Raw And Real: Adah Sharma

You have showcased your acting prowess in different languages, including Hindi, Telegu, Tamil and Kannada. What were the challenges you had to face initially? How did you overcome the same?

Not coming from a film background, bagging my first film was definitely a challenge. I wanted to debut with a film where I was the protagonist, and had a good scope to showcase my acting skills. I was a good student in school and even managed to top in Marathi, a language I wasn’t fluent in, yet managed to mug up. I am very good at mimicry also. Both the traits helped me in overcoming the initial challenges. Further, I think if you are intelligent and diligent you can excel in any profession you choose.

You are a woman of many talents and have added another feather to your cap, with 3.8 million followers on Instagram. What is your success mantra to ace the social media game?

I’m glad people find me different and entertaining. For me, there’s no mantra for social media. I prefer to portray my real self, a ‘no holds barred avatar’. On my Instagram, I share behind the scenes shenanigans to engage my fans and followers. Also, I try to stay unaffected by moral policing and do whatever I want to. It’s also extremely flattering when I see other actresses trying to do a look that I sported or a video like mine.

You have time and again showcased your brilliant dancing skills onscreen. Please tell us about your formal training in dance. What kind of fitness routine do you have to follow for the same?

I’ve graduated in kathak. I think it helps me a lot with rhythm and picking up other dance styles. I got a chance to dance with Prabhu Deva in my debut Tamil film in 2019, and it was a dream come true moment. I practice dance almost every day. Before any dance routine, I warm up with Surya Namaskar and cool down with Chandra Namaskar.

You are a trained gymnast as well. How does it help you to prepare for diverse roles onscreen, for instance, films like Commando 3, which require agility to perform breathtaking stunts?

It’s good if you are trained, then the choreography can be worked upon accordingly. With Commando 3, we raised the bar of action films in Hindi cinema. Also, an actress doing action and stunts is kind of rare, and to be able to do that in one of the biggest action franchises in India is an awesome experience.

Being a part of showbiz, constant demands of transformations, added to hectic work schedules can be really overwhelming. How do you push yourself to stay on track and workout amidst all the frenzy?

I love to do this. I’m getting to live my dream so I welcome all the frenzy. I live for this madness; the demands of transformations, sleepless nights, preparation, pushing myself and working out in all the madness.

If you had to debunk fitness myths, what would those be?

The first myth is ‘eat less to lose weight’. It might be true initially, but eventually, you will start eating and your metabolism will drop so low that you will end up putting on weight faster. The second one would be ‘carbs are bad for you’; avoid processed food, but unrefined sources of carbs like quinoa, vegetables, oats, pulses, brown rice, to name a few, provide your body with the essential vitamins and minerals. Lastly, listen to your body. People tend to compare workout routines and progress, but there isn’t one exercise that fits all. Body compositions are different and instead of blindly taking advise, connect with yourself and discover what is best for you.

What would be your go-to advice on fitness for our readers?

Fitness starts in the mind, and honestly, that’s most important. If you are not strong mentally, physical fitness doesn’t count. Learn to focus and discipline your mind. Try meditating. I’m a very hyper person and my meditation is shooting (the rifle). A lot of people don’t know that I’m a sharpshooter. It requires a lot of focus and concentration along with breath control.