Adah Sharma Opens Up on Threats After The Kerala Story and Why She Chooses “Bold, Dangerous” Roles

Adah Sharma has revisited the intense spotlight and polarising reactions she faced following her performances in The Kerala Story (2023) and Bastar: The Naxal Story (2024). Speaking in an exclusive conversation with IndiaToday.in, the actor reflected on years marked by acclaim, criticism, and death threats—experiences she now views with humour and perspective. “Half the country wanted to protect me and the other half wanted to kill me, and both groups seemed equally committed,” she said with a laugh, adding that she gravitates toward scripts that feel “bold, bizarre, or slightly dangerous” to her career.

The actor, who recently starred in Tumko Meri Kasam (2025), is preparing for the release of Reeta Sanyal Season 2, where she returns as the dynamic lawyer at the centre of the show’s larger-than-life universe. Despite playing a fictional character, she shared that strict legal oversight shaped many creative decisions. A seemingly harmless courtroom sequence featuring green shoes was removed, she revealed, out of fear that it might attract legal trouble. Comedy and action were also trimmed to ensure the show remained sentiment-sensitive and suitable for younger audiences.

“My concern is just that they leave some of the funny stuff,” she said, noting that she trusts the legal teams and focuses on doing her part with honesty. She also discussed her evolving range of roles—from playing a possessed woman in her debut 1920 to embodying a divine force in her upcoming three-part film series Devi. “From devil to Devi—it’s exciting to explore everything in between,” she said.

Adah will also return to the horror genre with a sequel to 1920. Reflecting on its famously low-budget production, she recalled performing physically demanding stunts without VFX: “Climbing walls, walking backwards down staircases—we did everything practically. Fear is the cheapest special effect and the most effective one.”

The actor is also working on an international project, preparing through her signature mix of psychological study, script immersion, and what she jokingly calls “method madness,” often practicing accents until her neighbours “start praying.”

Addressing work-life balance, Adah noted that her focus for years was on simply getting meaningful roles in films that would actually reach theatres. When asked about boundaries while choosing scripts, she said she prefers roles that demand emotional extremes, physical commitment, or unconventional storytelling—joking that if a role doesn’t mildly worry her family, she isn’t interested.

And her dream role? “To play King Kong in King Kong,” she declared, summing up her commitment to unpredictability and creative freedom.