Cherry Mardia - I Always Try Not To Attach Myself To The Outcome (Actor)

I haven’t so far in my humble beginnings played any character yet that may be too far from what I am anyway. Although as I write this, I did play a character called Shivani for this show Anjaan on Netflix where I play a cop who can sense paranormal activities.

1. Tell us about your background and journey.

I am born & brought up in Mumbai. I did my schooling in conventional education of a convent school and did my graduation in HR college and did my CA too. My tedious affair with taxes & accounts inevitably got me to develop my creative muscle and I started gravitating towards performance arts much later in life.

2. How important it is, according to you, that relevant stories are told?

Whether it was the novels I read in school breaks or the ones my grandma told me, I could never really figure out the understated magic of stories. Stories are weaved everywhere in movies or sketches or paintings or a historical place or a temple. I think it makes me connect & communicate with people while I make sense of my being in this universe.

3. Do you tend to carry a part of the characters you portray with you?

Everyday post shoot at home, I progressively found my senses to be heightened at the slightest movement of say a curtain swaying or a shadow moving. I actually got more sensitive to my surroundings, especially at night !

4. Is there any character you wish you got to portray? If so, how different would have portrayed it?

Oh my god. Envying other actors play characters you wish you could even audition for is such a touchy topic. If I could play "Mia" in a movie like La La Land, I think that’s it. My tryst with acting would be complete! I guess I'd make her more humorous.

5. Can an actor reach a point of stagnancy where they don't have anything new to learn?

I'd be too inexperienced to have a say on that but have often thought about it. I've seen actors play leading roles for the last 20years. I look at them & wonder What keeps them going, what makes them shrug off any complacency, how do they continue to keep the same people interested for so many years.

But a point where all learning ends? I don’t think such a point for comes anyone unless he has given up on life. Learning is eternal. Acting is just a part of it.

6. How important is introspection for an actor?

Self awareness is an extremely attractive feature that I find in some people. They meditate on things like death or politics, cultivate their own thoughts instead of regurgitating pop guru webinars, constantly discover their insecurities & attachments.. And in a way reverse all their conditioning.

Needless to say, this process must be central for any actor to clean his body/his instrument if he wishes to play many different characters which are nuanced, ambivalent & engaging...and far from who he is in real life.

7. What is your mantra for success ?

I think it would begin with first defining it. Once achieved, then celebrating it! I try to not attach myself to the outcome. Am I interested in the process or just in acquisition. I work towards my mini goals with least resistance & a feeling of having everything already.