I got an email from my editor with the subject line, ‘Cover Story with Sobhita Dhulipala,’ right before the holiday break. For the record, just like most of us, I dread deadlines looming over around the holiday season, but with Dhulipala’s interview opportunity resting in my inbox, my creative juices went into overdrive! While that may sound like an exaggeration to many, my fascination with Dhulipala’s demeanour since her early career days is intriguing. As I sent my quick acceptance to write the story, I excitedly scrolled through her social media feed; her bio says, ‘Life is short, just give up,’ which (almost) felt like the writer in me was making an instant connection with my muse.
Dhulipala, for one, is unfazed and comfortably unfiltered, even if it’s not to everyone’s liking. If her interviews are anything to go by, it’s certain that in her quest to get comfortable with the industry’s uncharted norms, she created an exclusive space to pursue her passion in her own ways. While most actors prefer the silver screen, Dhulipala rose to fame with the much-talked-about OTT series Made in Heaven. “I am of the belief that we are all constantly changing as a response to the influences around us and occurrences in our lives,” she shares. Lauded for her performance and sartorial elegance, Dhulipala made her way to everyone’s list of favourite actors. Her career trajectory since her debut in Anurag Kashyap’s Raman Raghav 2.0 in 2016 is a testimony to her versatility as a performer.
In the last six years, the actor has gained a steady following on social media and a reputation for being a style icon. “I don’t know if I’m a style icon,” she disagrees with a laugh. “But being recognised for it by many expert institutions (including ELLE) definitely makes me feel thrilled. There are days when I like to go all out with styling by collaborating with creative minds and excellent design houses, and there are days when I show up in a relaxed fit from my wardrobe for even the grandest of occasions. I find that my style is increasingly becoming personal and not curated. I want to be seen for who and how I am.”
Today, Dhulipala’s name is a sought-after one in the industry, even though it’s been a brief stint in Bollywood since her debut. “My debut film, Raman Raghav 2.0 released in 2016; it’s been seven years. I look forward to a lifetime of storytelling. I am absolutely grateful, thoroughly inspired and filled with joy,” she shares.
However, if you think it’s only Dhulipala’s choice of projects that set her apart from her contemporaries, think again. For actors who live most of their lives under constant media scrutiny, Dhulipala appears to be a rare personality who doesn’t fear speaking her mind. In one of her previous interviews with ELLE India, the actor confesses, ‘I grew up as somebody who didn’t feel pretty, and sometimes I still struggle to enjoy the compliments because I’m angry with how I was made to feel for so long.’
When asked about the importance of having a close support system in the industry to help her be her own true self, she shares: “I’ve had the good fortune of working with some of the best and most distinct minds of our cinema fraternity, including Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap, and Mani Ratnam sir. Storytelling inspires me, the process excites me, and the lack of familiarity or ‘support system’ as you call it – within the film industry- has not had much role to play in my charged ride so far.”
The actor has gained a steady following on social media and much-anticipated projects in the industry, along with equal praises for her on- and off-screen style and her dancing prowess. But a careful scroll through her Instagram feed takes you to a different world of Dhulipala, where you see an avid reader describing reading as her joy. The 31-year-old actor has often referred to herself as an introvert who finds solace in the written word. And that’s not it; her social media is real and relatable, to say the least. From her cursing on stories to loaded food plates on her feed and witty captions, Dhulipala defies the usual social media norms and goes on to prove that she’s one of us. “I’ve been a fan of reading since my childhood and find inspiration in literature. I’m currently reading Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes. I’m curious about its myths, it’s focus on what shapes who we are and being able to tune into our inner voice. It looks like a tough read, but I’m sure it will be a rewarding one!”
As I read more about her on the internet, I realised her honesty is the common factor that charms everyone. It’s her raw take that keeps it interesting and authentic, something that’s refreshing to see in the industry that runs on a manicured media presence and a to-good-to-be-true persona. If her personality on the set of the cover shoot is a testament to who she is, it’s enough to say that Dhulipala is not afraid to experiment, far from being predictable and playing it safe. We end with the clichéd question: what’s next? “To be honest, I find that I’m more interested in horizontal growth as a human being and wish to work on finding depth in the little things instead of obsessing on bigger, better, larger, faster. This is the new dream,” she shares. Here’s wishing she continues to break the stereotypical norms and serve us the honesty that’s rare!
ELLE India Editor: Ainee Nizami Ahmedi; Photographer: Soujit Das; Fashion Editor: Zoha Castelino; Fashion Assistant: Komal Shetty; Makeup: Anigha Jain; Hair: Arvind Kumar; Bookings Editor: Aliza Fatma; Assisted by: Nirali Patel (styling), Raaina Jain, Mitali Lakhotia (bookings); Production: Cutloose Productions; Artist’s Reputation Management: Spice Social
