EXCLUSIVE: “Generational Trauma Still Exists In Me”
EXCLUSIVE: “Generational Trauma Still Exists In Me” – Banita Sandhu On Sardar Udham
In a candid and heartfelt conversation with Instant Bollywood, actress Banita Sandhu opened up about her emotional journey while working on the film Sardar Udham. While she may not have had the biggest role in the movie, her connection to the story ran much deeper, and she wasn’t afraid to talk about it.
“Sardar Udham’s Probably My Favorite Movie I’ve Done So Far” – Banita Sandhu
Banita starred alongside Vicky Kaushal in Shoojit Sircar’s powerful historical drama Sardar Udham, based on the life of Udham Singh, the revolutionary who avenged the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Reflecting on the experience, Banita didn’t hold back when it came to sharing how important the film was to her.
(Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Banita Sandhu Started Acting From Age 11, See Her 1st Paycheck!)
“Udham’s probably my favorite movie I’ve done so far. I know my role’s small, but just being part of that movie is something I’m really proud of,” she said. It’s clear that this wasn’t just another gig for her, it meant something personal.
Banita was actually in Bulgaria filming an American TV show when Shoojit Sircar gave her the call. She recalled how passionate the director was about the film, and how he had been planning it for over 20 years!
Banita talked about the challenges of filming the Jallianwala Bagh massacre scene, a pivotal and haunting moment in the film.
“I think Shoojit Sir knows how much it means to me as a Punjabi. Udham was another tough shoot. Because the way the massacre scene was set up in Jallianwala was really challenging. It felt really real, like it was actually happening.”
EXCLUSIVE: “Generational Trauma Still Exists In Me” – Banita Sandhu On Sardar Udham
And that’s where it hit her the hardest. Being Punjabi, Banita felt the weight of history during those scenes. The connection wasn’t just professional, it was personal.
“I think it hit me hard because I’m Punjabi, and there’s definitely a lot of generational trauma passed down from that time. My grandparents were in India during the partition,” she explained.
The way she spoke about it, you could tell this was something she’s still unpacking even now. She’s done the work in therapy, she said, but the emotional imprint of her heritage is something that hasn’t gone away.
“I think a lot of that generational trauma still exists in me. I’ve worked through it in therapy, but even while filming that movie, I kinda felt it creeping back. Shooting a massacre scene is really intense. It feels traumatic. Especially knowing your ancestors and grandparents went through something like that.”
It’s clear that Sardar Udham wasn’t just another film on her resume. It was a chance to honor history, confront inherited pain, and be part of something bigger than herself.
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