Kriti Sanon’s Inspiring Journey: From Engineering Student to Bollywood Powerhouse and Entrepreneur
In an exclusive and candid conversation at the Times Now Summit, Bollywood sensation Kriti Sanon opened up about her remarkable transformation from an engineering student with no film connections to becoming one of Hindi cinema’s most sought-after actresses and successful entrepreneur. As she celebrates her 20th film with the upcoming “Cocktail 2,” Kriti’s journey represents the new wave of actors who are building brands beyond the silver screen.
The Unexpected Beginning: When Destiny Calls
Kriti Sanon’s entry into Bollywood wasn’t planned—it was destiny in action. Coming from a family of professionals, with her mother as a professor and father as a chartered accountant, the idea of becoming an actress seemed far-fetched. “I’m not much of a planner,” Kriti admitted during her conversation with Hina Gumber. “I don’t really plan. I go with my gut feeling.”
The engineering student, who was in her second year of B.Tech, never imagined she would grace the silver screen. “I was a very studious front-bencher who used to sit at the back only because she was tall,” she laughed, reminiscing about her academic days. Her passion for dance and admiration for Madhuri Dixit were her only connections to the world of cinema, but becoming an actor herself? That was never on the cards.
Everything changed when her height—something she once considered just a physical attribute—became her gateway to modeling. “Some people told me, ‘Hey, you should try modeling. You can really do well.’ And I was like, ‘I don’t think I want to be a model, but okay, I can do it as a hobby.'”
What started as a casual hobby quickly transformed into a passion. Doing television commercials gave Kriti her first taste of being in front of a moving camera. “That’s when I kind of felt like, ‘Oh, this is how it feels to be in front of a moving camera. And whatever little acting is, I feel like I can do it. I think I have it in me, and I enjoy it. I’m liking this.'”
That feeling—that spark of recognition that she had found her calling—was the beginning of a dream that would take her to the heights of Bollywood stardom.
Facing the Noise: Dealing with Criticism and Rumors
Every successful person faces their share of criticism, and Kriti was no exception. During her initial days, she heard it all—from being told she was “too good-looking to be taken seriously as an actor” to comments about her smile showing too many gums or her nostrils flaring when she laughed.
“I feel like I was hearing all kinds of things,” Kriti shared. But instead of letting these comments derail her, she developed a philosophy that has served her well: “I think it’s very important to just believe in yourself and understand the fact that your uniqueness is your superpower. Because if you become like everyone else, why are you even there? How do you make a difference?”
Her approach? “I’m glad I neither listened to the good nor the bad. I just listened to my heart and kept working hard.”
The internet being what it is, rumors about Kriti have been plentiful. When asked about being a state-level boxer, she burst out laughing: “No, man! What are these rumors? If anyone asks me the funniest rumor that you’ve heard about yourself, that’s the one. Not at all! I’m not even a sporty person. I look athletic, but I’m not.”
Another persistent rumor? Being replaced by a star kid. “Many times,” she acknowledged with grace. “But if a star kid didn’t get it, someone else would have. Actually, I was talking to someone recently. If you look now, there are so many actors in the business right now who don’t come from a film background and are doing extremely well.”
The Outsider’s Advantage: Breaking Through Nepotism
The debate around nepotism in Bollywood has been intense, and as someone who doesn’t come from a film family, Kriti has experienced both sides of this conversation. “I don’t come from any film family or any connection. So yes, it can be… Mumbai can feel like you’re a little lost in the city,” she admitted.
However, her experience has been largely positive. “But I feel that the industry has really given me a very warm welcome right from the beginning, from my first film, and I’m very grateful for that.”
Kriti offers a balanced perspective on the nepotism debate: “I also feel, yes, nepotism exists in every field. It’s just ours is the one that’s talked about. But at the end of it, if you really work hard, I feel like it takes time. It can take time for you to get opportunities that you really crave for. But if you stay at it, you will finally get it. You just need to keep getting better at what you do, and just stay persistent and don’t give up.”
She acknowledges the reality while maintaining optimism: “I think everyone has a different journey, whether you come from a film background or you come from a non-filmy background. I think you have your own struggles, your own competitions, your own issues.”
Her pragmatic view extends to the future: “Of course, like tomorrow, whenever in life if I have a kid and the kid wants to be an actor, I mean, they will have an edge because they know people who are already in the business, right? But at the end of it, your talent is what will make you sustain.”
