Sanjana Tiwari says her latest role in Hotspot 2 Much has taught her to trust the creative process and remain present in every scene. After appearing in films such as Vijay’s Varisu and Ravi Mohan’s Iraivan, the actor has taken on a markedly different character in the anthology sequel.
In Hotspot 2 Much, Sanjana plays Sharmitha, a character she describes as layered, flawed and unapologetic. The actor believes the role’s realistic nature was one of the key reasons she decided to take it on.
Sanjana Tiwari on playing Sharmitha in Hotspot 2 Much
The first instalment of the Hotspot franchise generated considerable discussion and found an audience among younger viewers and digital audiences. For Sanjana, conversations around a film can be an indication that audiences are genuinely interested in its subject.
“If something sparks conversation among film buffs, it shows that they care about it and are looking forward to viewing it,” she said while discussing the sequel.
Describing her character, Sanjana said Sharmitha is not designed as a straightforward protagonist.
“She is layered, flawed and unapologetic,” the actor said.
That complexity appealed to Sanjana, particularly because the role occupies a space where viewers could respond to the character in very different ways.
Why Sanjana chose a challenging role
Following prominent appearances in Varisu and Iraivan, Sanjana could have continued exploring similar characters. Instead, she chose a role that required her to tread a different path.
The actor believes that characters written and performed honestly can be unpredictable because audiences may either connect strongly with them or reject them.
“Anything that is written honestly and performed with conviction is like a double-edged sword,” Sanjana explained.
For her, avoiding challenging roles simply because they might divide opinion does not necessarily make sense. She said the realistic quality of Sharmitha’s character was among the major factors that convinced her to sign the project.
According to Sanjana, the character did not feel artificially constructed, which made the part more appealing to her.
Director gave Sanjana freedom with her performance
Sanjana also discussed how she prepared for the role before filming began.
Rather than imposing a rigid interpretation of Sharmitha, the director encouraged her to approach the character naturally and perform the scenes according to her own understanding.
“The director was open-minded about it and asked me to pull off what comes to me naturally. He wanted me to perform it the way I imagined it,” Sanjana said.
That freedom appears to have played an important role in helping the actor find her interpretation of Sharmitha.
Hotspot 2 Much also features Priya Bhavanishankar, Aditya Bhaskar, Bhavani Sre and Ashwin, among others. Since the film follows an anthology format, Sanjana said she did not share the same set experience with all the members of the ensemble.
She did, however, work with veteran actor Thambi Ramaiah, whom she described as an “amazing performer.”
‘I am never in a rush to repeat myself’
Sanjana’s recent work in Varisu and Iraivan has helped draw attention to her performances, but she says she does not want that recognition to force her into repeating the same kind of role.
The actor revealed that she received several offers that were similar to characters she had already played.
Instead of immediately accepting them, she prefers to use each opportunity to explore something different.
“I am never in a rush to repeat myself. I would rather take time to explore and experiment with different genres, characters and platforms. It is better than being boxed in one image,” she said.
For Sanjana, avoiding typecasting is therefore an important part of building her career.
Sanjana Tiwari on social media and changing audiences
The actor also believes the entertainment industry is going through an interesting period because of the influence of social media.
Sanjana feels platforms that allow audiences to respond instantly have made viewers more direct about what they expect from actors and stories.
She said social media has not only affected attention spans but has also encouraged audiences to seek narratives that feel authentic and content-driven.
“You can’t fake being relatable with your roles anymore. There is no space for mediocrity anymore,” she said.
According to Sanjana, that shift also creates pressure on performers to improve their craft and make more considered choices.
She views the changing audience expectations as something that pushes her to work harder rather than something to avoid.
Sanjana Tiwari’s upcoming projects
Sanjana is also expanding beyond her recent Tamil projects. The actor revealed that she has completed a lead role in an upcoming Hindi feature film.
“In Tamil, I am in talks for a few projects,” she added.
After Varisu, Iraivan and now Hotspot 2 Much, Sanjana appears intent on keeping her career varied rather than following a single formula.
For the actor, one of the biggest lessons from her latest project has been to stay present, experiment with different characters and, above all, trust the process.
