest to learn new things no matter what it is. It's been a beautiful 12 years long journey in South Indian film Industry. Being an Outsider (from Uttarakhand) I would like to take up the pride and say I have worked in all South language movies (Tulu Kannada Tamil Telugu Malayalam) not to forget Sanskrit & Hindi too . Out of respect, gratitude and my interest I learned all South languages. It helps me to emote my emotions on screen perfectly, also to communicate with everyone on the sets. I adapted every state culture to make them feel comfortable with my presence. The amount of love support and blessings I have received from each one of them is way beyond I could ever express. I am truly blessed.

2. CROSSOVER SUCCESS: Your role alongside Saif Ali Khan in "Chef" marked your entry into Bollywood. How was the experience of working in a Hindi film after predominantly working in South Indian cinema? Did you notice any significant differences in approach or work dynamics? 

Answer: Well I am a hardcore cinema lover & I don't see much of a difference. Cinema making might differ a bit from set to set, industry to industry but the idea and dream of every technician and actor always remains the same. It was truly an honour to work opposite Saif Ali Khan Ji. He was undoubtedly very kind and welcoming. It was my birthday (25th Oct) when I gave my first shot with Saif sir. Huge set huge team but still everyone was very supportive and kind.

And the best part after the pandemic that now we as actors and technicians from all industries are working together and making some real Good cinema. Now we don't call it anymore as South Indian Cinema or Bollywood Cinema now we proudly call it as Indian Cinema and it feels great to get acknowledge globally.

3. BALANCING ACT: With a career spanning television serials, talk shows, reality shows, and films across multiple languages, how do you strike a balance between these different mediums? What unique challenges and rewards do each one offer? 

Answer: I am a very ambitious and workaholic person. I love to keep myself busy all the time because that where I feel the most alive. As I already told u I love doing multitasking so all this is just a cake walk for me. There is nothing at all which I hate. I enjoy the complete process. Shooting, travelling, meeting and interacting with new people, brain storming, Interviews etc etc. I JUST LOVE DOING WHAT I AM DOING.

4. TRANSFORMATIONAL ROLES: From your portrayal in "Kasaba" to the character in "Munthirivallikal Thalirkkumbol," your roles have varied widely. How do you approach the process of transforming yourself into different characters, and which role challenged you the most as an actor?

Answer: Well this is something very hard to explain because the variety of characters I have portrayed on screen in last 12 years been really challenging and extremely exciting at the same time. For an example - To portray a pregnant lady character I had to gain 20 kg extra weight just to give it a natural feel on the other hand to portray an IPS officer I had to shed down 22 kilos in a matter of 50 days. Behind the screen the journey of an actor to a character on screen is definitely not so easy. It requires lot of efforts, discipline, passion, dedication. Hope you understand the grill here According to me to transform into any character it's not always about Physical appearance. There is lot you got to do mentally and emotionally. You have to become that character by all means to justify it on screen and I always try my best to do that. Trust me it's very exciting I just love it when I bring characters to life.

5. INFLUENCE OF TELEVISION: You gained initial recognition through television, particularly in the role of Mandakini in "HaraHara Mahadeva." How has your experience in the television industry influenced your acting journey and choices in the film industry?

Answer: No it’s wrong. I debuted in films first (Tulu film Rickshaw Driver and later multiple Kannada films) simultaneously I did Har Har Mahadeva Serial as Madanike in a special role. Definitely there is a lot of difference in television and movie industry but I enjoy both.

6. FROM MIDDLE-CLASS TO STARDOM: Your journey from being a normal middle-class family girl to a successful actor is inspiring. Could you share a defining moment or incident from your journey that solidified your determination to chase your dreams against all odds?

Answer: I lost my dad in a car accident before my birth. Mom was 7 months pregnant and I am her first child. Without dad or sibling or any other support you can imagine how tough it would have been for me and my mother but we never gave up. Mom is a fighter and she taught me to be the same. Witnessing my mom's hurdles to keep up with my education and day to day expenses I realized my responsibilities way before my maturity. I started working at a very young age while I was studying in 8th standard. There is a very long list but all I can say I made it through all of that. While studying I have worked part time as a Receptionist in a local STD PCO booth, Sales girl at a Jewellery Shop, Textile Shop, been a tutor, Events Hostess, Door to Door sales girl selling Wai Wai Noodles etc etc.

Honestly I never shy away from any work. In my head all I knew to follow the right path and work hard to earn money with Dignity and I did that always. Even though I always wanted to be an Actress but my responsibilities didn't allow me to follow my Dreams anytime sooner. It was like a war between my responsibilities and my Dreams but I never let it affect me. It uses to get too tiring, suffocating and lonelier at times but all I knew I will make it through all one day. I had multiple loans to pay back I had to build home for my mom and secure her future etc etc. There was a lot on my plate already to finish. Being a single mother my mom was very scared and hesitant to let me pursue my Dreams in showbiz world. It took a while for her to accept the fact that it's not that scary how few wrong people have made it look like. 

At last all I can say if you believe in yourself and your dreams you can do anything, nothing is impossible and it's never too late. Write your own story don't let anyone dictate you or validate you. SHINE ON 

7. DYNAMIC WITH CO-STARS: You've shared screen space with legendary actors like Mohanlal and Mammootty. How has working alongside such iconic figures shaped your acting skills and approach? Any memorable anecdotes from your interactions?

Answer: It's been an incredible experience to work with such great legends. It's a dream for many aspiring actors out there to share a screen space or to just get a pic with them. Honestly I feel blessed, I got to work with Mammootty sir in Kasaba and with Mohanlal sir in Munthirivallikal thallirkumbol, Aaraattu and now I am Filming for VRUSHABHA with him.  Both are extremely kind, supportive, welcoming and great mentors. I call them my lucky charms.

