🎙️ M Square Podcast: Unveiling the Journey with Breshna Khan
Join us on M Square Podcast as we dive into the captivating world of Breshna Khan, the talented actress known for her roles in The Freelancer, Aranyak, and Undekhi. In this episode, we unravel the behind-the-scenes stories, challenges, and triumphs that shaped Breshna's remarkable journey in the entertainment industry.
🚀 From Dub Smash to Mumbai: The Genesis of Breshna's Acting Odyssey
Discover the origins of Breshna's acting career, starting from the viral Dub Smash videos that caught the industry's attention. Anurag Manik, your host, explores Breshna's transition from theater in Germany to the vibrant world of Indian shows and movies.
🎭 Theater vs. Camera: Unveiling the Artistic Duality
Intrigued by the dynamics of live performances and on-screen acting, Breshna shares insights into the challenges and joys of both theater and camera work. Is one more challenging than the other? Tune in to hear Breshna's perspective on mastering the intricacies of each art form.
🌟 Aranyak and Beyond: How a Role Changed the Game
The conversation takes an exciting turn as Breshna delves into the transformative role of Aranyak and the impact it had on her career. Learn how Aranyak not only revitalized Breshna's passion for acting but also shattered stereotypes, opening doors to a plethora of opportunities in the OTT space.
🪞 Breaking Stereotypes: Julie, Nabila, and the Power of Challenging Roles
Breshna candidly shares her experience breaking through stereotypes associated with her roles, including playing a mother in Julie. Explore how embracing challenging characters has been the key to Breshna's success and recognition in the industry.
🔮 The Freelancer's Much-Awaited Part Two: A Sneak Peek
Anurag Manik teases the audience with hints about The Freelancer's upcoming part two, promising an inside scoop on what to expect from Breshna's character, Nabila. Get ready for an exclusive peek into the world of The Freelancer.
🌐 SEO Keywords: Breshna Khan, Freelance, Hotstar, SonyLIV, Aranyak, Undekhi
Looking for insights on Breshna Khan, Freelance, Hotstar, SonyLIV, Aranyak, or Undekhi? Search no further! Our podcast episode provides a deep dive into these topics, ensuring you get the latest and most intriguing details.
🎧 Tune In Now!
Don't miss this engaging episode that combines storytelling techniques with informative content. Tune in now on Spotify and embark on a journey through Breshna Khan's acting universe.
Breshna Khan, The Freelancer, Aranyak, Undekhi, SonyLIV, Hotstar, Indian cinema, actress, series, interview, behind-the-scenes
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:02):
So, Prashna, we will actually have to dothe similar route that we went the last
time.
And yeah, so we'll just start with yourjourney, how it went about the different
roles that you have done and like, youknow, we will go in that similar fashion
itself.
Okay.
(00:23):
Cool, we'll start.
Anything you want to ask, I think that youhave any queries around.
Yeah, so just when the interview ends, Ihave to stay back.
I think that's what I didn't do last time.
Maybe that's why it happened.
I don't know.
Yeah, maybe that's because what happens isit was showing that some files might have
(00:46):
stayed back on the online version ofyours.
So that's why it's so I think it shows atracker upside uploading 55% uploading 70%
I guess.
I'm sure yeah, so yeah, as soon as itcomes to 100 then I think it hardly takes
a minute or so once it's done.
So I think that would be fine.
I'll just switch my wifi network once.
(01:07):
Yeah.
(01:49):
Yeah, we'll start, can you hear me?
Yes.
So yeah, hello everyone and welcome backto M Square Podcast.
Today we have with us a very specialguest.
You might remember her as Nabila from theshow, The Freelancer, and we are really
eagerly waiting for the part two to comeacross.
You might remember her as Geri Ashra fromAndheki, and a person who needs no
(02:09):
introduction.
So welcome, Breshna, welcome to M SquarePodcast.
Really lovely to have you here with us.
Thank you so much.
Thank you for having me.
Yeah.
So, Breshna, like you have done, you know,so many, like as Nabila, as Jerry Asher,
in Julie, you know, like you've done somereally amazing work across different types
of shows and you've done some reallyamazing characters across.
(02:30):
And the one that I really loved, like evenin the short span of time was Nabila from
Freelancer, because I was, you know,really eager on knowing what happens in
the second part.
So I wanted to understand from you howyour journey started, you know, how did
you come to Mumbai?
How did you come to India?
And how did you land the role?
even in the short movie that you did likeI think Ludo when you did.
So how was it?
How did that whole journey start for you?
(02:51):
How has it been for you that wholetransition?
I think if I have to explain how my actingjourney started in Mumbai, I think it all
started actually with dub smash, Mitmaiand dub smash videos.
That's how some of the videos became viraland then people got to know about me.
And I got called for different auditions.
(03:13):
And I actually started with theater first.
And then after that, slowly I got into OTTand short films and stuff.
Okay, okay.
So, like, you know, like you were, youjust mentioned that you were doing
theater.
So how did that, like, you know, that was,was it a conscious choice that you wanted
to do theater first and then move intoshows and movies and how did it pan out
(03:35):
for you?
It wasn't really a conscious choice.
I have done theater in Germany as well Sotheater is always something which I have
always felt very connected to even nowwhen I'm mostly doing like OTT and films
and stuff like that I feel like I need inbetween to be like I feel that urge to be
(03:55):
on stage and perform on stage So yeah inthat way When I started doing theater back
in Germany, I realized that is somethingthat I need in between so
When I came here to India, through my DubSmash videos, I got also a role in a play.
Okay, so, you know, like, as you mentionedthat how you transition from dub smash
(04:19):
videos to coming to India and then being apart of the play.
So what is more challenging, you know,being a part of a play, like I think
because it's all live audience, like youhave to do and people are watching it
live.
So I'm guessing it would be much morechallenging than, you know, being a part
of I'm like, you know, they wouldn't bothof them have their own set of challenges.
But what is more challenging as an actressfor you?
Like, what gets more challenging?
(04:39):
Like, is it a play or is it, you know, inbeing in front of
camera and doing a movie or doing a webseries.
I think you said it very right, like bothhave their own way of challenges.
And I can't say which is more challenging.
I can just say it's very different, likethe high to be on stage and perform live
and the audience, see the audience reactlive to your performance is a different
(05:04):
high you can get as an artist than whenyou, when you perform in front of a
camera.
I can't say which one is better, which oneis more challenging.
I can just say it's very different.
And it's, I think.
also different for every artist who needslike some of some of my actor friends
don't need the stage they're okay withbeing just in front of the camera but
(05:26):
there are some people who will be likeokay I need to be on stage like I'm one of
them I need to do that in between but Ineed both to be very honest
okay.
Yeah, and I think that is where, you know,you excel as an actor or an actress that
when you know all the, what do you say,intricacies of both the fields, whatever
may come your way, you are able to handlea particular challenge in a much better
(05:47):
way.
Because if you can handle a live audiencebeing in front of camera is at much more
ease, I guess.
That's, is that true or is it just a myththat, okay.
guess for some people it works well, butagain, as I said, it's so different.
Like you can't say that if you are atheater actor, you will be automatically a
good actor in front of the camera.
(06:08):
You can't say that.
Okay.
So, you know, like it has been, it hasbeen really a mesmerizing and a very
amazing journey of yours.
And like, so I wanted to ask you about therules that you have done in it, whether it
will be it in Aranya or be it in, youknow, as in Andhiki and the upcoming
second part of the freelancer.
So how did I think Aranya is one of themost challenging roles because we have not
(06:32):
seen yet much of Nabila yet.
And I think Jeria
as I think we were having thisconversation, that Andhegi 3 will have a
different aspect of Jheri Asha that we aregoing to see.
So how did this role span out?
How did Aranya came in?
No, no, how did Aranya came into yourjourney?
How did it change you as an actress inyour journey?
(06:55):
Arraniak, like Julie changed me a lot, Ihave to say, because Arraniak came in a
point where I was almost, I don't like tosay that, but I was almost giving up
because work was not going well for me.
But at that time Arraniak came and a lotof like stereotype thinking and everything
(07:15):
that I learned from being around people inauditions and stuff like that.
you get conditioned in a way, even if youdon't think that way.
I mean, playing Julie, I'm playing amother of a 19-year-old kid.
(07:39):
You can't even call her a kid.
She's 19 years old already.
