I Am Not Dying to Work With Anyone: Shraddha Das

Shraddha Das is a name well-known in Tollywood and Bollywood. The actor who started her career in Tollywood with movies like Arya 2 and Darling, is now making her name in Bollywood as well. A successful series already in her kitty with Konkona Sen Sharma’s The Naina Murder Case, she says her upcoming project is with Manoj Bajpayee.

Ask her if she is dying to work with the global stars, and she humbly yet assuredly says that she is not “dying to work with anyone specific” but is “humbled and happy with opportunities that come my way.”

What was your biggest takeaway working with Konkana Sen Sharma? Did she give you any tips or guidance?

No, not really. Konkana doesn’t give tips to anyone. She is extremely focused on her own work. But she is very warm and encouraging. During look tests or when I wore a saree on set, she would often compliment me, saying, “You’re looking so pretty.” That meant a lot to me. Personally, I find her very beautiful — her features, her eyes — she has a very striking face. I told her how much I admired her. I also had a scene shot with her and Shiv, where she appreciated my expressions and said they were very good. She was always sweet and motivating in that way.

Is there a moment with her that has really stayed with you?

Yes, absolutely. During one of the reading sessions, there was a young actor who had just one small line. While all of us had substantial roles, he was standing quietly on the side. Konkana made it a point to call him by his name, asked him to come sit with us, spoke to him respectfully, and made him feel included. That moment really touched me. It showed how sensitive and grounded she is as a person. I became an even bigger fan of hers right then and there.

You debuted in Telugu cinema, right? How do you look at your transformation since then?

Actually, I debuted in both Hindi and Telugu almost simultaneously. My Hindi debut was Lahore, and around the same time I started working in Telugu as well. I come from a completely non-film background — door-door tak koi bhi nahi hai. I got all my work through auditions, whether it was Hindi or Telugu. I started with small roles and kept working consistently. While I was doing films like Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji in Hindi, I was also doing South films. Then suddenly, overnight, everything changed when I got a call for Arya 2 with Allu Arjun. I didn’t even realize how big that film was at the time. But after its release, my life changed completely. I ended up doing around 30 films in the South.

What was your role in Arya 2?

I played a character who is obsessively in love with Allu Arjun. He is in love with Kajal Aggarwal, Kajal loves someone else — so it’s like a rectangle of one-sided love! Everyone is in love with the wrong person. People really loved my character because of that intensity. Interestingly, the film was re-released this year and became a super hit again. Arya 2 is not just a film — it’s an emotion for the audience.

Did it bother you that many of your roles involved one-sided love?

Not at all. When you’re getting opportunities to work with such big stars and big banners, you don’t analyse whether the love is one-sided or two-sided. You just grab the opportunity. Especially when you come from no background, you accept good work with gratitude. At that stage, exposure and learning matter more than anything else.

After working with such big names, are you not dying to work with them again?

I’m not dying to work with anyone. I’m genuinely happy with the work I’m doing now. Of course, I feel extremely proud seeing where Allu Arjun is today — he’s one of the biggest stars in the country.

If a good opportunity comes my way tomorrow, I would love to work with them again. But I’m very shy about asking for work. I believe what is meant to happen will happen.

How were Allu Arjun and Prabhas as co-actors?

Allu Arjun has an incredible aura. If he enters a building, even if he’s on the ground floor, you’ll know till the second floor that he has arrived. That’s his personality — very strong, very magnetic. He is also extremely funny and has a great sense of humour. We all had a wonderful time shooting Arya 2. That film will always be special.

Prabhas, on the other hand, is much quieter and more reserved. But he is very kind and respectful. Both experiences were very positive.

What can we expect from you next?

I can’t reveal the platform due to confidentiality. But I’m doing a film with Manoj Bajpayee, produced by Neeraj Pandey and directed by Ritesh Shah, who wrote Pink.

Tell us about your character in this project?

I’m playing a very strong character — head-to-head with the male lead. Most of my scenes are with Manoj sir. I play the head of the women’s wing division in Delhi and also the campaign manager. It’s a political crime drama. I don’t think anyone has portrayed a campaign manager in this way before. The character has power, authority, and purpose — and that’s what excites me the most.