Charu Shankar on why Sandeep Reddy Vanga chose her for 'Animal' after auditioning hundreds of actors - Exclusive

As the highly anticipated Ranbir Kapoor starrer 'Animal' makes a resounding impact at the box office, we turn our attention to the character that brings depth and emotion to the intense narrative – Animal's mother, portrayed by Charu Shankar. In an exclusive interview with ETimes, she shares insights into her experience of joining the cast, delves into her collaboration with director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, and provides a glimpse into the dynamics of working alongside the iconic Anil Kapoor.Here are excerpts from our conversation...
'Animal' has received a stupendous response from the audience. How does it feel?
It’s hard to put this feeling into words. As an actor, you often think, 'Oh, what if this happens? What would it be like when it happens?' It's like a little blessing. I was super chuffed when I saw myself in the trailer. Animal is edgy and stylised and is going to be a trendsetter for films to come now.
How did you come on board for Sandeep Reddy Vanga's directorial?
I got a call straight from the Director’s team early last year, but when I went to meet Sandeep, he was very polite and he said, 'Thank you for coming', but I think you are too young to play Jyoti in the later part of the film. At the time I had already shot for 'Rocket Boys'. So I showed him photos of myself as Indira Gandhi on my phone, saying 'I love the challenge of becoming that which I am not'. He was quite taken aback when he saw those pictures, and he was like, 'Okay, well, it's quite something that you've managed to achieve'. Many months later, I got a call saying I have got the role. Sandeep later told me that he had auditioned hundreds of actors, but he had never forgotten how I sat across the table from him looking so different from the images on the phone he held.

Sandeep's first Hindi film, 'Kabir Singh' received mixed reactions. While some praised him for his cinematic genius, others slammed him for making sexist and misogynistic content. What was your experience of working with him like?
I can’t comment on Kabir Singh, but what I can comment on is my own character in my film, in Animal. And one thing that I really liked about working with Sandeep was that he had a razor sharp focus on his story. Animal is a story about love that has reached outrageous limits. My character, Jyoti, is perhaps the only person who foresees this, right at the beginning of the film. And she appeals to both men, forcefully even. From the very beginning, Sandeep was very clear and I was very clear that this character is not a pushover. I wanted her to interject, to try and stop this, to push back. Sandeep heard me out and we workshopped it. And in the process we were really able to create a well rounded, fully fleshed out character. I really appreciate this about Sandeep.

You play Anil Kapoor's wife in the movie. How was it working with him?
I grew up watching Anil Kapoor's films and I have adored him for years. And it was a great privilege for me to be cast opposite Anil Kapoor in Animal. He is an absolute pleasure to work with as an actor. He's got a very collaborative process, and with me, he was always very gracious. He always wanted to know- What would Jyoti say here? How would Jyoti respond? What would Jyoti's reaction be? And whatever it was that I said in response, he heard it and he said, yeah, okay, let's try it like this. I felt absolutely comfortable around him, despite him being a superstar and me being super star-struck!

How did you prepare for your role, especially considering the dynamic between your character and those played by Anil Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor?
Ranbir plays my son in the film and Sandeep always maintained that in the whole family, Jyoti probably understood him best, and she stands up for him in front of his father (AK). As the two clashed, I wanted to play this dynamic with quiet strength and the boys were totally on board with this.

The film also stars Ranbir Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna and Bobby Deol. How are they as actors on the set and as co-stars? Whom did you bond the most with on the set?
Sabse zyada bonding - that would be with Rashmika! She is just too cute, and we got on from the word go.
Animal explores intense and dramatic themes. How do you navigate emotionally demanding scenes, and what do you find most rewarding about portraying such roles?
As an actor, I have always tried to make different choices, to steer clear of stereotypes, especially in intense or dramatic scenes. For example, the scenes where my character Jyoti confronts AK, her husband, I didn’t want it to sound like nagging. So I kept the image of gardening in my mind- maybe here, Jyoti is planting the seed of an idea. It’s a small shift, but it changes the way I say the lines.