Sanskruti Jayana Wants ‘Freedom’ From Being Stereotyped In Cinema: Don’t Want To Be Boxed | EXCL

Sanskruti Jayana, who made her acting debut with Krishnavataram this year, is celebrating Independence Day with extra gratitude and ‘a little prayer’ for the country and the people who make it home. In an exclusive interview with Zoom, the actress said even when she was living in London for academic purposes, she would often connect with Indians to celebrate the day. Sanskruti shared that the meaning of Independence Day has changed for her over the years. From flag hoisting in school to spending the day with her parents at the Non-Profit Organisations they worked for, the actress said celebrations have become quieter and more meaningful for her.

Defining what Independent India means to her, told Zoom, “Independent India, to me, is the freedom to be deeply rooted in who we are while having the opportunity to become whoever we want to be.” The actress said, “We are a country of so many languages, religions, cultures and beliefs, yet there is this larger identity that binds us together. I think our generation also has a responsibility to take the richness of India -our values, culture, creativity and stories to the world with pride.”

Talking about her understanding of the term freedom, Jayana said it is important for her to have her voice and the ability to make decisions, mistakes, and learn from them. “Real freedom is not about having no boundaries; it is about having the space to discover who you are and the courage to choose your own path,” the Krishnavataram actress noted.

Sanskruti further spoke about independence and freedom in cinema. “Freedom in cinema is the freedom to tell different stories and to not be put into a box as an artist. As an actor, I want the freedom to explore characters far removed from who I am, to fail, experiment and surprise myself. I think Indian cinema today has an incredible opportunity to tell stories that are authentically ours and still connect with audiences anywhere in the world,” she said.

Signing off, Sanskruti said films like Rang De Basanti, Swades and Chak De! India are a part of her core memory because, according to the actress, their idea of patriotism isn’t only about saying that you love your country -it is about asking what you can contribute to it.

Sanskruti made her debut with the first part of Krishnavataram. She played the role of Satyabhama in the mythological trilogy.