Saiyami Kher marks 10 years in films, recalls 'date a director' advice
Synopsis
Ten years into her Bollywood career, Saiyami Kher has revealed the blunt gatekeeping she faced as a newcomer from Nashik — told to 'date a director' and get a 'lip job'. Her account, anchored by a transformative three-month workshop with Dilip Shankar and Adil Hussain, offers a rare unfiltered window into how outsiders with no industry connections navigate their way in.
Key Takeaways
Saiyami Kher is marking 10 years in the film industry in October 2026 .
She recalled being advised to 'date an actor or director' for an easier entry and to undergo a 'lip job' as a newcomer.
A three-month workshop with director Dilip Shankar and actor Adil Hussain proved the turning point in her career.
She was cast in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's Mirzya ( 2016 ) within six months of the workshop, making her acting debut opposite Harshvardhan Kapoor .
Kher said she still feels the same 'hunger and nervous excitement' as on her first day, and intends to keep challenging herself on and off camera.
Actress Saiyami Kher has spoken candidly about the unsolicited advice, rejection, and prejudice she faced while trying to break into Bollywood, as she marks 10 years in the film industry in October 2026. The actress, best known for her roles in Mirzya, Ghoomer, and Jaat, described her early days as a reserved, introverted young woman from Nashik navigating an industry that judged her before she had the chance to prove herself.
The Advice She Received
Kher recalled being labelled a 'villager' and being told she did not have what it took to make it in cinema. Among the more startling suggestions she received was to 'date an actor or director' as a shortcut to securing roles, and to undergo cosmetic procedures including a 'lip job'.
In her own words, she described how her upbringing helped her handle such remarks: 'My upbringing and my parents had given me enough security in myself to find humour in grown adults speaking to me like that. I met a whole lot of people with free advice, and rejection pretty much every day.'
The Turning Point: Three Months That Changed Everything
Kher credits a pivotal workshop as the moment her trajectory changed. She recalled that director Adoor Mukerji called to inform her that Dilip Shankar would test her, and that experience proved transformative.
'Dilip ji's warmth and gentleness made me realise that good people exist,' she said. She spent three months workshopping with Shankar and actor Adil Hussain, crediting the process with teaching her to 'be myself, find truth and honesty in my work, and trust that being myself was enough.' Within six months, she was cast in filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's Mirzya.
Working With Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
Kher described working with Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra on Mirzya — her 2016 debut opposite Harshvardhan Kapoor — as a defining experience. 'Rakeysh sir was everything I had unknowingly been seeking. A beautiful human being and a dream to work with,' she said, adding that Mehra and his wife Bharat ma'am treated her like family and gave her the creative freedom to discover herself as an actor.
She described every day on the Mirzya set as one she wished would never end, and noted that friendships forged during that production have lasted a decade.
Looking Ahead: A Decade More
Reflecting on a journey that has spanned films across genres — from period romance to sports drama — Kher said she remains driven by the same hunger she felt on her very first day on set. 'I know I have a long way to go as an actor. There is still so much to learn and explore. And that excites me,' she said, drawing a parallel to her identity as an endurance athlete: 'To keep showing up, one kilometre at a time.'
With ten years behind her and several projects ahead, Kher's account offers a rare unfiltered look at the informal gatekeeping that aspiring actors — particularly those without industry connections — routinely navigate in Mumbai's entertainment world.
Frequently Asked Questions
What advice was Saiyami Kher given as a Bollywood newcomer?
Saiyami Kher was advised to 'date an actor or director' for an easier entry into films and to get a 'lip job'. She has spoken about these suggestions while reflecting on a decade in the industry, saying her upbringing gave her the security to find humour in such remarks.
How did Saiyami Kher get her Bollywood break?
Kher's break came after director Adoor Mukerji called to have Dilip Shankar test her. She then spent three months workshopping with Shankar and actor Adil Hussain, following which she was cast in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's Mirzya (2016) opposite Harshvardhan Kapoor.
What is Saiyami Kher's debut film?
Saiyami Kher made her acting debut with Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's Mirzya in 2016, co-starring opposite Harshvardhan Kapoor. She has since appeared in films including Ghoomer and Jaat.
Who is Saiyami Kher?
Saiyami Kher is a Mumbai-based Indian actress originally from Nashik who debuted in Bollywood with Mirzya (2016). She has built a profile spanning drama and sports films, and is also known as an endurance athlete.
Why is Saiyami Kher in the news today?
Kher is marking 10 years in the film industry and has shared a candid account of the prejudice and unsolicited advice she faced as an outsider breaking into Bollywood, including being told to date a director and undergo cosmetic procedures.
