Shruti Gholap, who portrays Malti in Prateek Sharma's show Oh Humnava—Tum Dena Saath Mera under Studio LSD, has expressed her clear and unapologetic vision for her career. She aspires to take on roles that challenge her craft and refuses to be confined by stereotypes, particularly being typecast as a motherly figure.
Long-Term Goals
Shruti stated, 'My long-term goals in the industry are to challenge the producers and those around me to accept and support me in becoming a better actor. I want challenging roles and don't want to be typecast as a 'mom.' As long as my limbs are working, I want to work. I want Shruti to be remembered as a good human being and a good actress.'
Theater Roots
Her father was a prominent figure in theater, which influenced her early life. 'I was born into a family where theater and directing were familiar. My father was a well-known theater figure in Baroda, so acting was not a choice but a culture for me. I have been doing it since childhood,' she explained.
She performed her first play at age five in her father's production and later earned a master's degree in performing arts. After that, she moved to Mumbai, continuing her passion without a second thought.
Struggles and Success
Reflecting on her struggles, Shruti shared her journey through two worlds: Baroda's theater and Mumbai's television. 'My struggles began early when I lost my father at fifteen. I pursued performing arts to stay connected to theater, but life pushed me to Mumbai to support my family. I started from scratch without a mentor, but my first break came in Gujarati theater around 2007–08.'
For over a decade, theater was her backbone. She performed in 12 to 13 professional plays, each with 150 to 200 shows, always as the lead. 'Theater not only shaped me as an actor but also helped me sustain two homes—one in Mumbai and one for my mother in Baroda. I am grateful to Gujarati theater for that. The early days were tough, surviving on cutting chai and vada pav, with no knowledge of makeup or presentation. There were long gaps; once, I went nine months without work and faced days without food,' she added.
Personal Definition of Success
Although her career didn't unfold exactly as she envisioned, Shruti considers herself successful due to her love for her craft. 'Theater people do serials, but I don't think I can say it truly took off because success is personal. I consider myself successful because I can portray any character given to me—whether a 16-year-old girl, a 70-year-old woman, or a 50-year-old woman. That is my success,' she concluded.
