Actress Ananya Tiwari: A Tête-à-tête with 'Sarkari Baccha'

Actress Ananya Tiwari, who was previously seen in Mission Chapter 1, is all set to star as the female lead in Sarkari Baccha, alongside Ruslaan Mumtaz, Hemant Choudhary, Brijendra Kala, and Gurpreet Kaur Chadha. The film is set to release on 28th February, 2025.

Actress Ananya Tiwari looked excited talking about her much talked about upcoming film, Sarkari Baccha:

Tell me about the audition test you had to go through being an outsider.

“The auditions for this film went on for a long time as they were looking for a girl with an innocent, desi touch—bubbly and full of life. When I came across this role, I felt a deep connection. I gave my all in multiple auditions and look tests, and when I got the role, it felt like a dream come true—a validation after years of struggle.”

She continued, “My character is a sweet, jolly small-town girl who deeply loves her family, especially her father, but also fears him. She is in love with the hero and wants to marry him, but due to her father’s condition, their marriage may or may not happen. The film portrays various social issues through a romantic comedy-drama storyline.”

What specific aspects of the "innocent, desi touch" were you asked to embody during the auditions for Sarkari Baccha, and how did you prepare for them?

I can relate to my character being from a small town, but a lot of preparation was required. I gained 8 kg for the role and worked on the character transformation. Challenges exist for everyone, whether an outsider or insider. (Actress Ananya Tiwari) I choose not to dwell on it; if you have talent, your work will speak for itself. My journey has just begun, and I’m ready to put in the effort and let my work define me. Because I myself belong to a small town and have grown up in such an environment since childhood, I was able to relate to that character to a great extent. Apart from this, I attended workshops, observed the girls there. Any actor has to prepare a lot for their role, so I did the same.

Can you describe a specific scene with Brijendra Kala where his comedic talent particularly enhanced the dynamic, making it easier for you to perform?

Brijendra sir is such a supportive actor that you don’t even realize when the scene gets completed with him. I got to learn a lot while working with him even in normal conversations, he can make people laugh. If you sit with him, you are bound to laugh. Bijendra sir is the kind of comedic actor who can make you laugh even in a normal conversation. I think it’s a god-gifted quality that he can naturally make anyone laugh. He is such a senior and experienced actor, and working with him was an absolute joy. He is also extremely supportive, which makes performing scenes with him so easy. He shares a great bond with everyone, and I really enjoyed his company both on and off screen.”

Considering Sarkari Baccha portrays various social issues, which particular issue resonated with you the most, and how is it addressed through your character's journey?

All the issues shown in the film seem important to me in today's situation. Whether it is the pressure of a government job, dowry, or Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. Even today, there is such a shortage of girls, which is one reason why boys are unable to find girls for marriage. Unemployment is so high that people can’t find jobs here, and a government job is even more difficult to get. If a boy is in a government job, then he is auctioned off, and an exorbitant dowry is demanded.
All these social issues have been portrayed very well in this film. Apart from this, you will get to see a lot more good things, which you will understand only after watching the film.

Given that this was Junior Mehmood's last film, what is one specific piece of advice or observation he shared that you will carry forward in your career?

First thing I especially want to say about Junior Mehmood sir is that this was his last film, and I feel truly grateful for the chance to work with him and learn from him. He was a legendary actor—I’ve never seen anyone like him. His aura, his positivity, his down-to-earth nature, and his ability to smile through every situation taught me what a true artist should be. The way he played his characters, it felt like he truly lived in that moment.”
Junior Mehmood sir is such a legendary actor that no amount of praise is enough for him.I am blessed that I got the opportunity to work with him.I learned from him how an actor should be. His aura was such that he was so humble, down to earth, and there was always a positivity on his face. Sitting with him after the shoot, listening to his film experiences, and learning from him was truly special.

What specific methods did you use to gain 8 kg for the role, and how did this physical transformation influence your portrayal of the character?

The motive behind gaining weight was to achieve the cuteness and slightly chubby look that the character required. It wasn’t about gaining a lot of heavy weight, just maintaining a certain cuteness on the face, and that was achieved. I gained 8 kg, but because my height is good, the body doesn’t appear too heavy. We got exactly what we wanted.I am a big foodie; I did all sorts of amazing food experiments and enjoyed delicious five-star buffets every day, but whatever I eat, I always eat healthy.

How did your experience as an "outsider" in the film industry shape your approach to this role, and what advice would you give to other aspiring actors facing similar challenges?

For an outsider, reaching this level is obviously not easy. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication. Many  times, it feels like giving up.I have also seen many ups and downs, faced several breakdowns, and often wondered if this would ever happen. But one thing was always clear in my mind—I have to do this, and it will definitely happen.I just want to tell every upcoming actor: don’t lose hope. If you ever feel down, restart again. One day, you will definitely reach your destination—just keep trying and be positive.

The article mentions your character's deep love for her family and fear of her father. How did you balance these conflicting emotions in your performance?

I am blessed that all my co-actors were such talented and experienced actors, which made things easier for me. When you get a good action, giving a reaction becomes easier. This is called action - reaction. Apart from that, yes, I worked very hard on my character for one month, prepared and understood every scene.I truly lived the character of Pari until the film’s shoot was completed.

My experience working on this film was amazing, and I got to learn a lot. As actors, we learn the most on a film set. I had the opportunity to work alongside some incredibly senior actors—legends whose films we grew up watching. Sharing the screen with them was an incredible experience. All the other actors—Ehsan sir, Bijendra sir, Ruslaan—were also incredibly supportive. The atmosphere on set was so positive that we never even realized how quickly the shoot would wrap up.”

`Sarkari Baccha' is described as a romantic comedy-drama. How does the film balance the comedic and dramatic elements to effectively convey its social messages?

The story of Sarkari Bacche is a star in itself. This film beautifully weaves and showcases all these social messages through a sweet love story—sometimes making you laugh, sometimes bringing emotions, and sometimes love. You will understand it even better when you watch the film.

What did you learn from working alongside veteran actors like Ruslaan Mumtaz and Hemant Choudhary?

Ruslaan is a very good actor and much senior to me. I used to watch his films during my teenage years, and MP3 was one of my favorite movies. At the same time, Ruslaan is a very supportive co-artist, and from the very first day, we shared a great bond. Our friendship started on the first day itself, and this bond will also be seen on screen as amazing chemistry. Hemant sir is also a great artist, and working with him was a wonderful experience. . Our entire team was supportive and felt like a family.

Looking ahead, how do you plan to leverage the experience and exposure from 'Sarkari Baccha' to define and advance your career in Bollywood?

I know 'Sarkari Baccha' is going to be a super duper hit. It will connect with the audience on a deep level. So right now, I am just manifesting my film’s super success.

Read also:

• Shraddha Kapoor jewellery Brand on Shark Tank India – Aman Gupta Asks Actress
• MTV Roadies XX: Prince Narula Threatens Elvish Yadav with Slap on Roadies XX, Calls Him Snake
• Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt Reunite After 13 Years for Upcoming Hollywood Film
• School Friends Season 3 Trailer: Amazon MX Player Announces School Friends Season 3 with Ashnoor Kaur