Forget her long, lean and luminous brows. It is her disarming honesty and curious charm that hooks you in a jiffy. Actor Tara Sutaria certainly isn’t one to rest on her stunning beauty laurels (blame the genes). She has been busy honing her vocal cords, perfecting dance moves, signing on plum film projects and soaking up the making of movie greats over the past few months.
“I have been dipping into the making of classics,” says Tara, who shares her methodical research with over 5.5 million pairs of Insta eyes.” The unedited footage of Pakeezah, unsung documentaries on Meena Kumari, and Judy Garland put that together with Netflix binge sessions, including Bad Boy Billionaires, The Crown Season 4, David Letterman shows…” she further explains.
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You could easily call Tara God’s favourite child! A lithe ballerina, cerebrally stylish, well-endowed with smashing good looks, an ability to articulate seamlessly in dramatic performances, a golden voice, and latent skills in wielding the charcoal on paper to sketch ruminations, while she bakes legendary pies!
“Being kind and gracious is an absolute must, that is how my parents have raised me,” she says of her simple upbringing in a Parsi family. “Beauty is as beauty does,’ my mum always says. While you are unique, you are never indispensable. I love and treasure the adulation that everyone showers me with. But I am aware that it could disappear tomorrow.”
Two years old in the film industry, and working on her fifth blockbuster, it has been an adroit shift, from the world of television and theatre to the coveted silver screen when she debuted in the movie Student of the Year 2. Her Insta bio reads Attraversiamo, meaning ‘let’s cross over’ in Italian, and Tara does just that! Bringing in enviable poise, having trained in classical ballet and Latin American dances from the School of Classical Ballet and Western Dance (she clinched a full scholarship to enrol at the Royal Academy of Dance, London). “I have trained for 15 years in singing, and am now back to frequent riyaaz, as opposed to just strengthening my vocal cords and techniques in the shower!” she says, having maximised on the slow down over the past few months. “I am singing a couple of songs in my upcoming film Ek Villain too,” she says brightly (she’s co-starring with Ahan Shetty in his debut film, currently under production).
The passion for music runs deep, with her love for musical theatre, semi-classical and western classical music, West End shows in full glow. “I am an old soul,” she confesses, against the backdrop of Elvis crooning on her record player at home where she lives with her parents. “I get along fabulously with older people, love vintage jewellery and am big on hoarding trinkets that sing of the ‘80s and ‘90s. I adore pearls – they are wonderfully chic, minimalistic, and make for a classic cut with blazers and dresses alike.” Of course, her sense of style has evolved, from favouring simply solid colours to experiment with prints. “Never say never. I used to shun prints earlier, but now have a flurry darting through my wardrobe,” she confesses.
Festivities pour easily into her close-knit family. “Diwali has always been about dressing up, spending time with friends and family, preparing a feast… though 2020 brings in a rather low-key celebration. But I had a blast shooting for the ELLE India cover, as I got the chance to wear brilliant traditional outfits. It felt like I was celebrating Diwali on the set!” she laughs candidly. “With the ongoing pandemic situation that we are grappling with at different levels, I do feel a little low, honestly. My sister, Pia, moved to London two months back and I am missing her sorely. Work has picked up again – I have signed on Heropanti 2, my second film with Tiger Shroff, and there is so much to share with her. I love London, but am unable to fly down to be with my twin for my birthday too this month,” she rues.
Next on the bucket list is Italy. “I want to visit that bridge in Capri, where when you hug your loved one, you are each other’s forever!” While she maps her way forward in the film world, what has been her biggest learning? “I have everything I have ever wanted in life, right now, and I feel blessed. My biggest learning has been that you must always know and value your true worth,” she says, slipping on her best buddy – her headphones – with a smile.
Invalid slider id. Master Slider ID must be a valid number.Photographer: Taras Taraporvala; Stylist: Shaeroy Chinoy; Art direction and cover design: Pinky Akola; Hair: Amit Thakur; Make-up: Shraddha Inder Mehta; Production: P Productions; Marketing head: Ekta Ashar; Assisted by: Sanika B (styling); Actor’s reputation management: Raindrop Media, Gurmeet Kaur
