You have worked with Pankaj Tripathi before ‘Mirzapur’. How is he as an actor and as a person?
Pankaj is delightful! He is a wonderful actor and human being. He is so comfortable in his skin that there is no pretence. There is no pompousness, nor false modesty. It is so nice to have a person like him around you. He is also very funny; he has a natural ability for comedy, as is documented by his comic work. Even if he says something with a straight face, he makes me laugh. It is super fun to have him around.
As you mentioned, we have had an association before. We came together for ‘Mirzapur’ about 10 years after we worked together in ‘Powder’. It was amazing to see how he had changed and grown as an actor. I remember when we met on the sets of ‘Mirzapur’ for season one, we both started talking about a scene in ‘Powder’ that both of us remembered. It was a beautiful scene of us together; we were so different then. If ‘Powder’ is still available on a platform, I would love to watch that scene again and compare it to our scene in ‘Mirzapur’.
There has been a surge of female-oriented content on OTT. How do you look at it as an actor?
It was about time. A couple of years ago, I felt that giving an important part to a woman in a story is an act of tokenism, where people would just say that it is a ‘female-driven story. I didn’t think they were really exploring the nuances of a woman and celebrating femininity. I was wondering where that is going to go. But the last three years have sort of changed that. I think the writing has become very nuanced and stories are being told very interestingly.
How do you look back at your journey in the film industry so far?
I am so busy looking ahead that I don’t really look back but I think I was fortunate for the kind of work that has come my way, and also for the kind of people I got a chance to collaborate with. I have worked with some of the best actors in our country like Irrfan Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Pankaj Tripathi, Shefali Shah, Tisca Chopra, Tillotama Shome and so many others. It has been a pure joy to work with them. I have also been fortunate to have worked with directors who have been so skilled and sensitive.
You have done myriads of roles in your career, worked with many actors and directors – Do you still have a bucket list of actors and directors you wish to work with?
Of course, I have a bucket list of people I want to work with. With every new series or film I watch, I feel like this director has done a good job, or I would love to work with this actor someday. I think my desires don’t end and that’s a healthy space to be in.
What’s next?
I will start shooting for my new show in October. I have another show right after that. The first show requires me to do a lot of preparations for my role, so I am totally invested in it right now. I love the part where I prepare for my roles because you get to learn so much without the stress of getting it wrong. I am really enjoying my time right now.