And I realized, in the beginning, a lot ofactor friends told me that, oh no, you
shouldn't play a mother role.
You will be stereotyped.
You will be that and that.
So, because I had no one else, I wouldbelieve all those things.
Okay.
But when Julie came, I asked about therole, I asked about the graph and
(08:01):
everything, and I found the character sochallenging and interesting that I was
like, okay, you know, forget about thestereotypes and everything.
Just do this and give your best.
Do you want to be a good actor?
Just give your best, just show what youcan do as an actor.
So in that way, it changed a lotbecause...
(08:23):
After Aranya came out, nothing like thathappened to me.
No stereotype, nothing like that happened.
I got actually chance, like a door openedto me for OTT platforms.
And I am so grateful for Aranya becauseafter that, I got more and more roles and
people got to know about, okay, she canact, she can do this, she can do that.
(08:47):
So it opened doors for me of like a bigchange.
Okay, that sounds so nice to hear, youknow, like, just let that as I think, as
our case, Shahrukh Khan said, no, like,you were just about to you should not give
up because at times, most of the timeswhen you give up, you're just about to
reach your destination.
And just before that, you give up.
And I think, you know, that was so nice ofyou that you didn't give up and it just
(09:08):
came across.
And I think that has done wonders andchange the entire landscape of your career
in a way.
And yeah, so I and yes.
So, you know, like, I wanted to ask youlike,
since you have made this entiretransition, right?
You had no background from a film industryand then you made your mark, you've made
your mark here.
So what do you feel is your greateststrength as an actress?
(09:34):
I'm still making my mark actually.
I can't say that I made my mark already.
But my strength I would say I'm stilllearning.
There's a lot to learn.
I don't see myself as a perfect or goodactor even.
But one thing that I can say about myself,I am still here and still trying, is that
(09:56):
I am ready to learn.
Like I have the capacity to learn.
That's what I can say.
OK.
So now the most pressing question, which alot of people ask us.
So we did just a poll on Instagram thatwhat should we ask you?
And a lot of people, they all wanted toknow when the second part of the
freelancer going to come and how will wesee Nabila evolve in the second half?
(10:17):
What does she do?
Does she really run away?
Or does she wait?
She'll be rescued along with the lead?
What happens in the second part if you canjust give a some hint or something?
You're putting me in a very bad positionright now.
No, like I can't say when it's coming.
I can only say it's going to be, like, youwill see it soon.
(10:38):
And like about the part, how much I cansay about Nabila is that she is going to
bring a twist to the story.
And like you will see a lot of layers tothe character, more layers to the
character.
Obviously you just have...
I think I had only two scenes until now.
(10:58):
But yeah, you will see more layers to hercharacter and she will bring a twist.
That's the only thing I can say.
Yeah, I mean, like the way it ends, right,just leaves so much so many, what I can
say, perceptions open that you think,okay, this can happen.
What if you know, if what if Nabila isjust trying to act out to figure out if
the lead, you know, like if she's justtrying to figure out if she's actually
(11:20):
transformed or not, or is she with is shewith the terrorists?
Or is she not on the other side?
It just, you know, it just leaves thecharacter so open that you just keep
guessing, you know, like what will happen?
Like, is she just trying to sabotage theentire thing that the lead is planning or
what is she trying to do?
So yeah, I mean, like that is there.
So I think that was one of the most, Iwould not say just funny part, like it
(11:43):
just felt so natural that, you know, whenyou are walking back across after offering
the prayer and then you're walking andthen you're shouting as a character, like,
you know, on her, like I got stuck andall.
And it just feels so funny.
Like, you know, it just, the way it justlightens the mood, but at the same time,
it keeps the tension alive.
of the entire scene.
I think that was one of the most, I wouldsay, the scenes that have stayed with me
(12:05):
from Freelancer because it's a show thattakes time to build.
You know, the first and second episode area little slow and then it builds up the
entire scene and then it picks up towardsthe fourth and the fifth episode.
And that is where we see a lot of newcharacters come in.
And one character that stayed with me,like was obviously Nabila, you know, when
I saw, I was like, okay, fine, this serieshas just got interesting.
And I was like, shit, now it has ended andI have to wait for the second part and as
(12:26):
in when it comes along.
Yeah, I mean, I think the credit goesobviously to the story, the filmmakers,
like the director and obviously NeerajPandey, how they created the character and
how they also like, you know, portrayedthe character.
But I can tell you, like Nabila was also avery difficult character for me to play
because she had this different layers.
(12:48):
She can be loud in a place she's notsupposed to be loud.
And like, it was like very interesting tolike, you know, get to know this character
and play
So how was it working with Neeraj Pandey,knowing that he has special 26, he has
done MS Dhoni, the movie, he has like, hehas one of the like some of the best
movies in India in terms of, you know,gripping stories, the stories that grip
(13:11):
you towards the very end.
Like he has created the best stories, Ifeel, you know, special Chappi is one of
my favorite movies that of Neeraj Pandey,sir.
How was it working with him?
You know, like, it might have been like,you know, one of the bucket lists that you
might have been working with NeerajPandey.
So how was it working with him?
Absolutely it was because even I wasfollowing his work.
Like my favorite film of him is AWednesday.
(13:34):
And yeah, so I was obviously very excitedwhen I got the role and I obviously knew
that Neeraj Pandey Sir is the show runnerof this series.
And unfortunately I didn't get the chanceto really work with him because the actual
director is Bhav Dhulia.
But I won't say unfortunately also becauseeven like working with him, with Bhav.
(13:58):
was amazing.
He's an amazing director who like, likefor an actor, it's nice to work with such
directors who take care of what like howyou are performing.
So yeah, I can say like about Bob, I cansay it was a very nice experience to work
with him.
Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance towork with Neeraj Sir also.
(14:19):
But I mean, I know that he has seen allthe scenes and he has he was part of
He was the one who actually I got to knowlater that he saw my audition and was
happy about my audition and was like,okay, we're taking this girl and I was
like, oh, okay, nice.
So that's all I can say about him rightnow.
(14:41):
So can you tell us about how did youraudition go the entire day?
And like, you know, when you went for thisaudition of the character, Nabila, how did
it go for you?
Were you excited?
Were you nervous?
Or was it a mix of both?
How was it for you?
It's actually always a mix of both.
I'm always nervous, always excited, but Ifeel like that always helps me with
performing as well.
Like I use it for my performance even.
(15:06):
And I remember I was actually in Germanywhen I gave this audition.
I got a call, they gave me a brief to thecharacter.
I found it already very interesting.
And yeah, so I prepared myself, how Iprepared for every audition and...
I took a self-tape and I did.
So I think a few weeks after that, I got acall and they said that you are selected
(15:32):
for this role.
that must have been one of the bestmoments in your life so far, right?
Yeah.
So how difficult was it for you, you know,to bring that character into a reel, you
know, in that entire reel life?
Like, were you able to connect with someaspects of Nabila as a character?
And how did you portray, like, what werethe preparations that you have to put
(15:54):
into?
And not just Nabila, I wanted to ask youthis for, basically for Julie, because
that was a very challenging character.
Because you know, like if I watchedAranya, I know the entire story arc how it
pans out, but for a freelancer, I stillhave to wait how it pans out.
So maybe for Nabila, this would be a veryearly question.
But yeah, like generally, like we'll takethe example of the character, Julie, how
(16:14):
difficult was it for you?
Is there any process that you follow, youknow, to get into the groove of that
particular character?
I can say that Lee was definitely one ofthe most difficult characters for me as of
now that I played because I couldn't, inthe beginning I couldn't connect with the
character at all.
And my problem was in the beginning alsothat I was judging the character a lot.
(16:38):
She's so many things that I am not.
She's a mother, she is a drug addict, sheis an abusive mother also.
So I...
I just couldn't connect to her and I wasjudging her, especially as a mother.
And then while I was preparing for thecharacter, I realized this is something
that is standing in my way because I'mjudging the character.
(16:59):
So I have to stop doing that.
And like, this is all the things I'mlearning.
Like, I don't know anything.
Like I'm just learning by experience.
So I realized, okay, judging the characterdoesn't help me really.
So I have to keep the judgment away andjust see the character, see where it's
coming from.
Why are they behaving the way they are?
their behaving.
So I did a lot of research on people whoare drug addicts, what happens to them
(17:24):
when they are addicts and stuff like that.
And then I started to understand thecharacter, not to justify the character,
but just to understand where she's comingfrom.
