Mallika Chhabra shares her experience of shooting for Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari: “Varun Dhawan is a friend and Janhvi Kapoor is a fantastic artist”

The actress, who plays Nisha in the rom-com, opens up about her debut Dharma Productions experience and the lessons she’s taking forward.

By Bollywood Hungama News Network -

October 8, 2025 - 3:13 PM IST

Actress Mallika Chhabra is earning attention for her vibrant performance in Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, which hit theatres on October 2. Directed by Shashank Khaitan and produced by Dharma Productions, the romantic comedy stars Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor in lead roles, with Sanya Malhotra, Rohit Saraf, Maniesh Paul, and Abhinav Sharma in key parts.

Mallika Chhabra shares her experience of shooting for Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari: “Varun Dhawan is a friend and Janhvi Kapoor is a fantastic artist”

In the film, Mallika plays Nisha — Rohit Saraf’s cousin — a flirtatious, witty, and glamorous character who adds spark to the grand wedding setting around which the story unfolds. “Shashank wanted Nisha to have a lot of personality, not just be an attractive girl. He told me she should be funny, quick with banter, and full of charm. That guidance really helped me bring more depth to her,” she shares.

Talking about her experience of working with Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor, Mallika says it was both exciting and inspiring. “It was very exciting to work with both of them. Varun has been a friend for some time, and he’s honestly one of the most caring, protective people I’ve met. Seeing him on set just reaffirmed that. Janhvi, on the other hand, is such a fantastic artist — she makes every moment on screen so natural, whether emotional, humorous, or goofy. Also, I don’t think anyone enjoys food more than she does!” she laughed.

Recalling the fun moments on set, Mallika describes the shoot as “pure fun.” “With people like Shashank, Maniesh, Varun, and Abhinav around, we were mostly in splits all the time. There was a hilarious moment while shooting a scene with Varun where Kuku (Maniesh's character) and Bantu (Abhinav's character) were shooting an arm-wrestling scene, Janhvi Kapoor gave a fake snake to Varun and he threw that fake snake on both of them and pranked them! Watching their reactions mid-shot was priceless,” she says.

Reflecting on her journey so far, Mallika calls Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari a milestone in her growth as an actor. “Being on that set taught me more than any conventional acting course could have. It was both active and passive learning — watching Shashank and the cast at work felt like going back to school, while still being given the space to express myself. I have a long way to go, but this film will always be a foundational experience,” she said.

Sharing her personal mantra for navigating the highs and lows of showbiz, she added, “Don’t get too attached to the wins or losses. Celebrate, grieve if you need to, but move on — and above all, have fun in the process. If it all goes away someday, at least you had fun.”

Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, directed by Shashank Khaitan and backed by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions, continues its theatrical run after releasing last week. The film has been praised for its colorful setting, catchy music, and ensemble performances.

Also Read: Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari Box Office: Earns Rs. 3.60 crores on Blockbuster Tuesday