Mallika Chhabra’s journey from theatre to Bollywood

Mallika Chhabra reveals her journey from the theatre club to Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari

Theater Brought Friendships

Mallika Chhabra was just 11 years old when she first said, “Making friends is hard.” Changing schools every year made it challenging to mingle with new friends.

Then she discovered a trick and discovered that every school had only four clubs—music, dance, sports, and drama. That’s when she found her footing in theater and made it her home.

The Secret to Club Attitudes

Mallika explained, “It wasn’t a lucky strike, but a self-played roulette game.” She said that admission to drama clubs was easy based on her track record.

Gradually, her foray into drama theater deepened her confidence. For a decade, theater taught her both friendship and expression.

First Small Role and Recognition

Mallika first played a ten-minute role in the finale of “Karmma Calling,” but she shone. This brief glimpse sparked an interest in her genre and reached director Shashank Khaitan.

Shashank said, “It was a 5-10 minute role, but when I saw you, something clicked.” This sparked her journey into the world of Dharma films.

Family on the set of ‘Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari’

Mallika found a true “family” on the set of Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari. The team of 200 people, who lived with her in a luxury hotel for a month, embraced her.

“For a newcomer like me, this set was the most wholesome,” Mallika says. Experience-rich actors like Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor also turned out to be not just stars but classmates.

Varun found a therapist-like friendship

When Mallika had to shoot her first song scene, her nervousness was at its peak. Varun Dhawan would come to the set every day to encourage her.

Mallika laughs and says, “Varun was sometimes a therapist, sometimes a friend.” With his help, every difficult scene became easier, and Mallika learned to believe in herself.

Supportive Environment on Set

The presence of actors like Sanya Malhotra, Janhvi Kapoor, and Rohit Saraf made the set even warmer.

Mallika says that every day wasn’t just about watching work, but also about learning from them. “I was inspired every day by Rohit’s sweet nature and Sanya’s craft,” she shares.

Responding to Rumors

Some media reports suggested an ego clash between Varun and Rohit, but Mallika completely denied it. She says, “This is all fiction, and there was never such an atmosphere on set.”

The 200-person crew remained together, and everyone worked together to make the film—no drama, just genuine collaboration.

Future Dreams and Projects

Along with Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, Mallika is now working on Karmma Calling Season 2. In her next project, she hopes to work with Kalki Koechlin and Abhay Deol.

Her theater background has given her not only skills but also confidence, which will now propel her journey to new heights in Bollywood.