In the past four years, Tara Sutaria admits she has been looking for stories that align with her ideas. Apurva could well be the first film to tick that box. Nikhil Nagesh Bhat’s 24-hour survival drama sees Sutaria as the titular character, who fights assailants after they abduct her from a bus. To her, it’s the story of “a Durga inside every woman.”

“Women possess an innate strength that comes out in the face of adversity. No woman should have to go through this, but as an actor, this role is a privilege,” begins the actor.

After forgettable films in Marjaavaan (2019) and Ek Villain Returns (2022), Sutaria is excited to headline a project. She knows how rare the opportunity is in Bollywood that churns out testosterone-driven films.

“There are so many hero-centric films but women-oriented films are rare. I’m glad the film chose me. I’ve learnt the hard way that if your film doesn’t work, people won’t accept you. I don’t have a Godfather, and in this industry, some guidance always helps. That said, every time I took advice, it backfired. So, I’m left to go with my gut feeling.”

It is this gut feeling that made her say an instant yes to Apurva, also starring Abhishek Banerjee and Dhairya Karwa. The reason was simple—the survival thriller spoke about woman power, an idea that Sutaria stands by, but saw being challenged often in showbiz.

“I grew up in a house that didn’t have gender-specific roles. When I came to this industry, I saw inequality and injustice of gargantuan levels. It has been difficult for me to put my point across in male-heavy rooms. I have been cut short, short of being shut down.”

Apurva will be her game-changer, she tells us. But shooting for the Disney+ Hotstar film in Rajasthan was gruelling. “I was barefoot throughout the shoot in Jaisalmer. I was jumping off trains, walking on hot sand, doing all my stunts without body doubles. I lived on intermittent napping because we were shooting day and night. At one point, I didn’t shower for 10 days. I didn’t brush my hair. I didn’t wash my face. My eyes had mud in them. Headlining a film is a responsibility and I wanted to do my best.”