Playing in a slice of history is no ordinary acting exercise, and Saiee M Manjrekar knows the weight that comes with it. The actor says portraying a character in The India House, Ram Charan’s big-budget Telugu period drama, has been a humbling experience.

“With a contemporary story, there’s a freedom to interpret a character, but when the story is based on fact or is set in a certain time, there’s a sense of responsibility. You are not just playing a role; you are representing a time, a culture, and people whose stories deserve to be told with honesty and respect,” she says.