Jobaaj Stories
Banita Sandhu, known for her performances in films like October and Sardar Udham, has recently found herself in the spotlight for reasons beyond her acting. Apart from her roles in Bollywood, Banita's appearance in singer AP Dhillon's music video for the song "With You" has drawn attention to her personal life, especially her relationship with Dhillon. However, Banita maintains a calm and composed stance, dismissing any unnecessary scrutiny as "just noise."
Banita, originally from Wales, moved to India recently, a decision she says reflects her dedication to her Bollywood career. She explains, “I think me just even shifting here shows my commitment and focus to this industry. My mindset hasn't changed since the beginning of my career as it always said that I just want to do good work and work my hardest. India feels like a second home to me. That's why even this move, it doesn't feel like I'm jumping into the deep end. It just feels like I’m coming home.”
She adds that her decision to relocate had been in the works for some time, but work commitments in the UK kept her from making the move sooner. "This year, I've been wanting to come, but I had work commitments in the UK which I had to finish up. So as soon as that got done around October, I finally had the get go. I could come and move here which was perfect timing for winters too, because I can’t handle a cold weather shock.”
Despite having spent most of her early life abroad, Banita feels right at home in India. “India has just embraced me with open arms and there's been no discrimination at all in terms of where I'm from. I would say I've probably faced more discrimination in the West being a brown working actress there. I've definitely lost out on roles because of the way that I look, I've been told that,” she shares.
Banita's appearance in Bridgerton, a popular American series, also gained significant attention, with many people in India recognizing her work. Reflecting on the overwhelming response, she says, “The people here are the best. I never expected to have that response but just to feel the warmth and love, it's an incredible feeling and I'm just so proud to be Indian and it made me so proud to represent our country.”
Beyond her films and television projects, Banita was also featured in AP Dhillon’s music video for "With You." This new venture showcased a more playful and lighthearted side of the actress, unlike the intense and serious roles she’s typically known for in India. She was pleasantly surprised by the positive reception: “With this industry, it's just so quick paced and transitory. I think people forget that it takes a long time to shoot a project. So, you can't really be in cinemas or on screen like every other week. But having said that, I think the music video was the first time I was presented in a different way. It was a bit more light-hearted and fun and flowy, whereas all of my other creative work in India has been more serious, where I'm not wearing makeup and it's been more emotionally intense. So, this was like a fun new avatar of me, and I'm so glad it was received so well because I was worried that people were going to be like, ‘wait, what?’.”
However, her appearance in the music video also sparked rumors about her relationship with AP Dhillon. When asked how this scrutiny affected her, Banita was quick to brush it off, saying, “My focus is work and everything else is just noise.”
Despite the buzz surrounding her personal life, Banita remains focused on her career and continues to earn the admiration of both fans and critics alike for her work in the entertainment industry.
