She clicked with the television audiences with her performances in Swabhimaan, Banegi Apni Baat, Koshish and Hu Ba Hu. She also appeared in Extraa Innings, the programme during the cricket World Cup 2003.
She went on to debut in films with Shaad Ali's Saathiya, starring Vivek Oberoi and Rani Mukerji.
With the film, Sandhya Mridul had arrived.
Sandhya now stars in Shashanka Ghosh's debut film, Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part II, which opens on November 14.
Shruti Mathur
caught up with the young actress.Tell us about yourself.
I was born in Mumbai. At 10, I shifted to Delhi.
Recently, I returned to Mumbai with a subconscious desire to act. I landed up as a marketing executive. But there was this creative urge that bothered me. I was very dissatisfied. So I quit, not knowing how to go about it because I didn't know anybody connected with the media.
I got lucky. Before I could approach anybody, somebody approached me. Some people asked me if I wanted to act. I couldn't believe my luck!
Before I knew, I was sucked into television for almost five years. Soon, I got tired of it.
Again, I was at a crossroads. Should I quit or should I join films? God played a huge hand again and I landed Saathiya. It was not the main part but it was a good part. I accepted it.
I always follow my gut. I don't know how Waisa Bhi Hota Hai will do. But I don't let fame and publicity control my world. I know I've done a good film and I've done my best.
Tell us about Waisa Bhi Hota Hai.
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The rest of the time, she has a façade as a real tough bitch. Everyone is uncomfortable, scared and nervous of her, including her boyfriend. Most of the time, I felt like the hero of the film!
You seemed to gel well with your co-stars...
The biggest joke on the sets was that Shashanka would say, 'Hero taiyaar karo [Is the hero ready]?' And they come to fetch me.
Arshad plays a wimpy character. Since I am a cop, I am not scared of the hit man or his gang. But Arshad is a common man.
You've played different kinds of roles, be it a double role in Hu Ba Hu, a sister in Saathiya and a masculine cop in WBHH.
Like I said, I have tried not to repeat myself. I get bored, Even in my personal life, I tell my friends I cannot see the same face every day.
Besides, when I was a kid, I was a Jack-of-all-trades. I decided to put it to good use by letting it be seen as versatility because if you can do a whole lot of things, why mustn't you?
Why must you fall into a category and do the same thing? While most people spend time making images, I spend breaking images! I hope that works.
Would you like to do the typical heroine role in a commercial setup?
I'd love to! That will be another aspect of what I have done. It would be fun because I love to dance.
I kept telling Shashanka, 'You didn't let me dance! I'm the heroine of your film!' I love dancing, even filmi dancing. I do a take-off on almost all the actresses with my friends.
I'd like to give it a try, though I don't think I can do it for every film.
How do you think audiences will react to this live-in angle in WBHH?
It's a very urban film. I think it will work with the urban audiences. It is not taboo. I know a lot of [unmarried] couples who live together. Besides, this live-in factor is not thrown at your face in the film. It is very subtle.
Why is the film called Part 2?
You have got to watch the film to find out!
Do you prefer films or television?
Films. It gives me a lot of spare time to do what I want. You don't get married to a project for two years and you don't stagnate in it. You do a film for two-three months and then you are done with it.
You can play different characters at the same time. In a year I can play three different characters, whereas on television, I play the same character for two years. If I am unlucky, five years!
I have never been greedy about lot of work. I like to work out, watch films and spend a lot of time with my dog and friends. Television was very time-consuming. We used to shoot almost 28 days a month for 14 hours a day.
What other films are you working on?
I don't like to talk about what I am going to do. But I have completed a very interesting film called Strings, with Sanjay Jha. It's an offbeat film. I don't know if it is entirely for the Indian market. I think he intends to take it to film festivals.
It was fun shooting for it. I will start two films next year. One is Parvathi Balagopalan, who directed me in Hu Ba Hu. I cannot name the other one as I have yet to sign the contract.
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