Namitaa Sachdeva: My father always wanted me to become an actor

Actor Namitaa Sachdeva says stepping into acting has been a long-held dream, and performing in Mahesh Bhatt’s play Woh Subah Hum Hi Se Aayegi has only strengthened her desire to pursue it professionally. “Getting the opportunity to work in one of Mahesh Bhatt sir’s plays and perform in front of him is huge,” Namitaa says. “I had never even met him before I was selected. Initially, I was called for a reading for one role, but eventually I was offered the lead. It all happened unexpectedly, and I’m grateful for the trust the team placed in me.”

She credits Mahesh Bhatt’s advice for giving her confidence. “He told me, ‘Don’t try to be perfect. Just be completely honest with your craft.’ That stayed with me. Every conversation with him left me feeling more inspired and responsible towards my work.”

Although she has spent years in front of the camera as a as an anchor, Namitaa says acting has always been close to her heart. “My father always wanted me to become an actor. He loved cinema and often said he wanted to see me on screen one day. I think my love for acting came from him.”

She admits theatre was challenging but says it confirmed that acting is the path she wants to follow. “Performing live is completely different because there are no retakes. It teaches you discipline, confidence and helps you grow with every performance. I enjoyed every second of it.”

Looking ahead, Namitaa wants to explore films, web series and more theatre. “I want people to recognise me as an actor. I admire filmmakers like Mahesh Bhatt, Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Imtiaz Ali, and I hope to work with them someday.”

Calling this the beginning of her acting journey, Namitaa says, “The love I received after my first performance has given me confidence and made me want to keep learning, growing and taking on meaningful roles.”