8. MULTILINGUAL PROFICIENCY: Acting in multiple languages requires a strong command over those languages. How do you prepare yourself linguistically to ensure your performances are authentic and seamless across various regional cinemas?

Answer: Over the years while shooting I have learnt all these languages (Kannada Tamil Telugu Malayalam) so it made my life much easier. It helps me a lot to emote my emotions on screen Naturally.

9. ART VS. COMMERCE: As an actor, you're often faced with choosing between artistic roles and those that might be commercially successful. How do you strike a balance between your artistic inclinations and the practical aspects of the industry?

Answer: Well I am a person who loves to experiment with new challenging characters and scripts. Whether it's off beat Cinema or Commercial Cinema I strongly believe it's always about you doing justice to whatever you are doing. I love doing performance oriented Roles more than romantic tales. 

10.BEHIND THE SCENES: Most people see the glamour of the entertainment industry, but there's a lot that goes on behind the scenes. Could you shed light on a lesser-known aspect of being an actor that the audience might not be aware of?

Answer: Well the life behind the camera is not that simple or luxurious how it looks like to outside world. Life is equally challenging for actors as well as technicians. NO FAME, NO LEGAL MONEY COMES TO YOU AN EASY WAY. You have to work really hard for it. At times we shoot nonstop for 48 -60 hours without a single break but we never complaint. No matter while shooting whether it's sunny rainy or snowy if we are assigned to finish the particular scene then we have too. At times even though you aren't feeling well mentally and emotionally but for the outer world you have to put up a smile and fake it as if everything is alright because being in showbiz business we actors are judged for every tiny tiny things.

There were times when I was under severe depression I had cried my Heart out inside the caravan just before giving my shot but when I reached the set I was an artist Neha Saxena I smiled, laughed acted and pretended as if nothing is wrong at all. Life of an actor is nothing less than a circus joker. We can't cry even if we want too because world is watching us. The silver lining above all this is audience’s immense love, support and red carpet walk to receive the award.

11.DREAM COLLABORATIONS: Is there a particular director, actor, or co-star you dream of working with in the future? What kind of project would you love to collaborate on with them?

Answer: Well for that I have a huge list because I love and appreciate everyone's work but If you ask me particularly I would love to work with Director Mani Ratnam Sir, S.S Rajamouli Sir, Sukumar Sir, Sudha Kongara ma'am. Actor Rajanikanth Sir, Kamal Hassan Sir, Chiyaan Vikram Sir, Vijay Sethupathy Sir, Naga Arjuna Sir, Amitabh Bacchan Sir, Vijay Devarakonda, Nayanthara, Anushka Shetty, Ramya Krishna Ma'am. Its better I stop here because my list is too long (hahaha). 

12.METHOD ACTING: Some actors prefer to immerse themselves completely into a character using method acting. Do you have any specific techniques or approaches you use to get into character and bring out the essence of the roles you play?

Answer: Yes definitely I have my own ways of studying the character and executing it to its best on screen. It's a huge responsibility to bring in director's or scriptwriter's imagination to life and I make sure I don't leave any stone unturned. I literally become the character. I work on my body language, talking style, expressions and looks. The whole process is just mind blowing and I love every bit of it.

13.CHALLENGES AND GROWTH: Throughout your career, you must have faced numerous challenges. Can you share a particularly challenging moment that tested your resilience as an actor? How did you overcome it, and how did it contribute to your growth?

Answer: In life challenges are part of your journey. I did face multiple challenges but all I knew that it's not the end of my story. It's just the phase of life and it shall pass by. There were few movie projects and brand endorsements where I got selected, received advance cheques and later replaced because I denied to accept their unwanted unprofessional proposals. I have lot of patience and strong believe in my talent. I never follow any wrong path. I never let anything break me. I learnt a lot from my failures rejections & betrayals. There were times when I felt extremely low and depressive but the very next day I gathered all my strength to fight back all obstacles. This is called Life. It never comes with easy module. You got to fight back if you want to survive. Whenever my Life gets tough I become the toughest one. 

14.CINEMATIC EVOLUTION: The film industry is evolving rapidly, with new genres, storytelling techniques, and distribution platforms emerging. How do you see the future of Indian cinema, and how do you plan to adapt and contribute to this evolution?

Answer: It feels great to see the growth of Indian Cinema globally. It gives me pride to witness Indian artists and technicians walking international red carpet to receive their awards. After OTT platforms even regional Cinema got great exposure and somewhere it helped many artists and technicians to establish their talent and expertise. Earlier it was like South Cinema, North Cinema but now each and every industry working together hand in hand including Hollywood and it's so good to watch great contents coming up. I am so proud to be a part of Indian Film Industry. Looking forward to great association with great Cinema makers and actors.

15. MESSAGE TO ASPIRING ACTORS: Your journey from a middle-class background to success is an inspiration for many aspiring actors. What advice would you give to individuals who are pursuing their dreams in the entertainment industry, especially those who might be facing obstacles similar to what you've overcome?

Answer: The moment you decide to do something extra ordinary it comes with tons of struggles, challenges, failures, betrayals by default. You can't expect to have a rosy pathway towards your dreams but you can surely learn to walk through all of it with a positive mindset immense hard work. Practice, Patience, Never compromise on you, respect, life ethics and principles. Especially never allow anyone to dictate you how you should be. This is purely your journey write your own story. Fail, fall, Learn, and Rise, back again stronger than ever. You are enough for yourself. You just have to believe in your potential and dreams. All the best everyone.