Legacy, passion & star power

Utkarsh Sharma reflects on growing up under the wings of his celebrated filmmaker father, Anil Sharma, and carving his own identity

- Andrea CostaBir

Being the son of Anil Sharma, a celebrated filmmaker, how has his guidance shaped your career? What are the most valuable lessons you've learnt from him, both personally and professionally?

My dad's passion for filmmaking is absolutely infectious. That's the first thing I noticed growing up. Even when he's home, he's constantly thinking about stories, rewriting scenes, mentally living in the world of his characters. Filmmaking isn't just a profession for him - it's his life. And that level of dedication is something I absorbed early on. I realised that if I wanted to pursue a career in film, I couldn't treat it like a part-time job. It requires 24/7 commitment, and I've tried to bring that same level of discipline to everything I do.

Beyond his tireless work ethic, one of the most important lessons I've learned from him is to be original. He always creates his own material, writes his own scenes, and sticks to his distinct style, no matter what's trending. He's very unapologetic about it - blunt, even - but that's what I admire. As an artiste, you must have your own voice. That's something I carry with me as an actor: Originality above all. Whether it works or not is secondary - what matters is that it comes from an honest place.

From Gadar to Genius - you began your journey as a child actor in Gadar: Ek Prem Katha and then took on the lead in Genius. How do you reflect on your growth, and what challenges did you face transitioning from a child artiste to a lead actor?

Honestly, there was never a plan to be a child actor. It happened completely by chance. The role required a child actor for a long and intense shoot schedule, and most parents weren't too keen on that. I just happened to be the right age, and since I was around the set anyway, I landed the part.