Then I started connecting to her in a way.
So yeah, it was very difficult at thebeginning, but I learned a lot from it.
Yeah.
(17:45):
I think, you know, that when you say that,like, it was very difficult for you to
relate because you are not that person inreal life.
And I think that's where the realchallenge of an actress comes along,
right?
That you have to actually portray someonethat you're not in real life and you would
never want to be that person in real life.
And you have to take him by thosequalities which are at which you are at
war with, you know, and I think that isone of the and I think you
(18:07):
that was a very effortless performancealso.
When you see, it just does not feel likeyou were just trying to, you know, what do
you can say, portray.
It was just felt like you were in the skinof that actual character and it just felt
like, you know, I think that is somethingwhich every actor or an actress would aim
for.
And I think that was very flawless interms of that transition that you have
made.
Wow, thank you.
(18:27):
Like, this means really a lot when you saythat because that was obviously how you
said that was something that, you know,when I perform and when I see the end
result, I always am like very skepticalabout and very critical about performance.
So I didn't even know if I actually didwell.
And now you saying that really feels well,feels good.
(18:50):
So yeah, thank you.
welcome.
You're most welcome.
So, you know, like, Breshen, like, nowyou, now we are talking about multiple
series that you're doing.
So, and also you're coming up with a movieand like, I think it's a setup in the old
back days and like it's based out ofKashmir.
Just wanted to ask you more about itbecause I could not, you know, I, what I
got from Debbie was in a very bits andpieces.
(19:10):
She has told me, so, you know, I wanted todiscuss about that movie, how it has, how
it is spanning out and what is that wholemovie about?
Again, you're putting me in thatsituation, but I can't say.
If you can give us the summary of what itis about, whom you're working with and
how.
It's a period film.
It's a story based like 500 years back inKashmir.
(19:32):
That's what I can say about it.
And it's...
what else can I say?
That's all actually I can say about it.
What is the thing and very...
like obviously Santosh Sivan sir is thedirector.
You can expect lots of beautiful visuals,obviously.
(19:56):
So how is it like, okay, now I understandthat I've put in a spot, so I'll try to,
you know, ask some easier and a simplequestion that, how is it working with
Santosh Sivan sir?
And like, how was your feeling when yourealized that, you know, that you're going
to do this movie with him?
Again, because it's again, I think for anactor and an actress, like again, checking
off a bucket list, you know, like workingwith a director of the calibre of Santosh
(20:16):
Sivan sir.
So how was it for you and how did it workout?
I mean, like, how did this whole moviething pan out for you?
How did that opportunity came across andhow it happened?
I still am at that point that I don'treally realize that I'm working with Aasof
Sivan sir.
Although we have already started shootingand I have done some scenes already and
it's actually a dream come true.
(20:40):
I've seen Ashoka, I've seen him, like I'veseen Dil Se, he was the DOP there.
Especially for a female actor, it's like adream come true because I feel...
Santosh sir is someone who can make awoman look so beautiful in a simplest way.
And like for me, it's like a dream cometrue, obviously.
(21:01):
And how it happened is also like, it's,uh, I got a call.
There is a film happening with Santosh sirand there's a role.
This is it.
I got a brief.
They were like, can you just quickly sendus an introduction in this look?
So they didn't even ask for my.
audition because they already saw me inR&M.
(21:26):
okay, okay.
Yes.
she gave me a lot.
So they were like, but we need to know ifyou can pass the look.
So I gave the introduction and the castingdirector was like, listen, if you get
selected, you might have to come toKashmir tomorrow.
It was that all right.
(21:49):
And I didn't I just gave the introductionand I didn't have lots of hopes because,
you know, as an actor,
It happens a lot that you give auditionsyou have hoops and then it doesn't work
out.
So we are like, okay hoops Tk ho jaega,chahi hai, nahi ho gato It's like that.
So but then I got a call and they werelike, okay, you have to come tomorrow and
(22:09):
I like that's why I'm saying that I stilldon't realize because everything happens
so quickly I reach there and they werelike, okay tomorrow we are shooting
already.
I'm like, okay, what's happening here andSantosh They told me listen
He already rejected a lot of girls, so youbetter do well in your first scene.
(22:30):
First scene, I also say bye-bye to you.
And I was like, okay.
And I did my first scene and he was like,okay, she's staying.
And I was like, thank you very much.
So I was very happy about that.
But still trying to realize to, you know,I'm actually working with him.
And it's just, already I had a very.
(22:52):
beautiful experience doing those scenesand I'm looking forward to the other part
that we are shooting.
Yeah, I think that would have been one ofthe most scary part, right?
When there's that you do the first scenequickly in a better way, because you're
there suddenly, it is all happening.
It's just I think at that point of timewould have been very overwhelming.
And when you're trying to keep your nervescalm and cool, and that is when somebody
(23:14):
comes and say, you know, be good.
And then you're like, OK, now there is anadded pressure on me.
And I think some at times that brings outthe best in you because you're just not
worried about, you know, at times you getthat.
I would say at times that would reallytake off that extra pressure, not extra
pressure, that diverts your mind in a waythat you are able to perform much better
(23:34):
than you would have usually in a normalscenario when you were planning things
out.
Because at times when your plans arethrown out the window, that is when you
actually perform the best because you havenot thought about it.
So the natural part in you comes out andyou do a much better job than, you know,
in a planned out scenario might havehappened.
That's absolutely true because you'rebeing more spontaneous and as an actor
being spontaneous can help you a lot.
(23:56):
So how you said it came it comes out verynatural in that moment.
How absolutely that pressure that came ithelped me also.
Hopefully like I think that was the reasonwhy you said say maybe let's see how it
like how I will continue performing inthis part.
So when can we expect the movie?
(24:18):
Is it coming anytime soon or is itsometime down the line it's going to
happen?
Like release.
We have just shot a small part and we areyet to shoot a lot of the second part.
And so yeah, we are planning to startshooting again coming year.
And then, yes, 2025.
(24:40):
I can't promise anything.
But maybe we get done.
If we get it done on time, then yeah.
Again, I'm thinking, is it okay?
Yeah.
So, I think you're on your path to makethe transition.
I wouldn't say transition, you're tryingcoexisting, where you're doing a bit of
(25:03):
OTT shows and you're doing films that willcome on the big screen.
So what are the major challenges?
I wouldn't say challenges, what are themajor differences that you could figure
out from both on an OTT platform?
If a show or a movie is releasing just foran OTT, what are the major differences as
an actress you feel when it comes to thatmedium?
(25:26):
I have majorly done OTT, that's why I knowabout that.
For films, it's like for an actor, I wouldsay the challenge is just that you don't
know what will happen with a film that youdon't know where it's going to stream on.
If it's even going to release or not,think about it in your mind all the time
(25:48):
because this happens in this industry.
And with OTT, it's very clear from thebeginning, okay, it's going to come on
this platform.
will be releasing and all those things.
So that can be the difference that I cantell you about.
Otherwise, I haven't experienced so muchthat I can't even say how much difference
(26:13):
there is.
Okay.
Now this brings to a very interestingquestion which I think it started last
week itself that the OTT films that arecoming, they are trying taking away that
essence that used to happen in movies whenit used to release in theatres only.
And there are some very, what you can saylike if you say Christopher Nolan, he
likes to release movies only in theatres.
(26:35):
And you know, for that matter, RajkumarHirani sir also he likes to have that big
cinema experience.
they are not very OTT and after therelease of a movie last week I think the
Lady Killer which was released after itwas just 80% complete because they have to
adhere to the norms that 6 weeks before itreleases on OTT it has to release on the
screens so is it actually true that OTT istaking away that essence or you feel that
(27:00):
it is actually helping movies reach awider audience before which was not what
you can say which was not which could nothave happened before so
I mean my personal opinion and I have tobe very egoistic about that also because
OTT for me worked well as an actor as wellright because before OTT there was not a
(27:22):
lot of options for all of us actors.
We have more options, we have more kind ofcharacters which we can play and I can see
both sides.
Obviously there are films which I canunderstand is better to watch in the
theatre.
But there are like web series and thereare films who are made for OTT and I feel
(27:43):
like you're right that people like itopens up for more people like film and web
series and I mean I've had friends whobefore OTT came were not such great series
or movies fans.
But after OTT, they got to know how it is.
Like they started binge watching webseries and watching movies and stuff like
(28:03):
that.
