Starting out as a child artiste, Sakshi Saha has emerged as a promising young talent in the industry today. With the film Shree Durga, she steps into a powerful, female-driven narrative as Sneha. From learning the craft by observing her sister Ena Saha to drawing inspiration from senior actors, Sakshi speaks about the joy and challenges of transitioning into lead roles, the importance of humility, and the discipline required to grow as an actor. A t2 chat...
Tell us about your role in Shree Durga.
In Shree Durga, I play Sneha — Durga’s daughter and the youngest member of the cast. She’s a spirited girl who even fights the villain, and portraying her was a really exciting experience. It’s a female-oriented film where women take charge and fight the villains, and my character is close to my real age. Sneha also has the messy, relatable life of a typical Gen Z girl, which I really wanted to bring to the screen. And honestly, the story has so much potential to stand out.
How was your experience working with Aparajita Adhya?
Having Aparajita Adhya as my on-screen mother was a blessing. Most of my scenes are with her, and everyone knows what a phenomenal actress she is. She’s incredibly encouraging — she pushes her co-actors to give their best. She helped me with dialogues, with performance… she’s truly an inspiration.
How would you describe your journey from being a child actor to now pursuing prominent roles?
Being a child actor was always fun because it felt like a hobby I was doing all the time, even while balancing school. Growing up in the industry taught me so much — I understand characters better, and being around so many people from a young age has definitely helped. Now, people consider me for more prominent and lead roles, which feels like a natural progression.
Many actors say the transition from child roles to lead roles is like starting a second career. Would you agree?
For me, acting has always been my first priority. I was never particularly studious, so I knew from early on that this is what I wanted to take seriously as a career. Maybe in the future I’ll explore business too, but acting remains my main focus. I’ve been acting my entire life and I’m truly passionate about it, every new project has helped me grow and become better.
Was there a project or director who first saw you as more than a child actor — as a potential lead?
I was very naughty as a child, and someone thought that my personality could work on screen! That’s how it started. Later, Abhimanyu Mukherjee cast me in Basanta Eshe Geche, and I’m very grateful to him and Surinder Films for that opportunity. I always wanted to play a school or college girl in uniform, and that project made it happen.
Does the industry still see you through the lens of your earlier work, or are you getting space to reinvent yourself?
I don’t think people focus on my childhood work anymore. I’ve changed so much — in looks, skills, and as an actor. My recent work is what people now recognise, and that’s what’s opening doors to bigger projects.
How has your process of preparing for a role evolved as the emotional depth has increased?
As a child, I didn’t really prepare — the characters were close to my own personality, so everything felt spontaneous. Now, preparation is much deeper. I think about how the character would react to situations versus how I would react. Music also helps me a lot in getting into
the emotional space of a character.
How do you balance industry pressures while staying true to your identity and personal growth?
It’s actually very simple for me. I’ve seen my sister manage both personal and professional life beautifully. She taught me how important communication is — in the industry and in personal relationships. So, balancing it all has been quite smooth.
Is there a dream character or genre that you feel will mark your true ‘arrival’ as a leading actress?
I’ve been craving to do a romantic love story for a long time. I’m still waiting for that perfect love story — the one that truly feels like the role.