Sara Ali Khan, the daughter of actors Amrita Singh and Saif Ali Khan, has learned to navigate the highs and lows of Bollywood with a balanced approach. The actor says she implements constructive criticism 80 per cent of the time but also emphasizes the importance of blocking out the noise as she continues her career journey.
Early Success and Its Challenges
After her debut films 'Kedarnath' and 'Simmba' brought her overnight fame, Sara's mother warned her about the fleeting nature of success. 'I know that I got a lot of love very early in my career, very, very early. And my mom, in fact, used to tell me 'This is very scary' because it happened overnight and it was a lot,' Sara recalled in an interview with PTI.
Following the initial hits, her next two projects—'Love Aaj Kal' and 'Coolie No 1'—failed to resonate with audiences. However, her performance in 'Atrangi Re' earned praise. Sara acknowledged that some films will connect with viewers while others may not, and her strategy is to keep working hard without letting external opinions affect her.
Learning from Criticism
Sara shared her approach to feedback: 'You just hope for the best and you keep working. You don't let the noise get to you. You have to see, 'What if this is constructive criticism?' 'Where do people have a point?' 'Okay, fine, maybe this is true. Maybe I do have to be more aware of my surroundings. Maybe I shouldn't just let my personality be so loud that people refuse to take me seriously.'
She added that she implements such advice 80 per cent of the time, believing that ultimately her work will speak for itself. 'If people give you that chance, which I'm lucky enough to have gotten, then hopefully they'll like me. And if not, I'll try harder,' she said.
Upcoming Film: 'Pati Patni Aur Woh Do'
Sara is currently promoting her new theatrical release 'Pati Patni Aur Woh Do', directed by Mudassar Aziz. The film is a follow-up to the 2019 movie 'Pati Patni Aur Woh', which was a remake of Sanjeev Kumar's 1979 film of the same name. Described as a comedy of errors, the story revolves around Prajapati (Ayushmann Khurrana), a man caught between three women played by Sara, Rakul Preet Singh, and Wamiqa Gabbi.
The 30-year-old actor expressed excitement about the film, noting that despite its title, it is a family-friendly movie. 'You can watch it with your children and grandparents. You don't have to shut their eyes, ears. They can watch the whole film. It's just been a while since I've felt that there is this community watching wholesome collective experience giving films out there in theatres,' she said.
Working with Ayushmann Khurrana
Sara praised her co-star Ayushmann Khurrana for his natural ease on set. 'He's always just cracking jokes. Keeping it light. He doesn't take himself seriously at all which is not something I honestly expected when I first worked with him. This is my second film with him now.' She recalled that during their first collaboration, she was initially hesitant to talk to him, thinking he might be serious, but soon discovered his humorous side.
Eight Years in Bollywood
In 2026, Sara completed eight years in Hindi cinema. Reflecting on her journey, she said it feels like just yesterday when she was working on 'Kedarnath' with Sushant Singh Rajput, who passed away in 2020. 'I was like, 'Oh my god, I was just here for 'Kedarnath'. It was the same day as my trailer launch of 'Kedarnath'. I even remember that... It's crazy,' she said.
