Actress Madalsa Sharma Opens Up About Uncomfortable Experiences in South Indian Film Industry

Actress Madalsa Sharma, known for 'Anupamaa', revealed her departure from South Indian films due to uncomfortable experiences, including casting couch issues. A specific conversation at 17 left her so uneasy she decided to return to Mumbai. Sharma emphasized her clear ambitions and boundaries, stating she prioritizes self-respect over career advancement.ActressMadalsa Sharma, who started her career in South Indian films before moving to Hindi cinema and television, recently spoke about her journey and the reasons she chose to step away from the South industry.Madalsa, best known for her role inRupali Ganguly’s hit show Anupamaa and her appearance in Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri’s The Bengal Files, shared her thoughts in a recent interview with Pinkvilla.When asked why she stopped working in South Indian films after a few years, Madalsa revealed that she had faced certain uncomfortable situations. She said, “Ek-aadh experience pleasant nahi the mere wahan pe, jo mujhe laga ki mai nahi kar sakungi.Wo path main nahi le sakungi.” (“I had a few unpleasant experiences there which made me feel that I couldn’t continue. I couldn’t take that path.”)Opening up further about what she meant by “unpleasant experiences,” the Anupamaa actress admitted that it was related to thecasting couch, something she believes exists everywhere in the industry. “Casting couch and all of that. It’s everywhere, I think,” she said.Madalsa then recalled one particular incident that left her deeply uncomfortable.“Mujhe thoda disappointment hua tha South me. No experience, but ek conversation ne mujhe uncomfortable kiya tha. I don’t remember (referring to the conversation), I was 17. It’s been a few years. But I remember that I felt uncomfortable and I just walked out, and I told myself, let’s go back to Bombay now.” (“I was a bit disappointed with the South industry.There wasn’t any direct experience, but one conversation made me very uncomfortable.I don’t even remember it now since I was 17 at the time, but I remember walking away and deciding to return to Mumbai.”)Despite facing challenges early in her career, Madalsa has always remained grounded and clear about her ambitions and limits. She concluded, “Ek goal hota hai na har ek insan ka to reach where they want. Mera goal hai ambition hai, sab kuch hai; magar wo utna jyada nahi hai ki main usko khud pe haavi hone du.To issiliye, when I spoke about me being level-headed, wo yahi hai ki I’m level-headed in terms of things jo mujhe chahiye aur jo mujhe nahi chahiye aur jis cost par chahiye.” (“Every person has a goal to reach where they want. I have my ambitions too, but not at the cost of losing myself. That’s what I mean when I say I’m level-headed — I know what I want, what I don’t want, and at what cost.”)Madalsa Sharma began her acting career with the 2009 Telugu film Fitting Master and went on to feature in several regional movies like Shourya, Aalasyam Amrutam, and Mem Vayasuku Vacham. Her performances showcased her range and adaptability as an actress. Later, she also appeared in Bollywood films, including Samrat & Co., further establishing her presence acrossIndian cinema.