So I would say like both sides, like bothshould exist, coexist with each other.
That's my personal opinion.
I think that is what I feel also on thesame lines.
Though at some times, it obviouslytakes...
When a product that is not good enough andjust for the sake of it gets released in a
theater, is where I feel is not right onterms with the audience.
(28:26):
But everything has its own pros and consand if there is 90% good, there is 10% bad
that exists and that is okay becauseotherwise the 90% good would not happen.
And also, because a lot of movies havebecome accessible and...
You know, movies are doing financiallyokay.
So it helps the creators also, right?
Who's the entire industry as a whole thatnow there is much more opportunity for
(28:48):
people to own and I think that is where Ifeel that OTT is a very essential cog in
the wheel right now.
So, so yeah, no, no.
Bresha wanted to ask you like, who areyour favorite actors and actresses in the
industry?
Like it can be movies or OTT is like, andwhat is your, like, if you have to suggest
somebody to watch top three shows apartfrom Aranya, the freelancer and the shows
(29:08):
you've worked on.
What would they be?
Okay, so favorite actors is like verydifficult for me because I feel like there
are a lot of actors who I look up to butfor recent like I would say like Manoj
Bajpai is one of the actors I really lookup to.
(29:28):
Radhika Apte, I love her performances.
Like sometimes when I watch her I feellike, kaise kiya ye?
That's it.
I love that about her.
What else?
The shows that I would suggest like myfavorite shows, all-time favorite shows is
Dark.
(29:49):
It's on that German show and I reallyloved it.
I know it's very old now and people mighthave watched it already, but my favorite
shows.
Yeah.
So I think, you know, that is such awonderful conversation to understand from
you how your journey started, how you havetransitioned into the industry and was I
(30:12):
wanted to ask you this, I think I missedout that was, you know, learning Hindi a
challenge for you.
And because when even in thisconversation, and I've heard you does not
feel like you know, you have anyapprehension towards just feels like it
comes naturally to you.
You know, there is no, what you can say afake accent that usually comes out when
you learn not just Hindi.
when whenever you learn a new language,you hear people who are speaking it and
(30:34):
you try to bring that accent.
And so even it for me, like when I startedlearning English, that thing came across
in me and I had to literally tone it downfor a very long time and work hard on it.
So was it a challenge for you?
And how did it came out for you?
I wouldn't say it was a challenge becauseI know Hindi since my childhood actually.
(30:56):
Because watching Hindi movies andlistening to Hindi songs from my
childhood.
And that's how I learned the language.
By just listening to how you learn yourmother tongue after a while.
These people are saying because at thattime there were no subtitles as such.
I just started understanding and I have athing with languages that I can catch with
(31:19):
me because as a refugee, like I was forcedto like since my childhood because I came
to Germany and I was very young and inorder to communicate with the other kids I
had to learn the language.
So that's how I got in touch withdifferent languages.
(31:40):
So that's why maybe it is like inside methat I catch languages very quickly.
I went into India first, I understoodHindi, but talking was not as easy as it
is right now.
But because I talk to my friends only inHindi, how it improved.
Like I don't, another plus point I wouldsay is that I don't mind saying something
(32:01):
wrong.
I don't feel ashamed about it because it'sjust the language.
Be it English, be it German, be it Hindi.
It's just the language.
It's okay if you make mistakes.
and I learned from it when I made Mystic.
So that's how my Hindi improved.
That's so wonderful.
Are you moved?
So what is your most favorite Hindidialogue from any movie?
(32:22):
I would say it would be any dialogue fromAndaz Apna because Andaz Apna is my all
time favourite.
yeah, true that Crime Master Gogo andlike, I play with my eyes out and play
with my fingers.
Yeah.
So you moved from Afghanistan to Germany,right?
If I'm not wrong.
So are you cheering like for the Afghancricket team?
(32:45):
I think they've played the most wonderfulcricket I have ever seen in a really,
really long time.
Yesterday night was a heartbreak.
Yesterday night was a heartbreak, I wouldsay, because I was rooting for
Afghanistan.
I really root.
for all their players.
They are just like their proper sportsmenyou feel, you know.
And like if after India I'm supporting theteam it would be Afghanistan.
I was really looking forward to India vsAfghanistan in semi-final.
(33:06):
But I'm not sure.
Still there is a chance, a very outsidechance but I hope it happens.
Yeah, so I was definitely rooting forAfghanistan and I am just so proud of the
team because they made us like they cameso far.
No one expected that actually even Ididn't expect that.
But see.
them working so hard and playing so wellwas so beautiful.
(33:29):
Like you can ask every Afghan there soproud, even after yesterday.
It was heartbreaking, but still I waslike, you know what?
You did so well.
And thank you for that, for the team.
Like, I'm so happy to see them play likethat.
And before I was done, I didn't reallyknow much about cricket.
(33:49):
But because of that, that there, myfriends would tell me how like what the
rules are.
Now while we were watching they wouldexplain things to me and now I know
everything.
I was like oh this happened.
I understand what happens.
I understand everything.
Okay, I think that is the best like theguts they have shown, you know, and the
(34:15):
awareness as per the game.
I think Afghanistan versus Pakistan, theway they won that match was just so
clinical.
I mean, I remember they were justrequired, I think they required 34 or 35
balls towards the end, they had eightwickets in hand, but they did not go for
any glory shots for a four or six,they've, you know, trusted the singles and
doubles.
And I think that was so clinical.
It just does not
(34:36):
They did not just beat, they annihilatedthe opposition in that particular match.
And I think that is so good to watch.
They have done things within 8 to 10 yearsof their inception as an international
team, which other teams, say, suppose asNetherlands or beat Bangladesh, have not
done even after being in the sport for30-40 years.
And I think that I really love all theAfghan players.
(34:58):
I would obviously say, I mean, I love thatHashimullah Shahidi, the captain, I love.
I mean, like the way that he leads andobviously Rashid Khan is everyone's
favorite.
So I think that
I remember when I was in Kashmir and Iwould tell people that I am from
Afghanistan, the first thing they wouldsay would be, oh, we love Rashid Khan.
And I'm like, yeah, he's amazing.
(35:18):
star now.
Yeah.
So, you know, Bresha, it has been such anabsolutely wonderful conversation.
We would like to end things on a rapidfire.
It will be very simple.
Don't worry.
I would not put you on a spot anymore.
Uh, that will be fairly simple.
So we'll start with it.
We'll have five questions.
Yeah.
So, uh, now the first question comes like,would you do like, you have to choose one
(35:41):
of the following, a Massey commercialmovie or an art movie?
When I say art movies, it's like, youknow, very big.
It is based on a topic and it's veryclinical.
It has everything that a cinema shouldhave, but just not the mass appeal.
Which one would you choose?
Oh god, that's a difficult question.
But because I am more into artistic, Iwould rather do one thing different than
(36:03):
do a commercial movie once.
I think no actor would say no to that.
I can't.
true.
Yeah, then I think this is putting on thespot.
You can answer both also, obviously.
I know that will be the answer.
Will it be Dharma or Yashraj or both?
my god.
Boat, obviously.
As if.
That.
(36:25):
So yeah.
So now the third question is, would youhave SRK as your lead hero or would you
want him to be the lead villain as he wasin DUR?
Which one would you prefer SRK to be?
Lead Hitter.
(36:45):
Yeah.
Hehehe
Yeah.
Oh, you choose a villain.
Yeah, that's an interesting.
who are in a romantic scene.
Like, that's all.
(37:07):
Yeah, so you would basically love ShahRukh Khan as someone like, you know, Kabir
Singh maybe that has an element of bit ofboth.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Oh yeah, good idea.
Would you choose a good role in an averagemovie or a normal role in a Massey
blockbuster movie?
Good role in an average movie.
(37:28):
or a web series or a movie if you havegiven a chance to choose from one.
If you have a say suppose a top levelmovie and a top level web series, which
one would you go for?
Huh.
That's difficult.
We are top level web series.
(37:49):
movie maybe?
Yeah, I thought that to be very honest.
and with that we come towards the end ofthe rapid fire and the show so thank you
so much Prashna for you know agreeing tobe a part of this for giving us your time
and it was really pleasure having thisconversation with you it was a lot of fun
(38:09):
and it was really I felt it was very niceand it went really well so thank you so
much for this
Thank you so much for having me, even Ihave a lot of fun.
