There is a palpable shift in the audience’s perception of Kriti Sanon after Mimi (2021). Even though the actor tried to strike a balance between mainstream entertainers and author-backed offerings earlier, it was Laxman Utekar’s directorial venture that made viewers sit up and take notice of her acting prowess. Sanon hopes to maintain the momentum, as she begins this year with Rohit Dhawan’s Shehzada. She will balance the masala film with Adipurush, director Om Raut’s cinematic adaptation of the Ramayana. “I am finally feeling that people look at me as a star-actor now. I always wanted the actor [in me] to shine brighter than the star. 

Sanjay Leela Bhansali