Chum Darang on Working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali: ‘His Artistry Keeps You in Awe and Fear’

Chum Darang on Working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali: ‘His Artistry Keeps You in Awe and Fear’

19 days ago | 5 Views

Chum Darang, who gained recognition through films like Gangubai Kathiawadi and Badhaai Do, recently made headlines after her participation in Salman Khan's Bigg Boss 18, where she reached the final stage of the competition. In light of her newfound fame, the actress appeared on Bharti Singh's podcast, where she candidly spoke about her ethnic background, the obstacles she has encountered in her acting career, and her work with renowned director Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Darang noted that despite her frequent thoughts of leaving the industry, new job opportunities consistently emerged.

Chum Darang's challenges related to her ethnicity and financial hardships

The actress articulated her disappointment regarding the limited opportunities available to her due to her ethnicity, which led her to consider exiting the industry on multiple occasions. She highlighted the difficulties of living in Mumbai, where the high cost of living makes it challenging to sustain oneself, particularly during periods of unemployment. However, her situation has improved recently. When she entered the industry in 2018, she found little success and ultimately left in 2019. It was during her journey home that she learned about the casting for Gangubai Kathiawadi, and following the lockdown, just as she was preparing to retrieve her belongings, she received an offer for Badhaai Do.

Darang is currently enjoying her rise to fame following her participation in Bigg Boss, yet she firmly believes that humility is essential for achieving success. She fondly recalls her experiences working with Bhansali on Gangubai Kathiawadi, particularly the time she took her grandmother to Delhi for knee treatment while staying with her brother, who was then a student. Her grandmother, who is over 80 years old, recorded Darang's audition for Gangubai Kathiawadi when no one else was at home. When the call from Bhansali's office arrived, expressing satisfaction with her audition, Darang initially dismissed it as a prank, as such calls can often be misleading. She shared the news with her best friend, who advised her to disregard it; however, it was later confirmed to be genuine. The experience was nerve-wracking for her. In the film, she was one of ten girls sharing a brothel with Alia Bhatt's character, yet she did not have any dialogue.

Working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Regarding her collaboration with Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Darang mentioned the constant concern that he might request changes, given the meticulous nature of his work. He exercises complete control over every detail, including the color schemes and costumes designed by the costume team. The high standards of Bhansali's productions often result in extended timelines, as he invests significant passion and effort into his projects. She recounted an instance when he became frustrated because the crew had overlooked a backdrop element during a scene.

During her time on Bigg Boss 18, Darang developed feelings for Karanveer Mehra. Despite their mutual confessions of affection on the show, she ultimately placed him in the friend zone. In response to inquiries from Singh about their relationship, she maintained that she and Mehra share a strong friendship.

Thoughts on marriage and future plans

Darang aspires to marry and start a family; she wishes to have children before she becomes too old. However, she is currently uncertain about whether to choose the partner selected by her parents or the one she ultimately decides to marry.

In terms of her professional commitments, the actress is in the process of finalizing the projects she had previously set aside due to her participation in Bigg Boss. She plans to make an official announcement regarding these projects at the right time.

Read Also: Zoya Akhtar: "Fresh Talent Needs Audience Support—Go Watch Them in Theatres"

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