Lead Actor In Oscar-Nominated Hindi Short ‘Anuja’

She played the lead role in an Oscar-nominated film, but Sajda Pathan does not understand English. Her Hindi short film Anuja was in the Oscars 2025 race under the Best Live Action Short Film category. In an exclusive interview, Sajda Pathan reveals English is her favorite subject.

Anuja revolves around Pathan’s character of a talented nine-year-old girl, her struggles and dilemma when faced with choices between sibling-bonding and building a better future. Pathan is the same age as her character and experienced similar situations in her real life before Salaam Baalak Trust rescued her.

Sajda Pathan interview

Adam J Graves has directed Anuja which is produced by his wife Suchitra Mattai. Guneet Monga, Mindy Kaling and Priyanka Chopra later came onboard as producers of the short film which features real-life orphan who was rescued from child labor, Sajda Pathan. In an email interview, Pathan reveals her experience of working on the Oscar-nominated film as the lead character and shares bits about her life.

Sajda Pathan: Her favorite subject

Asked about her favorite subject, Pathan says it is English as she lives to learn and improve her language. “Mastering English will help me communicate better with people, especially with those from outside India. It will open doors to new connections, experiences, and opportunities. My ultimate dream is to become an actor and bringing characters to life on screen. English will help me in doing that.”

Sajda Pathan: Her best friend

The young actor says it was her director Adam J Graves who was her best friend and her acting coach Pankaj was the boss when they worked on Anuja. “While working on Anuja, my best friend Adam ‘Bhaiya’ (brother), was always by my side. He constantly supported and guided me through the scenes with perfection. His encouragement and unwavering belief in me made the journey special. He is not just a mentor – he is my true best friend.”

Sajda Pathan on working in Anuja

She adds, “My acting coach Pankaj Bhaiya was also my boss because he taught every scene with such seriousness and dedication. I knew that without him, I would not have been able to do much. He was the one who helped me grow and learn so much as an actor. His guidance shaped my journey not just with the film but on the path of becoming an actor. I will always be grateful for everything he taught me.”

When she bagged Anuja, Pathan was already working on the French film La Tresse. Director Graves joked in a previous interview with Forbes that she was more experienced than him on sets of Anuja. “The best part about working in movies is getting to portray different characters-ones that we might never get to be in reality. We get to experience such emotions, and experience countless stories. So far, I have played two beautiful roles – a daughter and a sister. This is just the beginning; I can’t wait to bring many more characters to life on screen,” Pathan insists.

Sajda Pathan: Her hobbies

She also reveals that she loves theatrical activities as a hobby too. “My hobbies include theatrical activities, as I love performing and expressing emotions on stage.” She adds that she enjoys dancing, drawing and playing with her friends. “Each of these passions adds color and joy to my life,” she concludes.

(This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.)