Bhumi Pednekar remembers Sushant Singh Rajput’s genius as she recalls shooting for Sonchiriya: “I realised art is his way to channelize his energy”

At the Delhi Chapter of the Jagran Film Festival 2024, actress Bhumi Pednekar shared some heartfelt insights from her career, particularly her experience working on the critically acclaimed film Sonchiriya. The actress spoke with great passion about the film's rigorous preparation, its impact on her, and her collaboration with late actor Sushant Singh Rajput.A One-of-a-Kind ExperienceIn a candid conversation, Bhumi opened up about the profound experience of shooting Sonchiriya, which she described as something she would never be able to replicate. "I have never experienced anything like that again; I don’t think I will ever experience something so potent, pure, and honest," Bhumi said. The actress highlighted the intense preparation that went into the film, revealing that she and the team spent almost eight months preparing for the role before heading to Chambal for the actual shoot. Bhumi reminisced about the days spent working on films that required hard work and dedication, saying, "I miss those films where you are told to go, work, and put in the effort. I think at the start of your career, you have the luxury of that."The Importance of Filmmakers Like Abhishek ChaubeyBhumi also spoke about her admiration for Sonchiriya director Abhishek Chaubey, whose work she had long admired. "When I heard Sonchiriya, I was a huge fan of Abhishek Chaubey. When I saw Ishqiya, I told myself that I had to somehow fit into his world. I had to work with this director," she recalled. The actress mentioned how working with Chaubey was a dream come true, especially after she had been so impressed by his film Udta Punjab. "When he came to me with Sonchiriya, it was a huge compliment," Bhumi shared with gratitude.Immersing in the World of the CharacterTo fully embody her role, Bhumi had to immerse herself in a world vastly different from her own. "I remember Aaram Nagar in Bombay, an area where I have many videos of walking barefoot, walking for miles with pebbles, stones, and a little hut. We had to walk barefoot for kilometers," she recounted. The actress recalled how the training for her role was physically demanding, with scenes requiring her to carry a small child in her arms and run through the terrain. "In the film, I had to carry the child playing Sonchiriya and run," Bhumi explained.In preparation for her character’s authenticity, Bhumi even learned to cook on a traditional stove. "Abhishek Sir had set up a stove at his office, and he taught me how to light it, grind spices, and cook meals for the crew," she said. "I had to do all this because the character I was playing was from a world where she didn’t know what freedom or liberation meant. She ran away from her home seeking justice."A Bond with Sushant Singh RajputBhumi also shared a special bond with her co-star, Sushant Singh Rajput, during the film’s intense shoot. "We spoke in Bundelkhandi, and I had found a great friend in him," she said. Bhumi recalled the hardships they faced during the shoot in Chambal, where the conditions were harsh and the surroundings isolated. "We realized that this man is a genius, and art is his way to channelize his energy," Bhumi said of Sushant, adding that the experience of working with him and the entire cast was unlike anything she had ever done before.The Physical and Emotional Toll of the ShootBhumi further reflected on the challenging conditions they faced during the shoot, which involved walking for miles in rugged terrain. "We would walk for kilometers, and the crew had to carry heavy lights through the same harsh conditions. There were cuts, bruises, eye infections, and falls, but the passion to shoot kept us going," she shared. Despite the difficulties, Bhumi said that the experience of shooting Sonchiriya had a transformative effect on her. "That film changed me," she concluded.Also Read: “Why is society scared of a happy girl?”: Bhumi Pednekar asks as she talks about hustling, privilege, and breaking stereotypes at Davos 2025