Sunanda Sharma on inclusive beauty: “Agar koi gora ya kala hai…”

Actor and singer Sunanda Sharma spoke to Hook about trolls, her future releases, and her favourite musical genres. In this exclusive conversation, the social media star gave her insights on Bollywood’s remixes, body-shaming, trolling, and the inspiring figures she admires, such as Sunidhi Chauhan.

Sunanda Sharma is a folk music and Sunidhi Chauhan fan

When asked about who she looks up to and admires, Sunanda named iconic vocalist Sunidhi Chauhan as her inspiration.

She said, “Sabse zyaada mere pasandeeda hain, that is Sunidhi ji (My favourite is Sunidhi). Aksar main unki baat badi karti hoon ki the way she is performing now, jaise unhone apne life mein apne aap ko badla hai, she's an inspiration for all the girls (I often talk about how the way she is performing now and how she’s transformed herself is an inspiration for all the girls). Musically bhi and peformance-wise bhi, I look up to her (Musically and performance-wise, I look up to her).”

Talking about her musical influences, she said folk songs have a special place in her heart: “Jab gharon mein shaadiyan hoti hain humaare, toh wahan pe sangeet rakha jaata tha (When there are weddings in our community, then sangeets are held). Jab sangeet rakhte hain toh tab jo folk hota hai, woh bohot gaaya jaata hai shaadiyon mein (When these sangeets happen, then folk songs are sung at weddings). So maine woh bada suna hai (So I have heard that a lot). Toh mujhe toh folk bada achchha lagta hai (So I really like folk music).”

Sunanda Sharma’s take on body-shaming and trolling

As a female public figure who has a large following online, Sunanda is no stranger to trolling. But she approaches trolls with kindness.

Talking about the psyche of trolls, she said, “Harr ek insaan ke apne views hote hain (Every single person has their own views). Ho sakta hai mujhe jo koi cheez achchhi lag rahi, shayad kisi ko nahi achchhi lag rahi ho (It’s possible that what I like may not be what someone else likes). Toh, woh ek toh uss cheez ke liye koi kisi ko bol sakta hai (So for that reason people can troll others).”

Sunanda also chalked up trolling to a case of sour grapes: “Kabhi kabhi hum apni zindagi mein itna achchha, life mein, nahi humaara kuch ban raha hota hai, ya hum nahi kar paate (Sometimes we aren’t able to achieve something or aren’t doing well in life). Toh jo kar paa raha hota hai, kai baar humein usko digest karna mushkil ho jata hai (So when someone else is successful, it’s hard for us to digest that). Tab bhi hum usse troll kar dete hain (So then we troll that person). But mujhe lagta hai hona nahi chahiye (But I feel it shouldn’t be that way). Aapko nahi pata koi bhi kahin pe bhi baitha ho, kaise guzar ke baitha hai (You have no idea what people had to go through to get where they are).”

However, Sunanda, unlike many other women, hasn’t been at the receiving end of body-shaming. Talking about how she doesn’t comment on other people’s appearances, either, she said: “Mujhe kabhi kisi ne kuch bura nahi bola (Nobody has said something negative to me). I'm very blessed. Maine bhi toh nahi kabhi kisi ko kuch aisa bola (I have also not said anything to anyone). Toh shayad jab aap bhi bada kisi ko poke kar rahein hain tab bhi aapko body shaming hota hai (So maybe if you poke people too much, they body shame you). But main ismein believe nahi karti hoon (But I don’t believe in this).”

Talking about how people are too comfortable judging people on their physicalities, she said: “What is body shaming? Matlab, agar koi mota hai ya patla hai ya gora hai ya kaala hai, isme uska koi lena dena nahi hai, uski appearance ke hisaab se (If someone is fat or thin, or fair or dark, it has nothing to do with them, their appearance). Usko bhagwan ne banaya hai (God has made them). Pyaar karein use, kyunki woh jaisa hai, aap bhi ho sakte hain (Love them, because you could also have been the way they are). So isliye, jo bhi hai, uski respect karein (So that’s why, whoever it is, respect them)."

Sunanda Sharma on Bollywood remixes

Bollywood has been in its remix phase for about a decade now, churning out new versions of old hits.