Thank you.
One thing, I wanted to ask you, if you canjust give us a shout out that no listen to
M Squared podcast and about you, if youcan brief like, Breshna and this, yeah.
I just, you know, just one line, like, I'mBreshna and like, please listen to M
(38:31):
Squared or something like that.
Okay, hi, I'm Breanna.
Please listen to M Square Podcast.
It's amazing to be a part of it and yeah,listen to it.
Thank you.
Thank you, Vishnu.
Just one thing.
First of all, I wanted to apologize forbeing late.
I was trying to do some setup because Ijust shifted back.
(38:52):
I think the last time when we talked, Iwas in Noida.
So it's Zivali, right?
So I've come home.
So now I've come home to Chhattisgarh.
I was just setting up and I think I joinedsix, seven minutes and I'm very sorry for
that.
I was not intentional.
Yeah.
No, I just was wondering.
So I asked, is he coming?
I asked Debbie if he But no.
(39:13):
think I was about to say sorry.
And I think she called and I gotdistracted.
I was like, okay, now I have to start.
So that's when I started.
I was about to say sorry when I joined.
I'm really sorry for that.
Yeah.
Yeah, thank you.
I'll just wait.
I'll just stop the recording and we'lltake a minute or so, so that it gets done.
So, Prashna, we will actually have to dothe similar route that we went the last
time.
And yeah, so we'll just start with yourjourney, how it went about the different
roles that you have done and like, youknow, we will go in that similar fashion
itself.
Okay.
(00:23):
Cool, we'll start.
Anything you want to ask, I think that youhave any queries around.
Yeah, so just when the interview ends, Ihave to stay back.
I think that's what I didn't do last time.
Maybe that's why it happened.
I don't know.
Yeah, maybe that's because what happens isit was showing that some files might have
(00:46):
stayed back on the online version ofyours.
So that's why it's so I think it shows atracker upside uploading 55% uploading 70%
I guess.
I'm sure yeah, so yeah, as soon as itcomes to 100 then I think it hardly takes
a minute or so once it's done.
So I think that would be fine.
I'll just switch my wifi network once.
(01:07):
Yeah.
(01:49):
Yeah, we'll start, can you hear me?
Yes.
So yeah, hello everyone and welcome backto M Square Podcast.
Today we have with us a very specialguest.
You might remember her as Nabila from theshow, The Freelancer, and we are really
eagerly waiting for the part two to comeacross.
You might remember her as Geri Ashra fromAndheki, and a person who needs no
(02:09):
introduction.
So welcome, Breshna, welcome to M SquarePodcast.
Really lovely to have you here with us.
Thank you so much.
Thank you for having me.
Yeah.
So, Breshna, like you have done, you know,so many, like as Nabila, as Jerry Asher,
in Julie, you know, like you've done somereally amazing work across different types
of shows and you've done some reallyamazing characters across.
(02:30):
And the one that I really loved, like evenin the short span of time was Nabila from
Freelancer, because I was, you know,really eager on knowing what happens in
the second part.
So I wanted to understand from you howyour journey started, you know, how did
you come to Mumbai?
How did you come to India?
And how did you land the role?
even in the short movie that you did likeI think Ludo when you did.
So how was it?
How did that whole journey start for you?
(02:51):
How has it been for you that wholetransition?
I think if I have to explain how my actingjourney started in Mumbai, I think it all
started actually with dub smash, Mitmaiand dub smash videos.
That's how some of the videos became viraland then people got to know about me.
And I got called for different auditions.
(03:13):
And I actually started with theater first.
And then after that, slowly I got into OTTand short films and stuff.
Okay, okay.
So, like, you know, like you were, youjust mentioned that you were doing
theater.
So how did that, like, you know, that was,was it a conscious choice that you wanted
to do theater first and then move intoshows and movies and how did it pan out
(03:35):
for you?
It wasn't really a conscious choice.
I have done theater in Germany as well Sotheater is always something which I have
always felt very connected to even nowwhen I'm mostly doing like OTT and films
and stuff like that I feel like I need inbetween to be like I feel that urge to be
(03:55):
on stage and perform on stage So yeah inthat way When I started doing theater back
in Germany, I realized that is somethingthat I need in between so
When I came here to India, through my DubSmash videos, I got also a role in a play.
Okay, so, you know, like, as you mentionedthat how you transition from dub smash
(04:19):
videos to coming to India and then being apart of the play.
So what is more challenging, you know,being a part of a play, like I think
because it's all live audience, like youhave to do and people are watching it
live.
So I'm guessing it would be much morechallenging than, you know, being a part
of I'm like, you know, they wouldn't bothof them have their own set of challenges.
But what is more challenging as an actressfor you?
Like, what gets more challenging?
(04:39):
Like, is it a play or is it, you know, inbeing in front of
camera and doing a movie or doing a webseries.
I think you said it very right, like bothhave their own way of challenges.
And I can't say which is more challenging.
I can just say it's very different, likethe high to be on stage and perform live
and the audience, see the audience reactlive to your performance is a different
(05:04):
high you can get as an artist than whenyou, when you perform in front of a
camera.
I can't say which one is better, which oneis more challenging.
I can just say it's very different.
And it's, I think.
also different for every artist who needslike some of some of my actor friends
don't need the stage they're okay withbeing just in front of the camera but
(05:26):
there are some people who will be likeokay I need to be on stage like I'm one of
them I need to do that in between but Ineed both to be very honest
okay.
Yeah, and I think that is where, you know,you excel as an actor or an actress that
when you know all the, what do you say,intricacies of both the fields, whatever
may come your way, you are able to handlea particular challenge in a much better
(05:47):
way.
Because if you can handle a live audiencebeing in front of camera is at much more
ease, I guess.
That's, is that true or is it just a myththat, okay.
guess for some people it works well, butagain, as I said, it's so different.
Like you can't say that if you are atheater actor, you will be automatically a
good actor in front of the camera.
(06:08):
You can't say that.
Okay.
So, you know, like it has been, it hasbeen really a mesmerizing and a very
amazing journey of yours.
And like, so I wanted to ask you about therules that you have done in it, whether it
will be it in Aranya or be it in, youknow, as in Andhiki and the upcoming
second part of the freelancer.
So how did I think Aranya is one of themost challenging roles because we have not
(06:32):
seen yet much of Nabila yet.
And I think Jeria
as I think we were having thisconversation, that Andhegi 3 will have a
different aspect of Jheri Asha that we aregoing to see.
So how did this role span out?
How did Aranya came in?
No, no, how did Aranya came into yourjourney?
How did it change you as an actress inyour journey?
(06:55):
Arraniak, like Julie changed me a lot, Ihave to say, because Arraniak came in a
point where I was almost, I don't like tosay that, but I was almost giving up
because work was not going well for me.
But at that time Arraniak came and a lotof like stereotype thinking and everything
(07:15):
that I learned from being around people inauditions and stuff like that.
you get conditioned in a way, even if youdon't think that way.
I mean, playing Julie, I'm playing amother of a 19-year-old kid.
(07:39):
You can't even call her a kid.
She's 19 years old already.
And I realized, in the beginning, a lot ofactor friends told me that, oh no, you
shouldn't play a mother role.
You will be stereotyped.
You will be that and that.
So, because I had no one else, I wouldbelieve all those things.
Okay.
But when Julie came, I asked about therole, I asked about the graph and
(08:01):
everything, and I found the character sochallenging and interesting that I was
like, okay, you know, forget about thestereotypes and everything.
Just do this and give your best.
Do you want to be a good actor?
Just give your best, just show what youcan do as an actor.
So in that way, it changed a lotbecause...
(08:23):
After Aranya came out, nothing like thathappened to me.
No stereotype, nothing like that happened.
I got actually chance, like a door openedto me for OTT platforms.
And I am so grateful for Aranya becauseafter that, I got more and more roles and
people got to know about, okay, she canact, she can do this, she can do that.
(08:47):
So it opened doors for me of like a bigchange.
Okay, that sounds so nice to hear, youknow, like, just let that as I think, as
our case, Shahrukh Khan said, no, like,you were just about to you should not give
up because at times, most of the timeswhen you give up, you're just about to
reach your destination.
And just before that, you give up.
And I think, you know, that was so nice ofyou that you didn't give up and it just
(09:08):
came across.
And I think that has done wonders andchange the entire landscape of your career
in a way.
