'Humans Are Driven By Fear'

'Rejection teaches you a lot of endurance, self-trust, and the ability to show up again.'

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Soft-spoken but assertively talented, Sonal Madhushankar has expressive eyes which convey warmth, steely conviction and world-weary fatigue in her breakthrough acting venture, Humans In The Loop.

Humans In The Loop focusses on a single mother from the Oraon tribe, who balances training AI systems and reconnecting with her roots, while her daughter struggles to accept their new life away from the city.

After its American theatrical release, the film, which is currently streaming on Netflix, has officially entered the Oscar race in the Best Original Screenplay category.

"After our premiere at MAMI 2024, I was approached by single mothers, working women, people from Jharkhand, and even members of indigenous communities, all saying they saw themselves in my character, Nehma,"

For a newbie actress, the reaction to Humans in the Loop must be life-changing?

For any actor who comes to Mumbai with a dream, this is the moment you secretly hope for.

The response has been surreal.

After our premiere at MAMI 2024, I was approached by single mothers, working women, people from Jharkhand, and even members of indigenous communities, all saying they saw themselves in my character, Nehma.

Some genuinely thought I belonged to their community.

Now the film has officially qualified to contend at the Oscars in the Best Original Screenplay category. That elevation from intimate screenings to an international stage feels deeply humbling and thrilling.

What is your backstory, personal and professional, before Humans in the Loop?

My journey has been very real and very grounding.

My husband, Rahul Patil, who works in IT and is also a playwright, wrote a one-hour-40-minute play, The Last Audience where I was on stage throughout. During rehearsals, a friend saw my performance and said, 'We should recommend Sonal to Aranya.'