As a singer, Sunanda’s take on this is, "Banane do unko, kya fark padta hai (Let them make remixes, how does it matter)? Koi gaana jab already bohot achchhe se chala hua hai, toh usko agar remix kar bhi rahein hain toh remix jo ho, woh bade achchhe tareeke se hua ho (If a song has become really popular and even if people are remixing it, it should be remixed well)."

Did social media help or hinder Sunanda Sharma?

Sunanda first rose to fame through social media. But navigating the world of the internet isn’t always easy.

Here’s what Sunanda said about being discovered online, when asked about whether social media was beneficial or detrimental for her: “Main toh khud social media ki paidayish hoon (I am a product of social media). Social media bohot achchha role bhi play karta hai aap ki zindagi mein (Social media can play a very good role in your life). Kahin na kahin bura bhi role play karta hai aapki life mein (Sometimes, it can play a bad role in your life, too).”

She continued, “Mujhse toh bohot zyada achchhe log hai jo gaane mein bohot achchhe hain (There are many great people who are better singers than I am). But again, ek yeh kismat ki baat hoti hai (But again, it’s a matter of fate). Kisi ki kismat mein kuch likha hai, usko mil gaya mauka (Someone’s fate decides what opportunities they get). Baat toh sirf ek mauke ki hai (It’s all about getting that one chance).”

How singer Sunanda Sharma chooses her projects

Talking about her future projects, Sunanda spoke of what her process is with regard to selecting films and songs: “Mujhe bohot dhyaan hota hai ki main harr tareeke ki audience ko cater karoon (I’m very mindful of catering to every type of audience). Kyunki, kisi ko sad gaana pasand hai, kisi ko beat gaana pasand hai, kisi ko romantic gaana pasand hai (Because some people like sad songs, some like beats, some like romantic songs).”

She added, “Mujhe bohot saari filmein offer hoti hain (I’m offered a lot of films). Toh main nahi karti hoon (So I don’t do them). Uska reason yeh hai ki pehle toh mujhe itni sense nahi thi lekin aaj main art ko badi tawajju deti hoon (The reason for that is that earlier, I didn’t have much sense, but today, I have a lot of reverence for my art). Agar jab koi kahani aisi hogi jisse mera art bahar aayega toh main waisi filmein karni pasand karungi (If a story brings out my art, I’d like to do films like that).”

Reflecting on how her choices have changed compared to the past, she said, “Bohot saare aise genre hai jo maine touch hi nahi kiye, jo maine gaa ke hi nahi dekhe (There are many genres I haven’t touched, haven’t even tried to sing). There are so many things ki jo mujhe lagta hai mujhe karna chahiye tha (There are so many things I feel I should have done). Maine kabhi kiya nahi, prioritise nahi kiya art ko kabhi itna, pehle (But I never did it, never prioritised art before).”

Speaking about upcoming release, she said, “Jaise maine already gaane kiye hain, similar waisa hi gaana hai (It’s like the songs I have already done, similar to those). Harr artist ko kisi ek tareeke se log pasand kar lete hain, aur mera maanna yeh hai ki aap experiment karte rahein, lekin zyadatar jo audience aap se demand karti hai, aap woh karein (Every artist is appreciated in a specific way, and I feel you should keep experimenting, but do what the audience demands from you). Bada peppy song hai, bada dance number hai (It’s a very peppy song, it’s a dance number)."

Working in the Punjabi and Hindi music industries

As someone with experience in the Punjabi and Hindi music industries, Sunanda felt music is a source of unity, as opposed to something that causes differences.

She said, “Music samajh aa hi jaata hai aapko (You end up understanding music). Main language ki baat nahi kar rahi hoon ki koi Hindi mein gaana hai ya Punjabi mein gaana hai (I’m not talking about language or whether a song is in Hindi or in Punjabi). Music sirf connect karta hai aapko (Music only connects you). Ho sakta hai koi main Tamil gaana aisa sunoon jiska mujhe koi hint hi nahi pata ki woh kya gaa raha hai, uske lyrics kya hain (It’s possible that I listen to a Tamil song without knowing what the lyrics being sung are about). Lekin uska music jo hai, woh mujhse connect kar jaye (But its music might end up connecting with me).”