And yeah, so I and yes.
So, you know, like, I wanted to ask youlike,
since you have made this entiretransition, right?
You had no background from a film industryand then you made your mark, you've made
your mark here.
So what do you feel is your greateststrength as an actress?
(09:34):
I'm still making my mark actually.
I can't say that I made my mark already.
But my strength I would say I'm stilllearning.
There's a lot to learn.
I don't see myself as a perfect or goodactor even.
But one thing that I can say about myself,I am still here and still trying, is that
(09:56):
I am ready to learn.
Like I have the capacity to learn.
That's what I can say.
OK.
So now the most pressing question, which alot of people ask us.
So we did just a poll on Instagram thatwhat should we ask you?
And a lot of people, they all wanted toknow when the second part of the
freelancer going to come and how will wesee Nabila evolve in the second half?
(10:17):
What does she do?
Does she really run away?
Or does she wait?
She'll be rescued along with the lead?
What happens in the second part if you canjust give a some hint or something?
You're putting me in a very bad positionright now.
No, like I can't say when it's coming.
I can only say it's going to be, like, youwill see it soon.
(10:38):
And like about the part, how much I cansay about Nabila is that she is going to
bring a twist to the story.
And like you will see a lot of layers tothe character, more layers to the
character.
Obviously you just have...
I think I had only two scenes until now.
(10:58):
But yeah, you will see more layers to hercharacter and she will bring a twist.
That's the only thing I can say.
Yeah, I mean, like the way it ends, right,just leaves so much so many, what I can
say, perceptions open that you think,okay, this can happen.
What if you know, if what if Nabila isjust trying to act out to figure out if
the lead, you know, like if she's justtrying to figure out if she's actually
(11:20):
transformed or not, or is she with is shewith the terrorists?
Or is she not on the other side?
It just, you know, it just leaves thecharacter so open that you just keep
guessing, you know, like what will happen?
Like, is she just trying to sabotage theentire thing that the lead is planning or
what is she trying to do?
So yeah, I mean, like that is there.
So I think that was one of the most, Iwould not say just funny part, like it
(11:43):
just felt so natural that, you know, whenyou are walking back across after offering
the prayer and then you're walking andthen you're shouting as a character, like,
you know, on her, like I got stuck andall.
And it just feels so funny.
Like, you know, it just, the way it justlightens the mood, but at the same time,
it keeps the tension alive.
of the entire scene.
I think that was one of the most, I wouldsay, the scenes that have stayed with me
(12:05):
from Freelancer because it's a show thattakes time to build.
You know, the first and second episode area little slow and then it builds up the
entire scene and then it picks up towardsthe fourth and the fifth episode.
And that is where we see a lot of newcharacters come in.
And one character that stayed with me,like was obviously Nabila, you know, when
I saw, I was like, okay, fine, this serieshas just got interesting.
And I was like, shit, now it has ended andI have to wait for the second part and as
(12:26):
in when it comes along.
Yeah, I mean, I think the credit goesobviously to the story, the filmmakers,
like the director and obviously NeerajPandey, how they created the character and
how they also like, you know, portrayedthe character.
But I can tell you, like Nabila was also avery difficult character for me to play
because she had this different layers.
(12:48):
She can be loud in a place she's notsupposed to be loud.
And like, it was like very interesting tolike, you know, get to know this character
and play
So how was it working with Neeraj Pandey,knowing that he has special 26, he has
done MS Dhoni, the movie, he has like, hehas one of the like some of the best
movies in India in terms of, you know,gripping stories, the stories that grip
(13:11):
you towards the very end.
Like he has created the best stories, Ifeel, you know, special Chappi is one of
my favorite movies that of Neeraj Pandey,sir.
How was it working with him?
You know, like, it might have been like,you know, one of the bucket lists that you
might have been working with NeerajPandey.
So how was it working with him?
Absolutely it was because even I wasfollowing his work.
Like my favorite film of him is AWednesday.
(13:34):
And yeah, so I was obviously very excitedwhen I got the role and I obviously knew
that Neeraj Pandey Sir is the show runnerof this series.
And unfortunately I didn't get the chanceto really work with him because the actual
director is Bhav Dhulia.
But I won't say unfortunately also becauseeven like working with him, with Bhav.
(13:58):
was amazing.
He's an amazing director who like, likefor an actor, it's nice to work with such
directors who take care of what like howyou are performing.
So yeah, I can say like about Bob, I cansay it was a very nice experience to work
with him.
Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance towork with Neeraj Sir also.
(14:19):
But I mean, I know that he has seen allthe scenes and he has he was part of
He was the one who actually I got to knowlater that he saw my audition and was
happy about my audition and was like,okay, we're taking this girl and I was
like, oh, okay, nice.
So that's all I can say about him rightnow.
(14:41):
So can you tell us about how did youraudition go the entire day?
And like, you know, when you went for thisaudition of the character, Nabila, how did
it go for you?
Were you excited?
Were you nervous?
Or was it a mix of both?
How was it for you?
It's actually always a mix of both.
I'm always nervous, always excited, but Ifeel like that always helps me with
performing as well.
Like I use it for my performance even.
(15:06):
And I remember I was actually in Germanywhen I gave this audition.
I got a call, they gave me a brief to thecharacter.
I found it already very interesting.
And yeah, so I prepared myself, how Iprepared for every audition and...
I took a self-tape and I did.
So I think a few weeks after that, I got acall and they said that you are selected
(15:32):
for this role.
that must have been one of the bestmoments in your life so far, right?
Yeah.
So how difficult was it for you, you know,to bring that character into a reel, you
know, in that entire reel life?
Like, were you able to connect with someaspects of Nabila as a character?
And how did you portray, like, what werethe preparations that you have to put
(15:54):
into?
And not just Nabila, I wanted to ask youthis for, basically for Julie, because
that was a very challenging character.
Because you know, like if I watchedAranya, I know the entire story arc how it
pans out, but for a freelancer, I stillhave to wait how it pans out.
So maybe for Nabila, this would be a veryearly question.
But yeah, like generally, like we'll takethe example of the character, Julie, how
(16:14):
difficult was it for you?
Is there any process that you follow, youknow, to get into the groove of that
particular character?
I can say that Lee was definitely one ofthe most difficult characters for me as of
now that I played because I couldn't, inthe beginning I couldn't connect with the
character at all.
And my problem was in the beginning alsothat I was judging the character a lot.
(16:38):
She's so many things that I am not.
She's a mother, she is a drug addict, sheis an abusive mother also.
So I...
I just couldn't connect to her and I wasjudging her, especially as a mother.
And then while I was preparing for thecharacter, I realized this is something
that is standing in my way because I'mjudging the character.
(16:59):
So I have to stop doing that.
And like, this is all the things I'mlearning.
Like, I don't know anything.
Like I'm just learning by experience.
So I realized, okay, judging the characterdoesn't help me really.
So I have to keep the judgment away andjust see the character, see where it's
coming from.
Why are they behaving the way they are?
their behaving.
So I did a lot of research on people whoare drug addicts, what happens to them
(17:24):
when they are addicts and stuff like that.
And then I started to understand thecharacter, not to justify the character,
but just to understand where she's comingfrom.
Then I started connecting to her in a way.
So yeah, it was very difficult at thebeginning, but I learned a lot from it.
Yeah.
(17:45):
I think, you know, that when you say that,like, it was very difficult for you to
relate because you are not that person inreal life.
And I think that's where the realchallenge of an actress comes along,
right?
That you have to actually portray someonethat you're not in real life and you would
never want to be that person in real life.
And you have to take him by thosequalities which are at which you are at
war with, you know, and I think that isone of the and I think you
(18:07):
that was a very effortless performancealso.
When you see, it just does not feel likeyou were just trying to, you know, what do
you can say, portray.
It was just felt like you were in the skinof that actual character and it just felt
like, you know, I think that is somethingwhich every actor or an actress would aim
for.
And I think that was very flawless interms of that transition that you have
made.
Wow, thank you.
(18:27):
Like, this means really a lot when you saythat because that was obviously how you
said that was something that, you know,when I perform and when I see the end
result, I always am like very skepticalabout and very critical about performance.
So I didn't even know if I actually didwell.
And now you saying that really feels well,feels good.
(18:50):
So yeah, thank you.
welcome.
You're most welcome.
So, you know, like, Breshen, like, nowyou, now we are talking about multiple
series that you're doing.
