Sara Ali Khan had a Columbia degree, but her weight was the real challenge to enter Bollywood

Bollywood actor Sara Ali Khan's journey into Bollywood began with a decision to follow a childhood dream she had once pushed aside. While studying at Columbia University in New York, the actor found herself drawn back to performing, even as she pursued academics and considered a future in law.

During an appearance on Anil Kapoor's show India Ke Top 1%, Sara recalled the moment she realized acting was something she needed to try. The actor, who is currently promoting her upcoming film Udta Teer alongside Ayushmann Khurrana, also spoke candidly about weighing nearly 100 kilograms when she made that decision.

Her recollection offered a glimpse into a period when she was still figuring out what she wanted from life, balancing the expectations of an academic future with a passion that had stayed with her since childhood.

The childhood dream Sara could not ignore

Sara said acting had always been part of her ambitions, but her love for studying made her consider a different direction. At Columbia, she studied history and thought about pursuing a law degree.

“I always wanted to become an actor since my childhood. But then I used to enjoy academics a lot. I used to enjoy studying. Like you said, I went to Columbia. I was studying history there. I thought I will do my law degree there,” she said, as reported by IANS.

Her plans began to shift when she enrolled in a theater course at the university. Getting on stage brought back a desire she had tried to put aside, making her reconsider the career she had imagined for herself.

“And when I went on stage and performed, the desire of my childhood, which I had kept out of my mind, started arising again. So I thought I have to do this. I have to try. That's how it happened. And I was almost 100 kg at that time,” she added.

The remark about her weight was part of Sara's recollection of that period in her life. What stood out was her decision to pursue acting despite having considered another career and having spent years focused on academics.

Choosing a dream without knowing where it would lead

Leaving a familiar plan behind can be difficult, particularly when it offers a clear path toward the future. Sara's account describes the moment when an experience on stage made her question whether the career she had planned was the one she truly wanted.

Her story also highlights how a childhood ambition can remain present even when other priorities take over. For Sara, performing in college helped turn that long-held interest into a decision she was willing to act on.

She eventually made her Bollywood debut with Kedarnath in 2018 and went on to build a career in films. Her latest recollection looks back at the uncertain period before that professional journey began.

Ayushmann Khurrana recalls his own inspiration

The conversation also turned to Ayushmann Khurrana, who stars alongside Sara in Udta Teer. When Anil Kapoor asked him when he decided to become an actor, Khurrana credited Kapoor with inspiring him.

“I fell in love with acting when I saw you,” Ayushmann replied.

He also spoke about the encouragement he received from his father, particularly at a time when pursuing a career in the performing arts was not always considered a conventional choice for young people from smaller cities or traditional families.

“My father used to encourage me a lot. He has encouraged me since my childhood. I am a millennial, so in our time people didn't even try to enter the industry. Especially if you belonged to a traditional family from a small city,” he said.

Khurrana added that his family helped nurture his artistic interests, recalling his grandmother's singing at the Gurudwara and her talent for mimicry.

“I was probably one of the few kids in school whose parents encouraged them to pursue the arts and performing arts. So I think my father has really encouraged me. My grandmother used to sing in the Gurudwara in her time. My grandmother used to do mimicry. So I got my artistic side from there. But I got my encouragement from my father,” he added.

Both actors reflected on the people and experiences that shaped their decisions to pursue acting. For Sara, a college theater course became the turning point that brought an old dream back into focus. Her story is a reminder that choosing a career can mean letting go of one carefully considered future to make room for another.