Banita Sandhu’s Hollywood Debut Opens Bollywood Opportunities

Banita Sandhu, known for her Bollywood debut with Varun Dhawan in “October” (2019), is on “cloud nine” after her Hollywood debut as Miss Malhotra in Bridgerton Season 3. The actor describes the experience as a dream come true. “It’s the biggest show on Netflix right now. The makeup, costume, dance, and everything else felt so real while shooting,” she shares, adding that the shoot felt like a “school trip” with exciting night shoots and morning hours in palaces outside London.

Banita Sandhu’s Perspective on Debuts

Despite the global recognition, Banita doesn’t consider Bridgerton as her Hollywood debut. She shares that she approaches every project as a learning experience rather than a strategic career move. “Even when October released, I did not think of it as my debut in Bollywood,” she says. Banita emphasizes that she relies on her heart and gut when choosing projects, avoiding the pressure of expectations.

Transformative Role in Bridgerton

Banita received numerous compliments for her glamorous look in Bridgerton. She notes, “In a lot of my Indian movies, I am hardly wearing makeup and I don’t look my best. This is the first time that I got all dolled up for this global thing.” This role showcased a different side of her, which she believes will open new avenues in Bollywood. She is eager for her work in India to gain recognition in the West, and vice versa.

Confidence in Indian Audience

Banita initially had doubts about the reaction from the Indian audience, given the international scale of Bridgerton. However, she was pleasantly surprised by the overwhelming support. “It really speaks about the power of the Indian audiences and the love that you get from India,” she reflects. Banita appreciates the wide reach of OTT platforms but believes the Indian audience would have supported her even in a theatrical release.

Expanding Horizons in Different Genres

Looking ahead, Banita aims to explore various genres in both Bollywood and Hollywood. She is currently shooting for “G2,” a PAN India action movie, and is excited for audiences to see her in a different kind of role. Banita also expresses a desire to delve into comedy, inspired by her natural comedic presence in real life. “I recently watched Crew and I loved it, so I think something of that sort would be really cool to do for me next,” she concludes.