Even before her big Bollywood debut with Yash Raj Film’s Bunty aur Babli 2, Sharvari Wagh will be making her acting debut with Amazon Prime Video’s The Forgotten Army: Azaadi Ke Liye.
Touted to be the biggest show on the digital platform, it is director Kabir Khan's dream project. The web series tells the untold story of Indian National Army (INA), who braved bullets to fight for the Independence of India. The web series will start streaming from January 24 and also stars Sunny Kaushal.
Sharvari says that her character Maya begins her journey as a civilian but gets recruited in the Azaad Hind Fauj. “I play a photographer in the beginning of the series but later join the INA and become a part of the regiment,” she says while promoting it.
She adds that before signing the series, she knew about Subhash Chandra Bose and how he had formed the Azaad Hind Fauj. “It was so shameful that not just me but many people do not know more than this. They are not aware about this chapter in Indian history. After working on the series, I realised the gravity of the this army and how they were completely wiped out from our history books. It was therefore a proud feeling to share their story,” she adds.
The series required lot of physical training because of the action scenes. She says that they had boot camp before the shooting began, where around 150 girls learned how to do march past and other activities. “There were NCC cadets who taught us how to hold a rifle, we did endurance and stamina training. We learned to use rifles that were used in that era. While using the rifles, there used to be spark in our eyes and discomfort in our shoulder. It was physically challenging but everything was so exciting,” says the young actress.
Ask her about working with the Ek Tha Tiger and Bajrangi Bhaijaan director and Sharvari says that because Kabir has done intensive research on the subject, he had answer to every question. “It was such a good experience. Kabir sir is such a sweet person and he never pressurised us for anything. The best part is that he has lived with the story for 20 years,” she says, adding, “He made all of us fall in love with it just as much as he did. We would get equally excited when he used to tell us something. He let each one of bring our own imagination while enacting our respective characters.”
Sharvari, who has bagged both projects (The Forgotten Army: Azaadi Ke Liye and Bunty aur Babli 2) purely through auditions, says that she has evolved immensely as an actor. “I got to learn so much during the six months that we shot The Forgotten Army.... While going for the next audition, I had lot more knowledge,” she says, adding, “I have developed an attitude of never giving up because we have shot the series in such difficult situations. None of us thought of giving up.”
Sharvari can't hide her excitement about her debut film with YRF. The sequel of Bunty aur Babli (2005) stars Siddhant Chaturvedi, Rani Mukerji and Saif Ali Khan. “Bunty aur Babli was a cult hit. I have grown up on watching that film. I remember stitching clothes like Rani Ma'am had worn in the movie. I was very excited to audition for the film. It is a very big privilege for me to share screen with all these amazing actors. Rani ma'am and Saif sir are such senior actors and Siddhant is such a talented man. I am very grateful that I got this project,” says the actress who will soon rejoin the second schedule for Bunty aur Babli 2.