So, and also you're coming up with a movieand like, I think it's a setup in the old
back days and like it's based out ofKashmir.
Just wanted to ask you more about itbecause I could not, you know, I, what I
got from Debbie was in a very bits andpieces.
(19:10):
She has told me, so, you know, I wanted todiscuss about that movie, how it has, how
it is spanning out and what is that wholemovie about?
Again, you're putting me in thatsituation, but I can't say.
If you can give us the summary of what itis about, whom you're working with and
how.
It's a period film.
It's a story based like 500 years back inKashmir.
(19:32):
That's what I can say about it.
And it's...
what else can I say?
That's all actually I can say about it.
What is the thing and very...
like obviously Santosh Sivan sir is thedirector.
You can expect lots of beautiful visuals,obviously.
(19:56):
So how is it like, okay, now I understandthat I've put in a spot, so I'll try to,
you know, ask some easier and a simplequestion that, how is it working with
Santosh Sivan sir?
And like, how was your feeling when yourealized that, you know, that you're going
to do this movie with him?
Again, because it's again, I think for anactor and an actress, like again, checking
off a bucket list, you know, like workingwith a director of the calibre of Santosh
(20:16):
Sivan sir.
So how was it for you and how did it workout?
I mean, like, how did this whole moviething pan out for you?
How did that opportunity came across andhow it happened?
I still am at that point that I don'treally realize that I'm working with Aasof
Sivan sir.
Although we have already started shootingand I have done some scenes already and
it's actually a dream come true.
(20:40):
I've seen Ashoka, I've seen him, like I'veseen Dil Se, he was the DOP there.
Especially for a female actor, it's like adream come true because I feel...
Santosh sir is someone who can make awoman look so beautiful in a simplest way.
And like for me, it's like a dream cometrue, obviously.
(21:01):
And how it happened is also like, it's,uh, I got a call.
There is a film happening with Santosh sirand there's a role.
This is it.
I got a brief.
They were like, can you just quickly sendus an introduction in this look?
So they didn't even ask for my.
audition because they already saw me inR&M.
(21:26):
okay, okay.
Yes.
she gave me a lot.
So they were like, but we need to know ifyou can pass the look.
So I gave the introduction and the castingdirector was like, listen, if you get
selected, you might have to come toKashmir tomorrow.
It was that all right.
(21:49):
And I didn't I just gave the introductionand I didn't have lots of hopes because,
you know, as an actor,
It happens a lot that you give auditionsyou have hoops and then it doesn't work
out.
So we are like, okay hoops Tk ho jaega,chahi hai, nahi ho gato It's like that.
So but then I got a call and they werelike, okay, you have to come tomorrow and
(22:09):
I like that's why I'm saying that I stilldon't realize because everything happens
so quickly I reach there and they werelike, okay tomorrow we are shooting
already.
I'm like, okay, what's happening here andSantosh They told me listen
He already rejected a lot of girls, so youbetter do well in your first scene.
(22:30):
First scene, I also say bye-bye to you.
And I was like, okay.
And I did my first scene and he was like,okay, she's staying.
And I was like, thank you very much.
So I was very happy about that.
But still trying to realize to, you know,I'm actually working with him.
And it's just, already I had a very.
(22:52):
beautiful experience doing those scenesand I'm looking forward to the other part
that we are shooting.
Yeah, I think that would have been one ofthe most scary part, right?
When there's that you do the first scenequickly in a better way, because you're
there suddenly, it is all happening.
It's just I think at that point of timewould have been very overwhelming.
And when you're trying to keep your nervescalm and cool, and that is when somebody
(23:14):
comes and say, you know, be good.
And then you're like, OK, now there is anadded pressure on me.
And I think some at times that brings outthe best in you because you're just not
worried about, you know, at times you getthat.
I would say at times that would reallytake off that extra pressure, not extra
pressure, that diverts your mind in a waythat you are able to perform much better
(23:34):
than you would have usually in a normalscenario when you were planning things
out.
Because at times when your plans arethrown out the window, that is when you
actually perform the best because you havenot thought about it.
So the natural part in you comes out andyou do a much better job than, you know,
in a planned out scenario might havehappened.
That's absolutely true because you'rebeing more spontaneous and as an actor
being spontaneous can help you a lot.
(23:56):
So how you said it came it comes out verynatural in that moment.
How absolutely that pressure that came ithelped me also.
Hopefully like I think that was the reasonwhy you said say maybe let's see how it
like how I will continue performing inthis part.
So when can we expect the movie?
(24:18):
Is it coming anytime soon or is itsometime down the line it's going to
happen?
Like release.
We have just shot a small part and we areyet to shoot a lot of the second part.
And so yeah, we are planning to startshooting again coming year.
And then, yes, 2025.
(24:40):
I can't promise anything.
But maybe we get done.
If we get it done on time, then yeah.
Again, I'm thinking, is it okay?
Yeah.
So, I think you're on your path to makethe transition.
I wouldn't say transition, you're tryingcoexisting, where you're doing a bit of
(25:03):
OTT shows and you're doing films that willcome on the big screen.
So what are the major challenges?
I wouldn't say challenges, what are themajor differences that you could figure
out from both on an OTT platform?
If a show or a movie is releasing just foran OTT, what are the major differences as
an actress you feel when it comes to thatmedium?
(25:26):
I have majorly done OTT, that's why I knowabout that.
For films, it's like for an actor, I wouldsay the challenge is just that you don't
know what will happen with a film that youdon't know where it's going to stream on.
If it's even going to release or not,think about it in your mind all the time
(25:48):
because this happens in this industry.
And with OTT, it's very clear from thebeginning, okay, it's going to come on
this platform.
will be releasing and all those things.
So that can be the difference that I cantell you about.
Otherwise, I haven't experienced so muchthat I can't even say how much difference
(26:13):
there is.
Okay.
Now this brings to a very interestingquestion which I think it started last
week itself that the OTT films that arecoming, they are trying taking away that
essence that used to happen in movies whenit used to release in theatres only.
And there are some very, what you can saylike if you say Christopher Nolan, he
likes to release movies only in theatres.
(26:35):
And you know, for that matter, RajkumarHirani sir also he likes to have that big
cinema experience.
they are not very OTT and after therelease of a movie last week I think the
Lady Killer which was released after itwas just 80% complete because they have to
adhere to the norms that 6 weeks before itreleases on OTT it has to release on the
screens so is it actually true that OTT istaking away that essence or you feel that
(27:00):
it is actually helping movies reach awider audience before which was not what
you can say which was not which could nothave happened before so
I mean my personal opinion and I have tobe very egoistic about that also because
OTT for me worked well as an actor as wellright because before OTT there was not a
(27:22):
lot of options for all of us actors.
We have more options, we have more kind ofcharacters which we can play and I can see
both sides.
Obviously there are films which I canunderstand is better to watch in the
theatre.
But there are like web series and thereare films who are made for OTT and I feel
(27:43):
like you're right that people like itopens up for more people like film and web
series and I mean I've had friends whobefore OTT came were not such great series
or movies fans.
But after OTT, they got to know how it is.
Like they started binge watching webseries and watching movies and stuff like
(28:03):
that.
So I would say like both sides, like bothshould exist, coexist with each other.
That's my personal opinion.
I think that is what I feel also on thesame lines.
Though at some times, it obviouslytakes...
When a product that is not good enough andjust for the sake of it gets released in a
theater, is where I feel is not right onterms with the audience.
(28:26):
But everything has its own pros and consand if there is 90% good, there is 10% bad
that exists and that is okay becauseotherwise the 90% good would not happen.
And also, because a lot of movies havebecome accessible and...
You know, movies are doing financiallyokay.
So it helps the creators also, right?
Who's the entire industry as a whole thatnow there is much more opportunity for
(28:48):
people to own and I think that is where Ifeel that OTT is a very essential cog in
the wheel right now.
So, so yeah, no, no.
Bresha wanted to ask you like, who areyour favorite actors and actresses in the
industry?
Like it can be movies or OTT is like, andwhat is your, like, if you have to suggest
somebody to watch top three shows apartfrom Aranya, the freelancer and the shows
(29:08):
you've worked on.
What would they be?
Okay, so favorite actors is like verydifficult for me because I feel like there
are a lot of actors who I look up to butfor recent like I would say like Manoj
Bajpai is one of the actors I really lookup to.
