Sharvari is rewriting what presence looks like in modern stardom

Perceived authenticity and relatability hold my inhibitions when it comes to celebrity interviews. Parasocial relationships, despite their inherent focus on fame, seem too good to be true. But when Sharvari jumps in to check the apparent network issue at her end, while her PR is next to her, or completes my thoughts each time our call gets dropped, and doesn’t mind the conversation stretching beyond the scheduled timeline, her affability starts making sense to me. “I’m aware that I’m a public figure, and it’s something that I can’t run away from. I do understand that social media is a wonderful place to connect. Still, I never wanted it to become a yardstick for validation,” she reflects. Being selective is a form of self-expression for the actor because it stems from knowing one’s real worth. Presence doesn’t always have to mean constant visibility. For Sharvari, sometimes it means showing up strongly when it matters.

“I draw boundaries by connecting with myself, concentrating on the work that I have at hand, being honest to my craft, and focusing on why I always wanted to become an actor in the first place.” Had it not been for a college talent and personality hunt, the 28-year-old actor would have been on her way to becoming a civil engineer. Something shifted within her that day, leading her to dream big and work for it with courage and authenticity. She inched closer to her aspirations as an assistant director on the sets of Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2 (2015), and made her acting debut in the OTT series The Forgotten Army (2020). In 2021, Bunty Aur Babli 2 marked her big Bollywood debut, but while the film didn’t quite hit the mark, Sharvari was reckoned as the quintessential fresh face. Last year, with Munjya’s success, the actor joined the coveted `100-crore club. This year is categorically important for her, with the much-anticipated Alpha, alongside Alia Bhatt, slated to release in 2026. “Every role has definitely taught me something. The best part about being an actor is that you get to learn something new every time, whether that’s a skill set, broadening your emotional quotient, or just meeting new people—you get to learn every single day on a film set,” she points out with intent. But the very mention of co-actor Bhatt gets her excited beyond words, “Just to share screen space with a superstar like Alia Bhatt has taught me so much that I’m actually itching to go on different sets and be able to use the kind of skills that I have seen or learned from her. It was a dream come true for me as I got to understand her process and know her as a person,” Sharvari exclaims like a true fan.

While the actor’s endearing personality imbues a tender sheen on an otherwise preconceived, gritty road to aspirations, it never negates the core values that guide her ambition. “Discipline and courage are something that my parents taught me. I've always been sensitive and valued human emotions. These values were inculcated in me from an early age. And, I think that really has shaped my artistic voice. These traits, in a way, are leading me to the choices I’ve made with the films.” ‘Gut feeling’, ‘instincts’ aren’t mere catchphrases for Sharvari. She correlates them to accountability in the larger narrative. “Instinct is the only way to perform as an artist, because that's the time you're being absolutely true to yourself. With time, I’ve realised that most of acting is observation and reaction. The decision to take on a role or a film stems from my gut feeling about what I’ve heard, been narrated, or read. And I feel like I won't regret it if I follow my instincts.” To that end, a healthy amount of preparation further adds value to this kind of instinct because, at the end of the day, you’re playing different roles that overarch diverse facets of people’s lives. “When you’ve done your preparation, have observed people and their emotions, that homework kind of stays at the back of your mind,” she adds. 

But the process is all-consuming. Sharvari is cognisant of the fact that when you’re playing a character, you’re actually living that life vicariously, and you create a person with memories, feelings, emotions, families and everything in between. “It definitely takes a lot of time to come out of one character and move into a completely different role. The process, I don’t know whether I’ve completely cracked it or not, that works for me is to take some time off—be with my family, spend time with my school friends, because that’s when I feel most like myself. And it’s essential for me.” It’s only fair that an actor returns to their neutral self and learns and unlearns with each character. While downtime is essential for her, the actor doesn’t take opportunities for granted, especially when female actors are rewriting the rules of what leading actors can be. It’s a collective effort of the industry, Sharvari feels. “It’s an exciting time to be a part of this industry, especially because we are getting an opportunity to play such characters. For instance, Alpha is one such film, a first-of-its-kind in Indian cinema—an action entertainer led by women. It’s only possible because our producers, directors, and writers dared to make a film like this. I consider myself lucky to be a part of this time and era of our industry. If we don’t make the most of it now, then it would be a missed opportunity.”

As a celebrity, it’s hard to rule out fashion, but Sharvari has a long-standing relationship with clothes beyond her lauded social media moments and red carpet appearances today. The credit goes to her elder sister, Kasturi, whom she holds accountable as her go-to person when it comes to fashion. “I’ve grown up watching my sister buy new clothes, wear new things. And I used to always either borrow or steal them from her. And to date, I’m always reading her wardrobe, whether it’s personal fashion or any event that I have to attend. Sometimes, it just so happens that she has better clothes than I do, and then I pick them up from her. Even if I’m getting styled by a professional stylist, I always send her my final photograph or ask for her opinion. I’ve really evolved with my sister in this space. I’ve looked up to her all my life,” she laughs and admits. Having said that, Sharvari has found her ground in her sartorial choices over time. Whether it’s experimental or comfortable, it's all about having that smile on your face, she believes. It’s about finding simple moments of joy in dressing up that excites her most about fashion, like a childhood ritual of colour-coordinating clothes with her mother and sister on Ganesh Chaturthi, something she cherishes to date. “I started posting pictures of being dressed up on Ganesh Chaturthi in my mom’s or grandmother’s sari a couple of years back. It became a ‘fashion moment’ on social media this year. But honestly, it has just been my personal style.”

The ease is omnipresent as we bond over finding joy in the mundane through our conversation. Whether finding familiar ground as home bodies or cherishing female friendships, Sharvari is genuinely relatable, much to my dismay. “In between work, when I’m able to sit on my couch with my dog Miso, that moment for me, whether it’s 10 minutes or an hour, is most precious,” she smiles. “Ever since school, I have had a set of strong girlfriends, and these women are my chosen family. All of them have such ambitious lives, both personal and professional. Though they are not part of the film industry, I look up to them in so many ways. We have seen each other grow,” she lets me on her foundation of ambition, femininity, and strength.

When asked what kind of woman she hopes young girls see when they look at her, Sharvari pauses and replies, “I hope they see that whatever I do, I do it with all my heart. And, the choices that we make and the films that we do or the voices that we have on social media—I hope that I can empower not just young girls but also boys to understand that women are writing their own stories.”

Editor: Rasna Bhasin (@rasnabhasin)

Interview: Shivpriya Bajpai (@dunk_in_junk)

Photographer: Bikramjit Bose (@soujitdas)

Stylist: Gopalika Virmani (@gopalikavirmani)

Cover Design: Mandeep Singh Khokhar (@mandy_khokhar19)

Make-up Artist: Mehak Oberoi (@mehakoberoi), Agency (@eficientemanagement)

Hair Artist: Rohit Bhatkar, Agency (@eficientemanagement)

Editorial Coordinator: Shalini Kanojia (@shalinikanojia)

Set Designer: Nikita Rao (@nikita_315)

Sharvari is wearing Silk twill shirt with ribbon; brown beige  diagonal GG velvet  chenille pencil midi  skirt; earrings with carp motif, all GUCCI (@gucci)