The Multi-Hyphenate Deepti Sadhwani Is On A Quest To Be Remembered
In a world that is determined to put us into silos, Elle Digital Cover star Deepti Sadhwani thrives in breaking away from them to forge the path untaken.
What happens when everything you’ve worked towards no longer seems fulfilling? Or when you outgrow the definitions of success that have often been thrust upon us? For most, the void is made up for through sidequests and a quiet acceptance of what is. For actor and podcaster Deepti Sadhwani, the answer is just a little different–marked by leaps of faith, risks, and making bold choices. “Growing up, ambition and success were very much about building a strong, independent life for myself. I was always academically driven and believed that having the right qualifications would give me the freedom to create my own path. That’s what led me towards finance, an MBA and becoming a Cost Accountant,” says Sadhwani.
At that stage of her life, her idea of success was almost tangible–having a stable career, being financially independent, and being able to take care of her family. From the outside, she had it all. Yet, as she settled into the nine-to-five, she realised that success wasn’t just about the title you hold or the qualifications you earn. “It is also about having the courage to listen to yourself, and build a life that feels authentic to you,” reveals Sadhwani.
On Being Seen And The Curious Case For Human Stories
So, armed with a background in finance that taught her discipline and the ability to look at things objectively, with little clue about the inner workings of the world of entertainment, Sadhwani decided to build a career from the ground up in an industry that was entirely new for her. “The most difficult part was probably starting from zero in an industry where perception matters so much,” she says, “Entertainment is also an industry where rejection is very visible and where you constantly have to prove yourself.”
And prove herself she did. Her foray into the world of acting, performance, and entertainment began when she became the regional finalist for Femina Miss India. Soon after, she made an appearance on the famed Indian sitcom, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. “Being part of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah was incredibly special because it is a show that has become such a huge part of Indian popular culture,” says Sadhwani. “I’m grateful that the show became one of the chapters in my journey and gave me an opportunity to connect with an audience that I may not have otherwise reached.” The show left her with lessons on performance that will stay with her for a long time to come. She has since hosted reality TV shows, appeared in music videos, and acted in movies.
As she continues to build her career, Sadhwani is determined to play characters that are layered, complex, and unpredictable. “I want roles where the character has an internal journey. I want to be able to disappear into the person playing rather than play a version of myself,” she says. Averse to being typecast, she is keen on exploring characters that challenge her emotionally and physically, and that are unlike anything she’s done before. “My goal as an actor isn’t just to be seen. I want to be remembered for performances,” Sadhwani sums up perfectly.
Her love for exploring the depth of human nature and stories is also reflected in her podcast Deep Tea with Deepti. The podcast is rooted in unfiltered conversations with public figures from India, UAE and beyond and offers an intimate look into the people behind the public personas. From Suhel Seth to Farhana Bodi, the podcast has featured some of the most prominent names in business and popular culture.
“We see the success, the lifestyle, the headlines and the Instagram version of someone’s life. But I’m fascinated by the conversations underneath that—the failures, insecurities, relationships, decisions, risks, turning points and lessons,” explains Sadhwani. Her goal was to create a space where people constantly in the public eye could simply be and have a more honest conversation. “Some of the most memorable conversations have often been the ones where someone says something unexpectedly vulnerable or reveals a side of themselves that the audience hasn’t seen before,” says Sadhwani.
Perhaps that fascination with what lies beneath the surface also explains Sadhwani’s own resistance to being easily defined. For someone whose career has moved fluidly between finance, entertainment, acting, hosting and podcasting, identity has never been a particularly static thing. If anything, the more she explores, the less interested she seems in fitting into the conventional.
On Public Perception, Evolving Identity, And Purpose
Being thrust into the limelight came with its own learning curve. “Being in the public eye definitely makes you more conscious of how you’re perceived,” says Sadhwani. “There are always opinions, and if you allow every opinion to define you, you can very easily lose your own sense of self.” Perhaps that is why Sadhwani’s understanding of success has evolved alongside her understanding of herself. No longer defined by the conventional markers of achievement—or the beauty standards that often accompany public life—she sees success in the freedom to make choices that feel true to who she is.
“Today, success for me is much more holistic,” she explains, “It is about having the freedom to choose what I want to do, being able to reinvent myself, creating something of my own and hopefully inspiring people along the way. I also look at how much I’ve evolved as a person and the risks I’m willing to take.” She strongly believes that one’s identity keeps evolving. “We put so much pressure on ourselves to have everything figured out — what our career is, who we are, what our purpose is. But I don’t think life works that way,” says Sadhwani.