(29:28):
Radhika Apte, I love her performances.
Like sometimes when I watch her I feellike, kaise kiya ye?
That's it.
I love that about her.
What else?
The shows that I would suggest like myfavorite shows, all-time favorite shows is
Dark.
(29:49):
It's on that German show and I reallyloved it.
I know it's very old now and people mighthave watched it already, but my favorite
shows.
Yeah.
So I think, you know, that is such awonderful conversation to understand from
you how your journey started, how you havetransitioned into the industry and was I
(30:12):
wanted to ask you this, I think I missedout that was, you know, learning Hindi a
challenge for you.
And because when even in thisconversation, and I've heard you does not
feel like you know, you have anyapprehension towards just feels like it
comes naturally to you.
You know, there is no, what you can say afake accent that usually comes out when
you learn not just Hindi.
when whenever you learn a new language,you hear people who are speaking it and
(30:34):
you try to bring that accent.
And so even it for me, like when I startedlearning English, that thing came across
in me and I had to literally tone it downfor a very long time and work hard on it.
So was it a challenge for you?
And how did it came out for you?
I wouldn't say it was a challenge becauseI know Hindi since my childhood actually.
(30:56):
Because watching Hindi movies andlistening to Hindi songs from my
childhood.
And that's how I learned the language.
By just listening to how you learn yourmother tongue after a while.
These people are saying because at thattime there were no subtitles as such.
I just started understanding and I have athing with languages that I can catch with
(31:19):
me because as a refugee, like I was forcedto like since my childhood because I came
to Germany and I was very young and inorder to communicate with the other kids I
had to learn the language.
So that's how I got in touch withdifferent languages.
(31:40):
So that's why maybe it is like inside methat I catch languages very quickly.
I went into India first, I understoodHindi, but talking was not as easy as it
is right now.
But because I talk to my friends only inHindi, how it improved.
Like I don't, another plus point I wouldsay is that I don't mind saying something
(32:01):
wrong.
I don't feel ashamed about it because it'sjust the language.
Be it English, be it German, be it Hindi.
It's just the language.
It's okay if you make mistakes.
and I learned from it when I made Mystic.
So that's how my Hindi improved.
That's so wonderful.
Are you moved?
So what is your most favorite Hindidialogue from any movie?
(32:22):
I would say it would be any dialogue fromAndaz Apna because Andaz Apna is my all
time favourite.
yeah, true that Crime Master Gogo andlike, I play with my eyes out and play
with my fingers.
Yeah.
So you moved from Afghanistan to Germany,right?
If I'm not wrong.
So are you cheering like for the Afghancricket team?
(32:45):
I think they've played the most wonderfulcricket I have ever seen in a really,
really long time.
Yesterday night was a heartbreak.
Yesterday night was a heartbreak, I wouldsay, because I was rooting for
Afghanistan.
I really root.
for all their players.
They are just like their proper sportsmenyou feel, you know.
And like if after India I'm supporting theteam it would be Afghanistan.
I was really looking forward to India vsAfghanistan in semi-final.
(33:06):
But I'm not sure.
Still there is a chance, a very outsidechance but I hope it happens.
Yeah, so I was definitely rooting forAfghanistan and I am just so proud of the
team because they made us like they cameso far.
No one expected that actually even Ididn't expect that.
But see.
them working so hard and playing so wellwas so beautiful.
(33:29):
Like you can ask every Afghan there soproud, even after yesterday.
It was heartbreaking, but still I waslike, you know what?
You did so well.
And thank you for that, for the team.
Like, I'm so happy to see them play likethat.
And before I was done, I didn't reallyknow much about cricket.
(33:49):
But because of that, that there, myfriends would tell me how like what the
rules are.
Now while we were watching they wouldexplain things to me and now I know
everything.
I was like oh this happened.
I understand what happens.
I understand everything.
Okay, I think that is the best like theguts they have shown, you know, and the
(34:15):
awareness as per the game.
I think Afghanistan versus Pakistan, theway they won that match was just so
clinical.
I mean, I remember they were justrequired, I think they required 34 or 35
balls towards the end, they had eightwickets in hand, but they did not go for
any glory shots for a four or six,they've, you know, trusted the singles and
doubles.
And I think that was so clinical.
It just does not
(34:36):
They did not just beat, they annihilatedthe opposition in that particular match.
And I think that is so good to watch.
They have done things within 8 to 10 yearsof their inception as an international
team, which other teams, say, suppose asNetherlands or beat Bangladesh, have not
done even after being in the sport for30-40 years.
And I think that I really love all theAfghan players.
(34:58):
I would obviously say, I mean, I love thatHashimullah Shahidi, the captain, I love.
I mean, like the way that he leads andobviously Rashid Khan is everyone's
favorite.
So I think that
I remember when I was in Kashmir and Iwould tell people that I am from
Afghanistan, the first thing they wouldsay would be, oh, we love Rashid Khan.
And I'm like, yeah, he's amazing.
(35:18):
star now.
Yeah.
So, you know, Bresha, it has been such anabsolutely wonderful conversation.
We would like to end things on a rapidfire.
It will be very simple.
Don't worry.
I would not put you on a spot anymore.
Uh, that will be fairly simple.
So we'll start with it.
We'll have five questions.
Yeah.
So, uh, now the first question comes like,would you do like, you have to choose one
(35:41):
of the following, a Massey commercialmovie or an art movie?
When I say art movies, it's like, youknow, very big.
It is based on a topic and it's veryclinical.
It has everything that a cinema shouldhave, but just not the mass appeal.
Which one would you choose?
Oh god, that's a difficult question.
But because I am more into artistic, Iwould rather do one thing different than
(36:03):
do a commercial movie once.
I think no actor would say no to that.
I can't.
true.
Yeah, then I think this is putting on thespot.
You can answer both also, obviously.
I know that will be the answer.
Will it be Dharma or Yashraj or both?
my god.
Boat, obviously.
As if.
That.
(36:25):
So yeah.
So now the third question is, would youhave SRK as your lead hero or would you
want him to be the lead villain as he wasin DUR?
Which one would you prefer SRK to be?
Lead Hitter.
(36:45):
Yeah.
Hehehe
Yeah.
Oh, you choose a villain.
Yeah, that's an interesting.
who are in a romantic scene.
Like, that's all.
(37:07):
Yeah, so you would basically love ShahRukh Khan as someone like, you know, Kabir
Singh maybe that has an element of bit ofboth.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Oh yeah, good idea.
Would you choose a good role in an averagemovie or a normal role in a Massey
blockbuster movie?
Good role in an average movie.
(37:28):
or a web series or a movie if you havegiven a chance to choose from one.
If you have a say suppose a top levelmovie and a top level web series, which
one would you go for?
Huh.
That's difficult.
We are top level web series.
(37:49):
movie maybe?
Yeah, I thought that to be very honest.
and with that we come towards the end ofthe rapid fire and the show so thank you
so much Prashna for you know agreeing tobe a part of this for giving us your time
and it was really pleasure having thisconversation with you it was a lot of fun
(38:09):
and it was really I felt it was very niceand it went really well so thank you so
much for this
Thank you so much for having me, even Ihave a lot of fun.
Thank you.
One thing, I wanted to ask you, if you canjust give us a shout out that no listen to
M Squared podcast and about you, if youcan brief like, Breshna and this, yeah.
I just, you know, just one line, like, I'mBreshna and like, please listen to M
(38:31):
Squared or something like that.
Okay, hi, I'm Breanna.
Please listen to M Square Podcast.
It's amazing to be a part of it and yeah,listen to it.
Thank you.
Thank you, Vishnu.
Just one thing.
First of all, I wanted to apologize forbeing late.
I was trying to do some setup because Ijust shifted back.
(38:52):
I think the last time when we talked, Iwas in Noida.
So it's Zivali, right?
So I've come home.
So now I've come home to Chhattisgarh.
I was just setting up and I think I joinedsix, seven minutes and I'm very sorry for
that.
I was not intentional.
Yeah.
No, I just was wondering.
So I asked, is he coming?
I asked Debbie if he But no.
(39:13):
think I was about to say sorry.
And I think she called and I gotdistracted.
I was like, okay, now I have to start.
So that's when I started.
I was about to say sorry when I joined.
I'm really sorry for that.
Yeah.
Yeah, thank you.
I'll just wait.
I'll just stop the recording and we'lltake a minute or so, so that it gets done.
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