Sai Tamhankar: Mumbai took a lot from me, but it made me stronger

Sai Tamhankar is happy with the response she has received to her performance as Barkha Bhatti in the period crime drama Matka King. Playing the wife of Vijay Varma’s Brij Bhatti, Sai brings restraint and emotional depth to a role that could have easily slipped into stereotype.

She says, “People have been telling me that the character felt natural and layered. That’s always satisfying to hear because you want the performance to feel organic.” For Sai, Barkha’s journey resonated on a personal level. Much like the character navigating chaos and uncertainty, the actress recalls her own early years after moving to Mumbai from Sangli. “It took a lot of mental preparation to survive on your own and face everything a city like Mumbai throws at you. The city has given me a lot and taken a lot too, but it has shaped me into who I am today,” she says.



She describes Mumbai as a city that forces resilience. “It teaches you how to manage stress, how to take care of yourself and how to survive difficult situations. In the beginning, there were days when I genuinely felt this wasn’t my cup of tea. But over time, you learn how to deal with the chaos. And once you face chaos, you begin to value peace,” she says.
Despite working in an industry driven by competition, Sai says, “I don’t see myself as part of any race. The race is only with myself,” she says. “Everyone has their own talent and individuality. If you’re thinking long-term, there’s no point in being insecure,” she adds.



The actor acknowledges the inevitability of younger faces entering the industry. “After so many years of work, insecurity shouldn’t exist. Somebody younger will always come in — that’s the way life works. I believe that with talent, work will continue to come at every age,” she says.