Sanjana Tiwari says her biggest priority is to grow as an actor rather than simply chase stardom. After making her screen debut in Vijay’s Varisu and subsequently appearing in Jayam Ravi’s Iraivan, the actor is looking forward to taking on roles that allow her to explore different emotions and performance styles.
For Sanjana, the two films have offered dramatically different experiences. While Varisu introduced her to a mainstream audience with a family-oriented entertainer, Iraivan placed her in a much darker world involving psychological tension, violence and emotionally demanding scenes.
Sanjana Tiwari on Varisu and Iraivan
Sanjana made her cinematic debut with Varisu, the Vijay-starrer that became one of the major Tamil releases of the year. She says the film continues to be an important part of her journey, with audiences still remembering her character.
“There are people who still call me Riya,” Sanjana said, referring to her Varisu character, while reflecting on the impact the film had on her career.
Her next major role, however, took her into very different territory. In Iraivan, Sanjana played Divya alongside Jayam Ravi, with the film generating discussion for its intense depiction of violence and gore.
Interestingly, although Varisu was her first film to reach audiences, Iraivan was actually the first project she signed.
How Sanjana landed her first film
Sanjana comes from a non-film background and recalled being uncertain about her chances after auditioning for Iraivan.
She said she auditioned twice and was unsure whether she had secured the role. Director Ahmed, who conducted one of her auditions, did not immediately reveal the outcome, leaving Sanjana wondering whether she had made the right impression.
After a short wait, she received the call confirming that she had been selected.
Sanjana described receiving that news as one of the best days of her life, marking the beginning of a journey that would eventually bring her into films with established performers.
‘I don’t want to do the same roles’
The contrast between Riya in Varisu and Divya in Iraivan has reinforced Sanjana’s desire to experiment rather than become associated with a single type of character.
The actor said she wants to accept roles that challenge her and allow her to demonstrate different aspects of her performance.
“I don’t want to do the same roles. I want to take up challenges and showcase my performance,” Sanjana said.
She specifically mentioned wanting to explore emotions such as sadness and anger rather than repeatedly portraying characters within a familiar template.
For an actor at the beginning of her career, that approach could allow her to build a more varied screen identity instead of being defined by one successful debut.
Sanjana Tiwari recalls working with Rahul Bose
Her experience on Iraivan was considerably more demanding than her debut film, particularly because of the project’s violent sequences.
Sanjana admitted that the scenes involving violence and fake blood were initially difficult for her. She said she found it uncomfortable to see herself covered in fake blood while filming.
Working opposite Rahul Bose was another experience she remembers vividly.
According to Sanjana, performing alongside Bose was simultaneously intimidating and exciting. She said his performance was so convincing that some of her reactions came naturally rather than requiring her to consciously act frightened.
For Sanjana, that became one of the attractions of working within a psychological thriller and sharing scenes with experienced performers.
Charle and Ravi made the sets comfortable
Sanjana also worked with veteran actors Charle and Ravi in Iraivan. As a newcomer, she said their support helped her feel more comfortable on set.
She recalled that both actors were aware that it was her first film and offered encouragement and guidance during the shoot.
Sanjana particularly remembered Charle encouraging her about her future in cinema. She said his positive words motivated her to work harder.
Ravi, meanwhile, helped create a lighter atmosphere by regularly joking around on set, according to the actor.
For a newcomer navigating her early experiences in the film industry, that kind of support made the demanding shoot easier to handle.
Sanjana Tiwari wants acting over stardom
Despite beginning her career with projects that attracted considerable attention, Sanjana appears clear about what she ultimately wants from cinema.
She acknowledged that becoming a star is an attractive prospect for any actor, but said she places greater importance on being recognised as a performer.
“Of course, who wouldn’t like becoming a star, but I think it is more important to be an actor. I simply love acting,” Sanjana said.
For her, the desire to perform does not depend entirely on achieving conventional stardom.
“Even if stardom is elusive, I would always just want to keep on acting,” she added.
That sentiment sums up Sanjana Tiwari’s approach at this stage of her career: rather than allowing the pursuit of celebrity status to define her journey, she wants to concentrate on finding challenging characters and continuing to work as an actor.
