"I Don't Act, I Live the Character": Soma Rathod on What Makes Her Performances Feel Real

Soma Rathod, who is seen as Pushpa in Prateek Sharma and Parth Shah’s banner Studio LSD’s Tumm Se Tumm Tak, believes that the foundation of any good performance lies in the emotional connection she builds with everyone around her on set.

She said, "According to me, it is very important because in every show I have worked on, I connect with it wholeheartedly. I connect deeply with all the actors, with the production team, and with the entire crew."

She was quick to point out that this bond extends well beyond the cast. She said, "I don't just connect with the artists; I also form genuine bonds with all the technicians. So yes, it is extremely important because that emotional connection is what brings life into anything you do."

When asked what makes on-screen chemistry feel natural and believable, Soma explained that for her, performance is less about technique and more about genuine feeling. She said, "As far as I am concerned, I feel that I do not act." Whatever character I play, I live it. And perhaps that is the reason why people feel my performances are so natural, because they genuinely are."

She elaborated on how this translates into her process while filming a scene. She said, "When a scene comes to me, I do not think of it as acting; I truly feel it. Many times, when a scene requires me to cry, I do not even need multiple takes because the emotions come naturally to me."

Asked whether strong off-screen bonding helps deliver better performances, Soma confirmed that it does, drawing from her own experience on set. She said, "Yes, it definitely helps. The more comfortable and free you can be with each other, and the more familiar you become, the better it reflects on screen.”

“In my case, all the artists would often sit together and have lunch in my room. That sense of comfort and bonding naturally translated into better chemistry and performances on screen,” Soma concluded.