“You can get to two opportunities, three opportunities, four, yes, very easily. You can get in through doors, and you know, you can sign a few films. But at the end of it, you have to connect with the audience. It’s finally the audience that kind of decides who stays and who doesn’t.”
Mimi: The Film That Changed Everything
When asked which of her 20 films truly changed her as a person and as an actor, Kriti’s answer was immediate and heartfelt: “Definitely, if I have to say one, it has to be Mimi. Because I feel like it was a turning point in my life. I feel it gave me wings as an actor.”
“Mimi” wasn’t just another film for Kriti—it was a transformation. “It made me believe that, yes, I can do a lot more than what I think I am capable of. I just need to believe in myself a little more. I need to take risks.”
The film, which dealt with the sensitive subject of surrogacy, came with its share of warnings. “Many people told me, ‘Hey, you’re doing a film on surrogacy. You’re becoming a mother. You will be typecast. It ages you, and you know, surrogacy pe film kar rahi ho, yeh toh bahut art ho jayegi’ (you’re making a film on surrogacy, it will become too artistic) and all. I got like a lot of comments.”
But Kriti learned to trust her instincts. “That’s when you have to really, really listen to what you feel inside your heart. Because that never lies.”
For Kriti, “Mimi” was an opportunity to perform, to stretch her abilities. “The hungry actor in me was like, ‘Oh my god, I can really do so much. I love what this film says, and I love that such a strong subject is packed with so much entertainment and comedy, and it can really reach people’s hearts.'”
She gave it her all, and the film gave her everything back—including a National Award. “It got a lot of love as well because of the subject, of course, and your wonderful performance in that particular film,” Hina noted, to which Kriti simply confirmed: “Yes, it did.”
The Fitness Transformation: From Weight Gain to Wellness
“Mimi” required Kriti to gain 15 kilograms for her role, a challenge that proved harder than losing the weight afterward. “I did get into fitness a lot more with the challenge of losing that weight after the film, especially because we hit lockdown and gyms were shut, and I was like, ‘Oh my god, what am I going to do?'”
But here’s a surprise: “I know a lot of people are going to be very jealous of me when I say this—it was harder for me to put on the weight than to lose it. It is my metabolism, which is like that for me. To gain the 15 kilos for the movie in two months was way harder.”
However, the experience taught her the importance of fitness in a profound way. Her dietitian had instructed her not to do any exercise, not even yoga, because the calories she was consuming were precisely calculated for weight gain. “If you burn it, pata nahi kaise gain karoge” (who knows how you’ll gain), she was told.
“For two to three months, I didn’t work out at all. And suddenly, my body was not used to this extra 15 kilos that had come out of nowhere. And I felt like, you know, it was an effort to even get up from the ground if I was sitting there. My knees were clicking, and I was like, ‘Oh my god, I really don’t feel fit right now.’ And that was not a good feeling.”
That uncomfortable realization sparked her fitness journey. “I think that’s how, for me, I started my fitness journey.”
When asked about her go-to workout when short on time, Kriti revealed: “I now recently started liking inclined work. I was not a cardio person at all. But I feel like inclined work is actually very good if you have less time. Because it helps you burn the calories, and it also is very good for your heart.”
Cocktail 2: The Highly Anticipated Comeback
Kriti’s 20th film marks a significant milestone in her career, and “Cocktail 2” is generating tremendous buzz. When asked about the film, she clarified: “So it’s not a remake, it’s not a sequel. It is a franchise in a way. It is more of the vibe of Cocktail One, which is also there in Cocktail 2. There are two girls, one boy. The language, the vibe of the film, the vibe of the characters is in the similar zone, similar world, but very different story, very different characters.”
She emphasized that there’s “absolutely no relation otherwise to Cocktail One, except for the fact that it has a cocktail of a lot of emotions and friendship and drama and music and just amazing locations.”
The film is produced by Homi Adajania and Maddock Films, ensuring the same quality and entertainment quotient that made the original a hit.
When Hina playfully asked about Kriti posting a story of the “Cocktail 2” teaser with a track from “Dhurandhar,” Kriti laughed: “I don’t remember this, honestly. Speak! You don’t manage your own social media?”
“Of course I manage, but I don’t remember which song was put where. I put Dhurandhar’s song on something else for sure!” she admitted with a smile.
Rapid Fire Revelations
In a quick rapid-fire round, Kriti shared some interesting insights:
One role that changed Kriti Sanon as a person: “Mimi”
OTT or Big Screen—which excites you more right now? “Big screen. That’s my first love.”
