Hello folks! In this episode of #BlabWithSandy, we have actress Samara Tijori with us. 🙂 The surname rings a bell, doesn’t it? Samara is none other than actor Deepak Tijori’s daughter. She made her debut in ‘Bob Biswas’ and followed it up with ‘Masoom’. Let’s wait no further and dive into the exciting blab I had with Samara:
Sandy: Hello, Samara! How is it going?
Samara: Hey Sandy, I am doing well! Thank you.
Sandy: Firstly, thank you for being a part of blabwithsandy. It’s a pleasure having you 🙂
Samara: Aww, thank you for making me a part of it.
Sandy: Though the film folks know you and your lineage, but for the majority of the readers, could you throw some light on your background?
Samara: Yes 🙂 My father is actor Deepak Tijori, who is well known in the industry. My mother is a fashion designer. I was born and raised in Mumbai. I went to a boarding school in Rajasthan. Before which I was in Jamnabai Narsee School.
I have been a national level footballer. I’m also a trained dancer in a bunch of dance forms. This is a bit about me and my background. 🙂
Sandy: Coming from a filmy family, i do not generally give weightage to the topic of nepotism, because, in today’s times, it isn’t a great boon too! Your take on it?
Samara: I think I have experienced both sides of being one, haha! When my dad was working in the industry regularly, he was very well known by all. I remember being stopped to show my driving licence and by looking at my surname, they used to understand I was Deepak Tijori’s daughter.
I used to visit the sets but kind of get bored during the initial days. But, as I was growing up, I somehow felt the pinch of the industry and I wanted to act. I did go through the normal process of giving auditions. I remember giving an audition for a Sprite Ad, wherein I was one of the 150 girls who had auditioned.
I also became an Assistant Director and was in that role for four years. I can clearly state that nepotism did not play a part for me in that journey. Not many perks nor major drawbacks for me for being a nepo kid. All my core set of friends are not from the industry. Rather, I had my friends who encouraged me to attend the auditions. I have given multiple auditions a day and I have been rejected many times. There were times I have cried and also used to have conversations with my mom about them.
So, I believe, there are both sides to experience by being a Nepo kid and I must admit, I have experienced all sides of it.
Sandy: Your dad Deepak Tijori earned a wonderful fame and name for few of his films and is widely known in the industry. How has the artistic relationship been with him? Any guidance or piece of advice that you have received?
Samara: Indeed, I have recieved a lot of them! There are quite a few things my dad told me. I was four when a conversation came up about me choosing to become an actor and I remember telling there isn’t a chance. My dad told me that I will become one when I grow big. Cut to the time I turned 18, I told my parents that I want to act and that’s when my dad conveyed that he was right when he told me that I will choose acting.
He advised me to have patience as it’s a long game to become successful and win. He asked me to be okay with the waiting period. There will be days where we may cry or be rejected, but that’s a part of being an actor.
I did take his inputs and I am experiencing them now 🙂 It isn’t easy being an actor but I’m enjoying my journey.
Sandy: How was your prep before and whilst becoming an actress?
Samara: After completing my studies in Psychology, I wanted to take on Criminology. After my degree, I somehow got fascinated towards the events and media space. When I was 17, I interned with IIFA. I was part of their campaign from India to Florida. It was more like a tourism shoot and I handled the shoot of personalities like Richa Chhadha, Hrithik Roshan, Sonakshi Sinha, etc.
The idea of being in that space was great and my experience was truly beautiful. I was having fun and it gave me confidence to try being in this field itself. I let myself try in becoming an Assistant Director which made me live on the movie sets, haha! When I turned 19, I was the AD for the film ‘Dishoom’.
Sandy: What are the films that you worked for as an Assistant Director?
Samara: Dishoom, Bhoot – part 1, Good Newz. I had so much fun learning all about film making on the sets.
Sandy: You made your debut in Bob Biswas, which was a good hit on the OTT. You played Mini Biswas, Bob’s daughter. How did you grab the role and how was the experience working with well established cast?
Samara: I feel this audition came to me rather than I going to the audition. I was seated at a cafe when I received a call from Mukesh Chhabra, (the casting director’s), office. I was called to audition for this role of Abhishek Bachchan’s daughter. I was given the scene to enact just 10-15 minutes prior to the test. I gave my best and I was told that I’d be informed about it. Within no time, I got a call from Mukesh Chhabra and was informed that I have been picked for the role. I met the director of the project, Diya Ghosh, and that’s when I was handed over the script of Bob Biswas.
I called my mom to share my happiness. It was such a memorable feeling, Sandy, that I had happy tears, holding the script in my hand. I went to Kolkata for the shoot and whilst the shoot, I became good friends with Diya. Sujoy is like a father figure to me. Talking about AB sir, it was so lovely working with him. He made me feel comfortable while he also used to quiz me on the sets. I’m proud to say that I got him as my first co-actor in my acting journey. I also got to spend time with Chitrangada Ma’am and I cherish working on Bob Biswas.
Sandy: You garnered rave reviews for your second film, this time as a full-fledged lead in Masoom. It had Boman Irani and other established stars yet again! A few words about this project of yours.
