Oh Humnava—Tum Dena Saath Mera actress Shruti Gholap: Give me challenging roles and don't typecast me as a mom

Shruti Gholap, who is seen as Malti in Prateek Sharma's Oh Humnava—Tum Dena Saath Mera, which is produced under their banner Studio LSD, shared that when it comes to her long-term vision, she is clear and unapologetic. She wants to explore roles that challenge her craft and a space where she isn’t confined by stereotypes.

She said, "My long-term goals in the industry are to challenge the producers and the people around me to accept me and support me in being a better actor. One, give me challenging roles and don't typecast me as a 'mom.' But as long as my limbs are working, I want to work. What I thought, and what I still think, is that when I leave this place we call Earth, Shruti should be known as a good human being and a good actress."

Her father was a known face in the theater industry, and although she also started her career with it, life had some other plans. She said, "I was born into a family where doing theater or directing was not a new thing. My father was a very prominent figure in theater; he did a lot of direction and acting while living in Baroda. I have been watching this since childhood, so I don't think this was a choice for me; it was a culture for me. So, I have been doing this since I was a child."

"I did my first play when I was five years old in one of my father's productions. I also completed my master's in performing arts (dramatics), and after that, I came to Bombay. So, I didn't specifically think about it; I have just been doing it since childhood," she added.

Asked about her struggles, she shared that she experienced the industry in two worlds, Baroda through theater and Bombay through television. She said, "My struggles began early as I lost my father at fifteen, even before I could understand my path. I pursued graduation and a master’s in performing arts to connect with my love for theater, but life pushed me to Bombay since I had to support my family. I started from scratch without any mentor or guidance but got my first break in Gujarati theater around 2007–08."

For over a decade, theater became my backbone. I performed in 12 to 13 professional plays, with 150 to 200 shows each, always as a lead and never replaced. It not only shaped me as an actor but also helped me sustain both my homes, one in Mumbai and one for my mother back in Baroda. I will always be grateful to Gujarati theater for that. The early days were tough, surviving on cutting chai and vada pav, with no knowledge of the industry, presentation, or even basic necessities like makeup. There were also long gaps between plays. Once, I went nearly nine months without work and even faced days without food," she added.

Though she feels that her career has not shaped the way she wanted it to, she is successful because of her love for her craft. "Theater people do serials, but I don't think I can say it 'truly took off' because, again, success is personal. And success depends on you. I consider myself successful. If I speak in simple language, I am successful because I can do any character given to me," she said.

"Whether it's a 16-year-old girl, a 70-year-old woman, or a 50-year-old woman, I have the confidence that I can do it. And this is a success for me," Shruti ended.