<p>Sanjjanaa Galrani, one of the two prominent Kannada actors booked in a narcotics case, is out on bail after three months in judicial custody. </p>.<p>In a candid chat with <em>Showtime</em>, she talks about life after incarceration. </p>.<p><strong>What is keeping you busy these days?</strong></p>.<p>I am creating a digital platform and learning a lot about back-end work. Life has been good. Of course, I get bouts of depression. I have been working for 16-17 hours a day to beat the blues. </p>.<p><strong>Was it hard to resume normal life after the arrest and the bad press?</strong></p>.<p>I don’t deserve what I went through. Everyone has been calling and pacifying me, saying ‘Why you? Why a girl? Where did all the men go?’ I feel very sad sometimes. When I was in the situation, I had suicidal tendencies. The character assassination I went through and the way I was portrayed by the media for TRP was saddening. It was shocking to see my friends trying to damage my image. I won’t be able to trust anyone other than my parents and my close family.</p>.<p><strong>How did you handle the phase?</strong></p>.<p>Everyone has skeletons in their closets. Let’s face it, there’s nobody who is god-like. I have way too much work to do. I have too much strength and will power for any negative comments to distract me.</p>.<p><strong>How did you remain mentally strong in jail?</strong></p>.<p>I was praying for eight to 10 hours. I was also crying for more than 12 hours. People who put me through this are<br />already going through their own share of troubles. I don’t believe in challenging anyone or ruining anyone’s life. I am a strong believer of God and ‘karma’.</p>.<p><strong>The hardest parts were…</strong></p>.<p>I came back because of health issues. I underwent surgery. I had bad stomach aches and crazy dreams. I dreamt that somebody was choking me. I couldn’t sleep for months. I am still recuperating. </p>.<p><strong>Tell us about your support system...</strong></p>.<p>My husband, my mother, and my father. My husband’s entire family stood by me. No one shamed me. Everyone sympathised with me.</p>.<p><strong>Was there any support from the industry?</strong></p>.<p>You’re just as good as your last film. If your last film was a hit, everyone will salute you. If it was a flop, you stop getting phone calls. I am grateful to producer K Manju who was vocal when I was in crisis. I am also grateful to producer Kumar, Yogish Dwarakish, and Shyam Sundar. </p>.<p><strong>What have you learned from this phase? </strong></p>.<p>Some of my cousins, who used to call me for favours called me ‘a baggage’. I realised I need to be with genuine people. </p>.<p><strong>You have launched a talent management agency…</strong></p>.<p>‘Atmanirbhar Artist’ is to help artists who hit rock-bottom during the pandemic. It looks to employ about 1,000 women from their homes. The initiative works with nine social media applications. I am looking at artistes who don’t have anyone to guide them. </p>.<p><strong>What’s new on the acting front?</strong></p>.<p>I am 33 and I feel that I should settle down with kids. I will come back for a second innings when I am 35 or 36. I started my own initiative so that even if I have children, I can continue to work.</p>
<p>Sanjjanaa Galrani, one of the two prominent Kannada actors booked in a narcotics case, is out on bail after three months in judicial custody. </p>.<p>In a candid chat with <em>Showtime</em>, she talks about life after incarceration. </p>.<p><strong>What is keeping you busy these days?</strong></p>.<p>I am creating a digital platform and learning a lot about back-end work. Life has been good. Of course, I get bouts of depression. I have been working for 16-17 hours a day to beat the blues. </p>.<p><strong>Was it hard to resume normal life after the arrest and the bad press?</strong></p>.<p>I don’t deserve what I went through. Everyone has been calling and pacifying me, saying ‘Why you? Why a girl? Where did all the men go?’ I feel very sad sometimes. When I was in the situation, I had suicidal tendencies. The character assassination I went through and the way I was portrayed by the media for TRP was saddening. It was shocking to see my friends trying to damage my image. I won’t be able to trust anyone other than my parents and my close family.</p>.<p><strong>How did you handle the phase?</strong></p>.<p>Everyone has skeletons in their closets. Let’s face it, there’s nobody who is god-like. I have way too much work to do. I have too much strength and will power for any negative comments to distract me.</p>.<p><strong>How did you remain mentally strong in jail?</strong></p>.<p>I was praying for eight to 10 hours. I was also crying for more than 12 hours. People who put me through this are<br />already going through their own share of troubles. I don’t believe in challenging anyone or ruining anyone’s life. I am a strong believer of God and ‘karma’.</p>.<p><strong>The hardest parts were…</strong></p>.<p>I came back because of health issues. I underwent surgery. I had bad stomach aches and crazy dreams. I dreamt that somebody was choking me. I couldn’t sleep for months. I am still recuperating. </p>.<p><strong>Tell us about your support system...</strong></p>.<p>My husband, my mother, and my father. My husband’s entire family stood by me. No one shamed me. Everyone sympathised with me.</p>.<p><strong>Was there any support from the industry?</strong></p>.<p>You’re just as good as your last film. If your last film was a hit, everyone will salute you. If it was a flop, you stop getting phone calls. I am grateful to producer K Manju who was vocal when I was in crisis. I am also grateful to producer Kumar, Yogish Dwarakish, and Shyam Sundar. </p>.<p><strong>What have you learned from this phase? </strong></p>.<p>Some of my cousins, who used to call me for favours called me ‘a baggage’. I realised I need to be with genuine people. </p>.<p><strong>You have launched a talent management agency…</strong></p>.<p>‘Atmanirbhar Artist’ is to help artists who hit rock-bottom during the pandemic. It looks to employ about 1,000 women from their homes. The initiative works with nine social media applications. I am looking at artistes who don’t have anyone to guide them. </p>.<p><strong>What’s new on the acting front?</strong></p>.<p>I am 33 and I feel that I should settle down with kids. I will come back for a second innings when I am 35 or 36. I started my own initiative so that even if I have children, I can continue to work.</p>