Sanya Malhotra shares her on- screen avatar of Shakuntala Devi’s daughter Anupama Banerji in Vidya Balan –fronted film on Math Genius.

“I hardly straighten my hair,” says Sanya Malhotra, whose latest role requires her to sit in the make-up room as her hairdresser turns her lustrous curls, poker – straight. The actor is currently shooting for the Shakuntala Devi biopic, Directed by Anu Menon, in London. If Vidya Balan plays the math genius, Malhotra slips into the role of Anupama Banerji, Devi’s daughter.

She reveals that she has thoroughly enjoyed the process of creating her look, modeled on Banerji. “I believe hair, makeup and costume play an important part in an actor’s attempt to portray their roles. Playing real- life characters start with acing the look. Even for Dangal (2016), I had to cut my hair short to look like Babita (Phogat).” The actor met Banerji in the Queen’s city before the film went on floors. “We discussed the relationship she shared with her mother. I also did some reading with Anu and Vidya before the first schedule.”

Shakuntala Devi’s genius was discovered when she, at the age of five, reportedly solved a mathematical problem designed for 18- year-old students.