Actor Sana Thampi has opened up about her journey from modelling to acting, her experience working with filmmaker Kiran Rao and the role her family played in shaping her career. Reflecting on the concerns her parents initially had about the fashion industry, Sana said their perception was influenced partly by the 2008 film Fashion.
Sana made her acting debut in a segment directed by Kiran Rao for the Lust Stories 3 anthology, in which she played Lisa, a nail artist who moves from Kerala to Mumbai. The role also has a personal connection for the actor, who was born and raised in Kochi before moving to Mumbai to pursue her career.
Looking back on her first project, Sana said she felt supported by Rao throughout the process and appreciated the clarity with which the filmmaker approached her character.
Sana Thampi on Working With Kiran Rao
For Sana, making her acting debut came with the challenge of stepping into an unfamiliar professional space. She said the experience was made easier by Rao’s guidance and the clarity of the script.
“I felt very guided through the process. When the team cast me, they were well aware that this was my first project ever,” Sana said.
She added that Rao had a clear understanding of the character and that the script helped her understand the role without ambiguity.
The actor also spoke about filming intimate scenes for the segment and highlighted the importance of intimacy coordinators in creating a comfortable working environment.
“Their role was very significant to me… I felt a lot more confident and at ease with shooting these kinds of scenes,” she said.
Sana explained that intimacy coordinators help actors identify and communicate their boundaries rather than assuming they are comfortable with everything required for a scene.
She appreciated the way they worked within the limits set by performers, describing their presence as necessary for actors navigating intimate sequences on screen.
Why Sana Thampi’s Parents Were Initially Concerned About Modelling
Born and raised in Kochi, Kerala, Sana grew up in a traditional household and studied architecture before deciding to pursue modelling. Her career choice initially raised concerns at home because her parents were unfamiliar with the industry.
Sana said their understanding of modelling was shaped partly by media portrayals and films such as Fashion, the 2008 drama starring Priyanka Chopra.
“My parents were a little apprehensive about me pursuing modelling. It was a completely unknown world. Besides, there was this film Fashion (2008) that painted the worst picture of the industry,” she said.
Sana clarified that she could not say whether the film reflected the experiences of people working in the industry at the time it was released. However, she said her own experience was different by the time she entered modelling, when social media had become a prominent part of the profession.
“I am glad to report that it wasn’t resembling much of that film,” she added.
According to Sana, her parents’ concerns were rooted in what they had seen and heard about the fashion world rather than their own experiences of it. She said she had to address those concerns early in her career.
How Kiran Rao’s Project Helped Ease Her Parents’ Concerns
By the time Sana decided to transition from modelling to acting, she said the earlier disagreements with her parents had largely been resolved.
She also believes that having a filmmaker like Kiran Rao attached to her debut project gave her family additional confidence in the opportunity.
Sana said her parents were reassured by the names associated with the project and hoped that the experience would go well for her.
For the actor, one of the most rewarding aspects of her career so far has been seeing her parents support the path she chose. She said they are happy to watch her dreams take shape, although they may not view her move into acting as a dramatic change after seeing her spend so much time in front of the camera.
“They are happy for me. To them, it’s just that I have been in front of the camera for so long; I don’t think it makes that much of a difference,” she said.
Sana’s account offers a glimpse into the challenges of pursuing a creative career when family members are unfamiliar with the industry. Her experience also highlights the importance of clear direction, professional support and a safe working environment as she takes her first steps into acting.
