“Practically speaking, I definitely want Anuja to appear for the exams”, shares Ananya Shanbag

There is a fascinating scene in Anuja, the Indian short film which was nominated in the Best Live Action Short Film Category in the 2025 Oscars. The sisters– Anuja (Sajda) and Palak (Ananya Shanbag)–are unable to sell cloth-made bags on a busy street in Mumbai. As these sisters negotiate with the crowd on the street, little do they realise that their humanness is not even acknowledged. They represent one of the sounds in the mélange of sounds which seems cacophony to the worried, anxious and disturbed in the city. To those who are acutely sensitive, their voices represent a measured and silent protest to achieve their rightful place in a city which takes so much and gives so little in return.There are also people on the street who have lost the verve and determination to live meaningfully. For these, these sisters are mere spectacle. Then, there are those who are so intoxicated with the peaks of pleasures that reality changes for them when the geography of the reality changes. As Anuja enters a mall (a cinematic liberty), she is not only acknowledged but there is a woman who pays heed to her and is willing to buy a bag. Whether this is a comment on capitalism or to the fact that geography changes realities, the scene stays with a viewer. Anuja is able to sell a bag at a price much higher than she had considered. This is what sums up the story of the short film: Reality is not a linear deal for street kids. They are almost always in dilemmas which cover pleasures, duties, sufferings, dreams and sacrifices.

ET spoke with Ananya Shanbag, who played Anuja’s understanding, mature and able elder sister in the film. She shares her experience in shooting the film. A trained Bharatnatyam dancer, Shanbag has given a credible performance in the film especially in scenes which demanded wordless interactions with Anuja. Perhaps, her training in Bharatnatyam helped her enhance her performance.

Following are the edited excerpts of the interview:

Could you tell us about your background?

I am a final year student of Christ University, Bangalore studying Performing Arts, English and Psychology. I am a Bharatanatyam dancer. I have been learning the art form for about fifteen years now. I completed my Bharatanatyam Arangetram in 2017.

How did you get the role of Palak?

Romil Modi, a casting director spotted me at one of my Bharatanatyam performances. He thought I would be suitable for the role of Palak. I auditioned and got the role.

Were there any reference points of films for Anuja? For instance, the Hindi film Salaam Bombay, which deals with stories about street children, is a case in the point.

Yes, I did watch a few films which dealt with children of similar backgrounds. I learned a lot from Sajda (the actor who played Anuja) herself. I learnt the accent and mannerisms required for the role from her.

You have grown up in a different milieu. What is it you learnt about street kids and their lives while preparing and after playing the role?

I got to learn so much about them. There is definitely a lot of struggle in their lives. I have also realised they never give up despite challenges in their lives. It is inspiring to see how people of all age groups work and contribute in some way. There was a huge group of kids playing around cars. They were extremely joyful and curious about the whole process of shooting. While shooting the scene where we sell bags, I realised how hard they must be working every single day. Life is more challenging for them and they have to somehow make ends meet. I hope all the kids have a Palak in their lives.

What is your understanding of the ending of the film?

In my opinion, Anuja does what she feels is best for her sister. This is despite the fact that Palak works hard to get Anuja to write the exams. Actually, Anuja is put in a tough spot. If she goes back to the factory, she earns more money and Palak doesn’t lose her job. She also gets to be with Palak. However, if she appears for the exams, Palak will lose her job and Anuja will have to go away to a boarding school. Since they both have only each other, emotionally speaking, I would not want the two sisters to separate. However, practically speaking, I definitely want Anuja to appear for the exams.

Is there any particular scene which you enjoyed and it became a fulfilling scene as an actress?

The scene where we read matrimonial advertisements in the newspaper has to be one of my favourites. It was a semi-scripted scene. We didn’t particularly learn any lines so that we could crack whatever jokes came to our minds and have a genuine laugh. We had to bring out that sibling chemistry. It made our (Ananya’s and Sajda’s) bond stronger. Another scene would be the one where Palak tells Sajda about how she made the bags. I had to speak to the camera as if I was explaining Sajda the story and at the same time stitch the bag secretly and walk out of the factory pretending the bag was mine. So that was something that taught me a lot.

You are a trained Bharatnatyam dancer as well. Do you want to pursue acting as a profession or do you want to juggle your love for dance with acting?

Bharatnatyam will be my first love because it makes me the happiest. I don’t think I enjoy doing anything else as much as dancing. I have been learning and practicing Bharatnatyam for over fifteen years now. I do want to take it forward to bigger platforms. Having said that, Bharatnatyam has taught me how to express through my face and my body. So if any acting opportunities come my way, I will definitely consider them and give my best.