Sharvari Wagh discusses preparing for her pre-Partition role for 1940s film using memory, research, and immersion
Bollywood actor Sharvari Wagh spoke to Indian media outlets about her preparations for the upcoming period romance Mai Vaapas Aaunga, set in the pre-Partition era, revealing that she drew inspiration for her character from a Punjabi dresser.
The film, which tells the story of two lovers during the Partition, proved to be a demanding journey for Sharvari, as she had to portray a character set eight decades in the past while carefully understanding the subtle gestures, emotions, and mannerisms of that era.
Speaking to the media, Wagh said, “A lot is said in the unspoken, and that is something we don’t imbibe. But the beauty of that era is that so little is said, yet it makes such an impact”.
She further shared that the cast and crew spent several weeks in small villages in Punjab’s Sangrur district, where they stayed in a 150-year-old house that helped her connect more deeply with her character, Jiya.
“One room has an antique dresser. I chose it because I wanted to feel like Jiya while preparing. I did my makeup there to connect with her,” said Wagh.
Co-star Vedang Raina also shared that the team prepared by listening to music from the 1940s. “I researched songs from 1946–47, the time of the film,” he said.
While appearing on Radio One International, Wagh further revealed she had to carefully understand the subtle gestures, emotions, and mannerisms of that time period.
“Costume is a really important part of an actor’s process because somehow you feel you are in the skin of the character the minute you wear clothes and the footwear for it. Something about footwear just changes the way you walk,” she said.
She also reflected on the visual research undertaken by the cast, including studying photographs of architecture, actors, and hairstyles from the pre-Partition era.
Speaking about her character Jiya, Wagh said she is someone “you see through memory,” adding that the film treats her in a layered way, where the same moment appears differently in reality and recollection. “What happens in memory over 70+ years is that you remember things very differently,” she explained.
Giving an example, she said, “There is a very peculiar costume we have — a red anarkali with farshi pants — and you can see it is red and white, but when you see the girl in the memory, it is white with red flowers. It’s just flipped and a little rust.”
She concluded by referring to director Imtiaz Ali’s perspective on memory, noting that people often don’t recall details precisely, and that this selective recollection is central to how memory works.
The period romance drama Mai Vaapas Aaunga is set to release on 12 June.