One skincare myth you want to bust: “More is more—you know, ‘main zyada percentage ke actives lagaungi toh meri skin aur better ho jayegi’ (if I use higher percentage actives, my skin will be better) or ‘main zyada number of products lagaungi toh aur better hoga’ (if I use more products, it will be better). That’s not true. Sometimes the more the percentage, it can also really harm your skin, and you should be careful of that.”
Go-to workout when really short on time: “Inclined work”
Co-star you share the best chemistry with: “Oh, that’s a tough one. I would say Pankaj Tripathi. I think I have done so many films with him. We have great chemistry.”
When asked about her “Cocktail 2” co-stars, she added: “Definitely! Are you talking about Rashmika, or are you talking about Shahid? Up to you?”
“No, both of them, actually. Shahid and I share amazing chemistry even in ‘Teri Baaton Mein.’ And I have really enjoyed working with Rashmika also. I think she is a really, really, really good person, and I feel that what makes a beautiful…”
One film you wish you had been a part of: “There are many, yaar. Jab bhi main… like all of us, like I don’t think there is any film that I have seen in the theater some four times, and that was one.”
The Entrepreneurial Spirit: Beyond Acting
At the Times Now Summit, Kriti wasn’t just celebrated as an actress but as an entrepreneur—representing the new wave of actors who are stepping much beyond the screen, building brands, launching ventures, and creating a presence that extends into business and entrepreneurship.
This shift in Bollywood is significant. Success in today’s film industry is no longer just based on box office numbers. Actors are building personal brands, engaging actively on social media, and creating business ventures that complement their acting careers.
Kriti embodies this new generation perfectly. She has maintained her authenticity while building a brand that resonates with millions. Her journey from a non-filmy background to becoming a National Award winner and successful entrepreneur is an inspiration to aspiring actors and business-minded individuals alike.
The Delhi Connection
As a “Delhi ki kudi” (Delhi girl), Kriti expressed her joy at being back in the capital: “Delhi aake toh hamesha hi accha lagta hai (It always feels good to come to Delhi). And agar Delhi ki kudi Delhi aaye toh aur bhi accha lagta hai (and if a Delhi girl comes to Delhi, it feels even better).”
This connection to her roots remains strong despite her Mumbai base and Bollywood success, grounding her and reminding her of where she came from.
Looking Ahead: Marriage, Career, and Beyond
When the inevitable question about marriage came up, Kriti handled it with her characteristic grace and humor. “I will get married when I really feel like getting married,” she said, making it clear that she’s on her own timeline. “And I don’t think I… I am ready.”
Her response drew laughter from the audience, but it also sent a clear message: Kriti Sanon is living life on her own terms, making choices that feel right for her, whether in her career or personal life.
The Times Now Summit Celebration
The Times Now Summit, celebrating its 20th anniversary, provided the perfect platform for Kriti’s inspiring conversation. The summit has consistently brought together leaders from politics, business, entertainment, and spirituality, creating a comprehensive dialogue about India’s present and future.
As Hina Gumber noted, “This is exactly what Times Now really has stood for in the last 20 years. We’re getting you, of course, the political action that you saw in a very perfect panel. But you also did have a session on spirituality. Now we are going to be talking about empowerment, women empowerment. And we are talking about Bollywood. And of course, the business mind behind it.”
Kriti’s presence at the summit, celebrating both her 20th film and the summit’s 20th year, created a beautiful coincidence that symbolized growth, achievement, and the power of persistence.
Conclusion: An Inspiration for the Next Generation
Kriti Sanon’s journey from an engineering student in Delhi to a National Award-winning actress and entrepreneur in Mumbai is a testament to the power of following your instincts, working hard, and staying true to yourself.
Her message is clear: “Sometimes you just need to try things. And for me, it happened by chance. But sometimes we don’t try things, and I feel like that’s so important to… sometimes it becomes your calling.”
As she continues to break barriers, challenge stereotypes, and build her brand beyond the screen, Kriti Sanon represents the new face of Bollywood—one that values talent over connections, authenticity over conformity, and hard work over shortcuts.
With “Cocktail 2” on the horizon and many more projects in the pipeline, the next chapter of Kriti’s journey promises to be just as exciting as the first 20 films. And for aspiring actors, entrepreneurs, and dreamers everywhere, her story serves as a powerful reminder that with belief, persistence, and hard work, anything is possible.
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