The Real Story with Sanghmitra Hitaishi

Romil Modi: Casting Stories, Struggles & Stardom from the Inside

In this very special episode, I sit down with my dear friend Romil Modi, the game changing casting director of films like Laapata Ladies, Newton, Judgemental Hai Kya, Sherni, etc. I’ve known him for over a decade. Our conversation is not just about auditions, actors, and the craft of casting. It’s a deeply personal reflection on resilience, reinvention, and the unpredictable journey of finding your voice in the film industry.
From his days as a florist in Mumbai to becoming the first Indian casting director associated with a Grand Prix-winning film at the Cannes Film Festival, Romil’s journey is one of quiet grit and unshakable vision. If you've loved the casting of Laapataa Ladies, All We Imagine As Light, or Newton, chances are you've already admired his work without even realizing it.
We talk about everything from how actors should approach auditions, why real performances matter more than social media numbers, and how casting—when done with integrity can change not just a film, but a life.
It’s a candid, sometimes funny, often moving conversation between two friends, an actor and a casting director, who’ve grown together in an unpredictable industry.
For aspiring actors, film lovers, and anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider looking in—this one’s for you.
Hosted by Sanghmitra Hitaishi, actress and writer.
The Real Story Podcast is where artists, creators, and quiet revolutionaries tell the truth about the work, the world, and themselves.

Indraneil Sengupta: On His Marriage And His Search For Authenticity

Actor Indraneil Sengupta joins me in this deeply honest and personal conversation about shedding perfection, embracing vulnerability, and the long, winding journey to authenticity. From early fame and TV success to the quiet power of independent cinema, Indraneil reflects on the breakdown of his marriage, navigating the industry, redefining masculinity, dealing with public heartbreak, and falling in love with the craft again, and differently.
This is not just a story of an actor, it’s the story of a man learning to live truthfully in a world that demands masks.
Hosted by Sanghmitra Hitaishi, actress and writer.
The Real Story Podcast is where artists, creators, and quiet revolutionaries tell the truth about the work, the world, and themselves.

Shanker Raman: On Patriarchy, Redemption & Making Films That Disrupt

In this powerful and reflective episode of The Real Story Podcast, I sit down with filmmaker and cinematographer Shanker Raman, whose storytelling often explores the murky spaces between justice, redemption, violence, and humanity.
We talk about his deep discomfort with being boxed into labels like "truth-teller" and why, after decades in the industry, he’s more interested in what it means to make peace with the irredeemable than in presenting clear answers. We unpack themes of patriarchy, systemic inequality, and emotional complexity, and why art, for him, is not about making statements but about asking better questions.
Shanker speaks about the weight of being an artist in a fractured world, the danger of chasing validation, and what he’d tell any young person trying to “make it” today. This isn’t just a conversation about film, it’s about what it means to be human in a world that often demands certainty but needs nuance.
If you’re someone questioning your purpose, navigating systems bigger than yourself, or trying to hold on to your voice in noisy times, this one’s for you.
Hosted by Sanghmitra Hitaishi, actress and writer.
The Real Story Podcast is where artists, creators, and quiet revolutionaries tell the truth about the work, the world, and themselves.
 

Varun Grover: Laughter, Rage & the Art of Staying Awake in a Broken World

In this deeply personal and sharp-witted episode, I sit down with Varun Grover, writer, comedian, lyricist, to talk about the role of art in protest, the loneliness of thinking differently, and how humour became his way of surviving a fractured world. From navigating anger with grace, to resisting conformity with comedy, Varun opens up about the politics of sensitivity, the pressures of being an artist in India, and why making people laugh can be a radical act.
We talk about shame, censorship, grief, and the long journey from silence to satire. Varun doesn’t hold back, and in doing so, gives us a masterclass in vulnerability, sharpness, and staying awake in a society that often rewards the opposite.
If you’ve ever felt too soft for this world, too angry, too awake, this one’s for you.
Hosted by Sanghmitra Hitaishi, actress and writer.
The Real Story Podcast is where artists, creators, and quiet revolutionaries tell the truth about the work, the world, and themselves.
 

Gulshan Devaiah: On Resilience, Art, Mortality & What Truly Matters

In this deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation, actor Gulshan Devaiah opens up about what it truly means to live an artistic life. From confronting self-doubt and wrestling with identity, to reflecting on the meaning of death and the redemptive power of art, this episode is a journey into the inner world of one of India’s most thoughtful performers.
We talk about resilience, emotional honesty, and how Gulshan has learned to stop striving for perfection and instead embrace the uncomfortable, the uncertain, and the real. If you’ve ever questioned your path, feared failure, or wondered how to stay true to your voice, this one is for you.
Tune in for a conversation about art, grief, growth, and the quiet courage it takes to simply keep going.
Hosted by Sanghmitra Hitaishi, an actor and writer.
 
The Real Story Podcast is where artists, creators, and quiet revolutionaries tell the truth about the work, the world, and themselves.

Barun Sobti: On Authenticity, Self-Doubt & the Making of an Artist

What does it take to stay true to yourself in an industry built on appearances?In this honest and inspiring conversation, actor Barun Sobti opens up about navigating self-doubt, fame, and finding meaning in art. From quitting television at his peak to chasing work that resonates with his soul, Barun talks about his evolving relationship with authenticity, vulnerability, and creative freedom. This episode is about more than acting. It’s about choosing integrity over image, and craft over clout.
Hosted by Sanghmitra Hitaishi, an actor and writer.
The Real Story Podcast is where artists, creators, and quiet revolutionaries tell the truth about the work, the world, and themselves.