Sulagna Panigrahi has taken the big leap.
From Sony TV’s 'Ambar Dhara' to Mohit Suri’s 'Murder 2'.
If she won many hearts playing the demure Maithali in Zee’s 'Do Saheliyaan', she is now turning heads with innocent college girl-turned-prostitute role in her Bollywood debut.
Sulagna admits to have always dreamt of making it big in Bollywood but never thought it would happen so fast. “Rajan Shahi (producer of the popular soap Bidaai) is a good friend of director Mohit Suri. One day, he casually asked me to call on Mohit. The very first time we met, he offered me the role of Reshma,” she says, adding that it was only in the second meeting that she realised that she was in the sequel of 'Murder'.
Although the film stars Emraan Hashmi and Jacqueline Fernandes in lead roles, Sulagna came across as a surprise package and drew attention. She also performed daredevil stunts for her role.
Working with Bhatt camp was easy and delightful, Sulagna says. “Mahesh sir complimented me on the first screening of 'Murder 2' by saying that I was a star—the best compliment I have received so far,” she says.
Mohit, the actress says, is the most “calm” and “chilled out” person she has ever met. “He never rushed through any scene nor forces his actors to portray the characters in a particular way,” she adds.
Sulagna, who comes from an Army background, was born in Orissa’s Berhampur before her family moved to Bhubaneswar and New Delhi, where she did her schooling. “I think my exposure to the army world helped me perform the stunts with ease. To everyone’s surprise, I didn’t even need a body double,” she says.
Between the small screen and silver screen, she feels Bollywood is more comforting. “In television, one cannot afford many takes. In movies, it is the other way round. You can take as many takes you want to give a perfect shot,” she adds.
A newcomer, Sulagna is not in awe of Kareenas and Katrinas.
“I love challenging roles and I want to try something different every time. If the script and my role move me and I see the director is backing it up, I know I have to do the film,” she explains.
The angelic-faced Sulgana boasts of a great body but does not believe in hitting the gym. “I am a complete foodie. Working out is boring. I believe if you love your food, it would never harm you. I don’t believe in size zero,” she says. For now, she has not signed any new films. “I am reading a few scripts but nothing has been decided so far,” Sulagna signs off.