After nearly two decades in the film industry and a recent stint on Bigg Boss Telugu, Sanjjanna Ggalrani is stepping into the Telugu television space with a daily soap. She says her recent career choices are shaped by prioritizing motherhood and the constant balancing act between ambition and home.
Television offers complete acting satisfaction
Even as she leans into television, Sanjjanna's film ambitions remain intact. "In cinema, the space for women is still limited. Out of so many films, very few are truly driven by female characters. I've always wanted to do a strong, woman-centric film — something like Arundhati," she says, referring to the iconic role played by Anushka Shetty. "At some point, you look for roles that challenge you as an actor and allow you to fully express yourself."
Television, she explains, offers a stark contrast. "You're shooting 35–40 pages a day. It's demanding, but it keeps you completely involved as an actor. You're constantly performing and reacting — that keeps your craft alive. There is a sense of stability and immediacy that this medium offers. Within a week, your work is on air. You're visible every day, and the audience engages with you in real time. That's very fulfilling."
Every day is about staying consistent
Reinvention, she says, isn't dramatic — it's disciplined. After two pregnancies, the journey has required greater intent. "Every day is about maintaining yourself — physically and mentally. That consistency is what keeps you going. You have to consciously work your way back and remind yourself why you're doing it. It's not just about appearance; it's about feeling balanced."
Her husband, a doctor with a demanding profession, provides crucial support. "He makes sure everything is taken care of when I'm away, including our children. That support gives you the freedom to focus on your work."
Leaving kids at home to work in another city is hard
At this stage, her choices are also shaped by life off screen. With a one-year-old daughter and a four-year-old son, the demands of shooting in another city are significant. "My day starts very early when I'm travelling for shoots, and whenever there's even a short break, I try to come back home."
She is clear about what she hopes for next: "I'm looking forward to a strong Kannada project. Living in Bengaluru, I'd love to work in a setup where I can shoot and return home the same day."
If something trends on social media, it means it's working
Sanjjanna is pragmatic about how content travels today. "There's no real divide anymore between television, films, or digital — it's about how your work connects. And increasingly, that connection plays out online. If scenes from your show are trending — even in a lighter way — it means people are watching. That visibility matters today."