Samara: ‘Masoom’ for me is a life changing moment. For ‘Bob Biswas’, I had around 16 days of shoot while for ‘Masoom’, I shot for nearly 41 days wherein the whole shoot was for 43 days! It was a role which carries depression and a lot of crying involved. I was anxious on the first day as the initial three scenes that I shot for where not in order that they are screened in the film and that’s how shooting works.
I came back to the hotel after the first day and spoke to myself, ‘haan aur karlo lead role’, haha! But I understood that to become a successful actress, these experiences are to be crossed with determination and hardwork.
Working with Boman Irani sir was really an enriching experience. I learnt how to switch onto the character and get off it after the shoot from him. He is a great actor and I will continue to admire him for who he is and helping me learn more about acting and films with his talks.
Sandy: What has been the most memorable compliment that you have received till date for your films?
Samara: Wow! I’ve got a lot of friends, especially my core girl group. You know what’s the interesting part of it, Sandy? None of them are from the industry! One of my best friend’s isn’t into watching films but when Masoom came out, I called her and asked her to watch the first episode only and let me know how she feels. Guess what? She calls me up and says, ‘Hey Sam! I watched the first episode, then went on to the second, then third and soon got done with the sixth!’. That was one of the memorable compliments that I received.
There is another friend of mine, since the sixth grade. She watched the film and told me that she wasn’t able to recognise me while watching Masoom. She knows the inside and outside of my life and when she conveyed her statement, it meant I did my part pretty well. 🙂
Quick Shot Round:
Your biggest fear: Living a life that doesn’t make me feel whole.
If not an actress, Samara would have been a: Criminologist
Favorite actor/actress: Alia Bhatt – her range is outstanding and Vicky Kaushal
A film/role that you watched in the recent past and wish you were a part of it/played it: Very interesting Sandy! Should be The Devils Wears Prada and also Anne Hathway in The Intern
Imagine being stuck in a lift with two other film personalities, who would you wish them to be and why? Christopher Nolan and Zendaya. Nolan because Interstellar is a comfort film for me. I have always been inclined towards Astro Physics and that man is a great researcher. I want to pick his brains. And, Zendaya because she is absolutely brilliant at such a young age. I want to play her part in Euphoria.
A habit of yours you’d like to change: Procrastination
Most used app on your phone: Whatsapp and Instagram
What is something that you have that other actresses your age,do not: Maybe the dark characters that I have played right at the beginning of my career! I believe I have the ability to bring out a lot of emotions, which are otherwise uncomfortable to play.
If you were to barter your career for a day, with whom would it be: The OG of comedy, Govinda!!!
Your go-to food: Dal Chawal
Given a chance to tweak something in your last two films, what would it be? I wanted to showcase a little more range of fana in Masoom
Sandy: Since its all about PAN India now, how do you see the future for films, especially on the roles front? And, what’s your opinion on South cinema? Have you watched any in the recent past and liked any?
Samara: I have watched a bunch of South Indian films, especially Malayalam films. Nayattu, Super Deluxe, Andhakaaran, etc. and they have been shot so well. The main hero in such films is their story telling. It’s one big industry now and performances are outstanding of artists with very passing film. I am open to venture into such avenues which give me a chance to portray realistic characters.
Sandy: What kind of roles interest you?
Samara: Definitely I am interested in doing something light hearted now. 🙂 In Masoom, the makers did not cover my dark circles too, hahaha! In Bob Biswas, I was a drug addict. I mostly played depressing roles, so I would want a change for my next set of films. A glamorous role is running towards me? Haha, hopefully.
Sandy: Since you have worked as an AD for a few films, any chance to see you wield the megaphone as a director someday?
Samara: I did think about this, Sandy, but I feel, I do not see that coming in the near future. I do paint, I do sketch, I do write, but I am not someone who can create it from scratch. I can work on the framework with you, but I would not be someone who will take it upon me by all means. I can assist but not wholly direct a project. 🙂 Maybe I will be able to do that job but as of now, no such plans.
Sandy: Oh! I am dejected because I thought an artist named Sandy could have been a perfect actor to have debuted under your direction.
Samara: Lol! Wishful thinking. 🙂 May we see that day too, haha!
Sandy: Any piece of advice you’d like to give to the upcoming artists, since you yourself have just kickstarted your career recently. ☺
Samara: Lot of waiting to do! If you have high level of patience, and are okay to take in a lot of rejection, then give films a try. Also, when you are rejected for a part, it is not a reflection of you, but just that you aren’t a fit to that particular role.
Sandy: What’s in the pipeline for Samara in the coming months?
Samara: There is something exciting but I am not supposed to talk about it. The project is for an OTT, which should positively come out this year. 🙂
Sandy: A few words about TheHyderabadLocal.
Samara: It was a great interview and a lot of fun, Sandy! We yapped a lot, haha, and the best part is, it was all authentic around me and that’s what I liked. 🙂
Follow Samara @samaratijori
Follow Sandy @blabwithsandy
Thanks to Siddhi Potdar for the collaboration
Interview by Sandy (Sandeep Rao)