Ever wonder what it's really like to work alongside a Bollywood superstar? Actress Vartika Singh, in a recent interview, gave us a fascinating peek behind the curtain of her debut film, 'Haq,' and her experience with co-star Emraan Hashmi. Her words paint a picture of a collaborative and supportive environment, which is not always a given in the high-pressure world of film.
In an exclusive chat with IANS, Vartika was effusive in her praise, highlighting how Emraan's down-to-earth nature set the tone on set. She emphasized that he made her feel like an equal, a crucial element for a newcomer navigating the world of Bollywood. She mentioned that his approach helped her to perform with confidence.
"Emraan is such a grounded artist," Vartika shared. "When you meet him, there's no weight of stardom. He makes you feel just as important as he is. Sitting next to him, you don't feel like you're with a superstar. He creates an equal space, which helps you perform better. He's effortless in his craft-he can switch from casual to deeply intense scenes so naturally that it leaves you amazed.”
But here's where it gets interesting: Vartika also spoke about her scenes with Yami Gautam, which were emotionally demanding. She noted that they had to maintain a specific mental space before each take.
"Most of my scenes with Yami were emotionally heavy because of our equation in the film. There wasn't much scope for light moments on set, as both of us had to stay in a certain mental space before every scene. But I learned a lot from her stillness and detailing-how deeply she stays connected to her character, even in small gestures like holding a handkerchief. That level of detailing is inspiring.”
And this is the part most people miss: Vartika's preparation for her role involved a deep dive into her character's psyche. She revealed that she completely surrendered to the character, trying to understand her thoughts and feelings. She even went as far as writing poems from her character's perspective to get a better understanding of her emotions. She delved into the character's backstory, upbringing, and relationships to build a comprehensive inner world.
"As an actor, you have to surrender completely. I tried to understand how Saira thinks and feels. I even wrote poems as Saira to understand her emotions better. I imagined her past-where she came from, her upbringing, how she met Abbas, what she must have gone through. All of this helped me shape her inner world. I used to jot everything in my diary and connect her emotional dots. I also added small nuances from my own personality, like empathy, to make her more authentic.”
For those unfamiliar, 'Haq' marks Vartika Singh's Bollywood debut. The courtroom drama, directed by Suparn S Varma, stars Emraan Hashmi and Yami Gautam. It's loosely inspired by the Shah Bano case and follows Vartika's character, Saira, who becomes involved with Shazia's husband, leading to a legal battle. The film was released on November 7, 2025.
What do you think? Does Emraan Hashmi's approach sound like the key to a successful set? Share your thoughts in the comments! Do you think this kind of collaborative environment is essential for a newcomer's success? Or are there other factors that play a more significant role? Let's discuss!
