Your last project Kafas received positive reviews from all sides.How does it feel?
It’s amazing, the response that Kafas has received. I am very grateful and very happy. It was a risk for me to play the character because it was a difficult role to play. The character had many shades. She is a mother, she is a star wife and she does feel stuck in the place she’s in. Even though she feels bad for the other child and she feels that her husband is in the wrong, it is interesting to see what choices she makes. She feels that she’s stuck in a position that she cannot move from. So it was a very difficult and complex role to play.Kafas, the subject itself, was a story that needed to be told. We concentrate a lot on males, on female sexual exploitation, but we don’t highlight male sexual exploitation, especially child sexual exploitation. So I think this was a story that needed to be told, that needed to be sensitively told and I would really like to thank Sahil Sangha and Applause Entertainment for thinking of me for this role.
You have been keeping away from the Hindi projects for a while now. What attracted you to Kafas?
I am very choosy about my projects. I have a lot of stuff on my hands. I run my company, Swen Entertainment. I run the Pro Panja League. I am a mother to two children, so if I do a project, it has to be worth my while. The subject has to be something that touches my heart and the role has to be something that’s integral to the script. So all of these things attracted me to Kafas.
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OTT has completely changed the way we look at content now. What is your take on it as an actor?
OTT is a great platform for actors, technicians, directors, everybody. And it has changed the way we look at content now completely because filmmakers are able to put out content that they wouldn’t be able to put out on the big screen or they may not find takers on the big screen. Here we can tell different kinds of stories, unusual stories, take risks, even as actors one can do that. So I think it’s a great time for actors because actors of every age, gender, genre, style find takers on OTT.
As compared to the time when you made your debut, what has changed in the industry for the budding actors? Do you feel it is comparatively easy for them to make their foray into the industry?
You know what I think has changed is the professionalism and the lack of favouritism. It’s nice because actors and directors and producers are not casting just based on name and fame. They are actually auditioning actors and actually looking for somebody who fits the part well. And even if you are not part of a clique or a group, you may not be invited to parties but you certainly have an opportunity and a chance to work in good projects whether it’s OTT or the film industry.
From amongst the current generation of actors, who, according to you, has great potential?
Alia Bhatt and Ananya Pandey both have a lot of potential. I also absolutely love Kiara Advani. I think she’s fantastic. And in terms of the actors, I think Vicky Kaushal is an all-time favourite. I am looking forward to watching ‘Sam Bahadur’.
What’s next?
Next for me is a film called Mahapurwhich is based on Lucknow politics. I have shot for the film and dubbed for the film and now we’re just waiting for the release. I think we will look for a good window to release it.
