Shruti Shharma is playing Sonal Mishra in Alright TV’s Gangs Of Gorakhpur, a raw and intense show set against the backdrop of 1990s Gorakhpur. While the series explores friendship, love, ambition and the circumstances that can shape a person’s choices, Shruti’s character brings a strong emotional layer to the story. Sonal is a simple young woman from Gorakhpur, but she is far from ordinary. Strong, outspoken and fiercely loyal, she stands by Raghav Chaturvedi through every challenge. For Shruti, the opportunity to be part of Gangs Of Gorakhpur came with the promise of a story and character unlike anything she had played before.
Talking about how she came on board, Shruti says, “I got a call saying that Rusk Media was making a show and that the story was very different and interesting. They sent me the story, and I decided to read it first. For me, before saying yes to any show, the strength of the story matters a lot. The stronger the story is, the stronger the character will be, and you can play it better on screen.”
What immediately stood out to her was the world of Gangs Of Gorakhpur and the variation in Sonal’s personality. “As an actor, I had never portrayed this kind of variation on screen before. Sonal is very different from all the characters I have played so far, so that was one of the biggest reasons I said yes to the show,” she shares.
Describing Sonal’s place in the story, Shruti says, “I am playing Sonal Mishra, a simple 20-21-year-old girl from Gorakhpur. She is a very strong and outspoken girl, and she is in love with Raghav Chaturvedi. They have a friend group, and whenever Raghav faces challenges in his life, Sonal becomes his shield. Sometimes she shows him the right path and she never leaves his side.”
Sonal’s relationship with Raghav is one of the important emotional threads in Gangs Of Gorakhpur. Her love is intense, unconditional and sometimes even reckless. “I have played a character like this for the first time. She is completely crazy in love. She can do anything for Raghav. She is also very stubborn and has a very strong personality. You don’t see girls like this very often, so Sonal was a very interesting character for me,” Shruti says.
The show’s setting also played a major role in creating its atmosphere. Though the team shot in Lucknow, the locations were used to recreate 1990s Gorakhpur. The period setting, the real locations and the raw treatment helped the cast step into the world of the show.
“We shot the entire show in Lucknow for around 16-17 days. Gorakhpur was recreated there and we were in the 1990s era. Playing such a bold and outspoken girl in that period was itself a very interesting experience,” Shruti says.
For the actress, portraying Sonal required her to bring out a side of herself that is not usually visible. “I am actually a very introverted and quiet person. But whenever I go to Lucknow and I am around my brothers, a different version of me comes out. Sonal is four times bolder than that version of me,” she reveals.
She adds, “I tried to take inspiration from that and understand how to become comfortable enough to be around my friends in that way. For me, it was a lot of fun. At the same time, there are intense scenes where Sonal has to cry, so I also had to understand how someone who is so bold, confident and stubborn would react when she finds herself in a situation that completely breaks her.”
Shruti also credits her co-star Namish Taneja for making the experience enjoyable. “Working with Namish was super fun. He keeps coming up with these one-liners and is always joking around, so he never lets you get bored. At the same time, he is very hardworking when it comes to his character and preparation,” she says.
The comfort between the actors was especially important during the emotional scenes in Gangs Of Gorakhpur. “Namish gave me that space in several scenes. He would adjust according to what I needed. There were many scenes where I had to cry and where very painful things were happening. Sometimes, while crying, you go into that zone and it takes a few seconds to come out of it. During those moments, he made sure everyone was aware of what zone I was in. That was very memorable for me,” Shruti recalls.
For Shruti, the story of Gangs Of Gorakhpur was the primary reason to take up the project. She says she approaches every script not only as an actor but also as a viewer.
“Whenever I read a script, I don’t read it only as an actor. I read it as an audience member. I think about how I would feel if I were watching this on screen. So the story is the most important thing for me, then my character, and after that, the director,” she explains.
According to Shruti, the biggest strength of Gangs Of Gorakhpur lies in its raw storytelling and grounded characters. “The biggest USP is that it has been shot at real locations and the story and characters are very raw. Usually, the characters and stories we see are quite polished. But this is a very raw story. We have tried to get very close to how an ordinary person can actually be in real life,” she says.
The show also looks at how people and situations can influence the choices they make. While speaking about the message of Gangs Of Gorakhpur, Shruti says that the series does not simply divide its characters into good and bad.
“There is a moral to the story that not everyone is born a villain. Sometimes society and circumstances in life turn a person into a villain. But that does not mean you should choose the wrong path. Wrong is still wrong,” she says.
Although Shruti has been approached for reality shows, including Bigg Boss, she feels that fiction allows her to maintain a certain distance from her personal identity.
“As an actor, I am very greedy. I don’t want the audience to know every side of me. I want them to see different versions of me through different characters. That is also a big reason why I don’t participate in reality shows where your real personality comes out completely,” she says.
Beyond Gangs Of Gorakhpur, Shruti also speaks about the roles she hopes to play in the future. “If a biography of Rekha ji is ever made, I would love to play her. She is my favourite actor. I also love Madhubala. Another childhood dream role of mine was Chandramukhi from Devdas. I am a huge fan of Devdas, so if I ever get the opportunity to play a role like Chandramukhi, I will definitely do it,” she shares.
She also names Sanjay Leela Bhansali as a director she would like to work with again. “The way he presents women on screen, he makes them look so grand and beautiful. It is very difficult to match that level. He is one of my favourite directors, and I have already worked with him. So if something like that ever comes my way, I would definitely want him to direct it,” Shruti says.
Having worked across television, films, web series and vertical shows, the actress believes that the medium does not determine the quality of a project. “I don’t think the medium makes the difference. It is the people who make the difference. As an actor, I give the same honesty to every medium. For me, every project deserves the same effort,” she explains.
Shruti, who has always admired Madhuri Dixit, also credits the actress for influencing her approach to dance and performance. “I am a big admirer of Madhuri Dixit ma’am. I learnt dancing and expressions by watching her. I also learnt acting by watching actresses from the earlier generations. The poise and class that Madhuri ma’am has are unbeatable,” she says.
With Gangs Of Gorakhpur, Shruti hopes viewers connect with the show’s characters, conflicts and emotional layers. “You have always given a lot of love and support to all my projects. I hope you watch Gangs Of Gorakhpur and enjoy it because there are a lot of layers in the show. There is a lot of drama, and there is also a subject behind it,” she says.
