At the other end of the phone, Sana Althaf sounds excited. Her new movie Basheerinte Premalekhanam is all set to hit the theatres on July 21. Sana, who plays the role of Suhara, opposite Farhaan Faasil, says the character is close to her heart. “I haven’t done many movies but Suhara is quite different,” says Sana, adding, “I like her because she is smart and has her own opinion. I am also like her. Hence, I could relate to her.”
She sports a retro look in the movie. “The story is set in the 80s and my character bears a look from that period. I had some difficulty in accepting the new look during the first few days. I didn’t feel it was me. However, gradually, the change became an advantage; it helped me get deep into the skin of the character,” Sana explains. She had a great time working with the crew. “It took me a while to get familiar with the crew and then it was a smooth ride. Working with Farhan was quite comfortable. Being with Sheelamma (Sheela) was a learning experience,” says Sana.
She had a 40-45 day shoot in Palakkad for Basheerinte Premalekhanam. For the city-bred girl, it was a rejuvenating experience. “Moving from the hustle and bustle of Kochi to the serenity of Palakkad was totally refreshing. It is a not-so-modern place. Also, it was quite fun on the sets. Since I am a relatively fresh face, people couldn’t recognise me. They thought I was one of the onlookers and even asked me ‘who all are acting in this movie?’. I would then point to Sheelamma and they all would be excited. It was fun,” says Sana, smiling.
She also holds a black belt in Karate. “I have been practising it since childhood. Karate has helped me develop a good body language and instilled confidence in me,” she says. Quiz her about her dance practice video that went viral on social media lately, she laughs and says, “That is an old funny dance we did for a farewell function when I was in Class XI. Someone had recorded and uploaded it. Now, so many people have watched it.” Sana is currently pursuing B. Com privately. She is also acting in the Tamil movie RK Nagar.
