Sai Tamhankar has said that ‘Mimi’ changed the course of her career and helped her gain stronger recognition in the industry. The actor credited the film for giving her visibility, awards, and a clear turning point in her journey. She also praised Kriti Sanon for her National Award win and said the actor deserved the honor for her performance in the 2021 film.
How did ‘Mimi’ become a turning point for Sai Tamhankar?
Speaking to India Today, Sai looked back at the film that shaped her career in Hindi cinema. “I think it has to be Mimi. Because Mimi sort of marked my existence in the industry, that’s what I feel. Mimi also gave me a lot of awards. So I think that was a turning point,” she said.Sai also spoke about how success changed the way she looks at roles. When asked what feels tougher now, getting strong parts or saying no to average ones, she said refusal has always been hard for her.“I think saying no to work has always been difficult for me. I quite fight with myself when it comes to saying no to work. And sometimes what happens is, you do a certain thing, and then you’re called for the same type of role,” she said.The actor added that she tries to avoid being typecast, even when it hurts to reject work. “When you say no, then it feels right, it feels justified because I won’t do the same thing. But sometimes there are 7–8 repeated opportunities, and when you have to say no, it really hurts. Because the only way not to get typecast is to say no to a similar kind of work. And that is really tough on the heart,” she said.
Sai Tamhankar praises Kriti Sanon for the National Award
Sai also admitted that box office numbers do cross her mind. “I would not lie. Sometimes I think that yes, I should be a part of a grand hit film. Of course, you think of numbers sometimes. Of course, you get pulled into that race,” she said.She added that she has already been part of successful projects such as ‘Ghajini’, ‘Duniyadari’, and ‘Mimi’. Sai said ‘Mimi’ could have had an even bigger impact if it had released in theaters. “If Mimi had been released in theatres, it would have really changed the game,” she said.She also said a theatrical release for a women-led film like ‘Mimi’ could have helped shift the trend. The film still found love on OTT and won the National Award.Sai praised Kriti and said, “Kriti very well deserved the National Award.” She also shared that they remain close. “We are still in touch. I am a part of her important days, important occasions, and it feels really nice,” she said.Sai was recently seen in Prime Video’s ‘Matka King’ with Vijay Varma, Kritika Kamra, and Gulshan Grover. Her last Hindi film was Bhumi Pednekar’s ‘Bhakshak’, which is streaming on Netflix.
