Showing posts with label Mithila Palkar interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mithila Palkar interview. Show all posts
I would be excited to be a part of a psychological thriller or play a negative role-Mithila Palkar
8:26 AM
After her latest romcom Sweet Dreams, Mithila Palkar says that love stories need to adapt according to the next generation
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; February 4, 2025)
Internet’s favourite girl-next-door, Mithila Palkar, wants to take a detour now. Having created a niche for herself with slice-of-life and romantic stories like Girl in The City (2016), Little Things (2016-21) and Karwaan (2018), Palkar now wants to play characters far removed from herself. In an interview with mid day, the actor, currently seen in Disney+ Hotstar rom-com Sweet Dreams, shares her aspirations for the next stage of her career that include playing antagonists, and why she believes that love stories need to be reimagined for the GenZ audience.
Edited excerpts from the interview.
What kind of prep is required for a film that is driven more by the charm of its actors than the story?
I stick to both the director and the writer’s vision, which in the case of Sweet Dreams was Victor [Mukherjee] himself. Having him take me and Amol [Parashar, co-star] through what inspired him to write the story and why he imagined us in these parts, I fed off from that. That’s what I usually do for slice-of-life stories.
After completing over a decade in the industry, what are you most hungry for?
I want to see myself play different roles from what I am. All the girls I have played so far are different shades of me, but I would be excited to be a part of a psychological thriller or play a negative role. I remember when I watched Killing Eve, I was so inspired by that show, I felt this is what I wanted to do.
Have you found it difficult to break the trap that the audience’s expectations can create?
I do appreciate the love that I have received through Little Things. I am grateful to that show. I always say that I don’t think a show like this will ever happen for me again because all of us on the show were just starting out. We all began from ground zero and that show took us to another level. Now whatever we will do next will begin from here. Which is why the show will always be special. We are obviously not going to start from ground level now.
It’s also about comfort, both for the audience and the actor. Some people can get stuck in it [same character type] because they know the audience will love them like that because of which even the makers start envisioning you similarly. In that context, I was surprised by the kind of projects that eventually came my way [after Little Things]. I do deserve to do other things, I do deserve to be seen differently, but unless the makers dare to dream, I can’t do much. Or then, I’ll have to produce something myself. But I am too new on the scene to try that. But I am grateful to all the writers and directors, who offered me different [roles] because stereotyping happens. There’s no escaping it. You have seen Little Things so many times that you think Mithila is Kavya and that’s what you want to see again and again. But unless you show something different to the audience, how will they know that you can be something else too?
You have headlined a few popular romances, Sweet Dreams being the latest one. But a dearth of love stories is felt on the big screen as well as OTT. Why do you think there’s a gap?
Youngsters should write young stories. Romance on paper has to change according to how it’s changing with generations. Even though millennials and GenZ are just a generation apart, we think differently from each other. I feel this about myself. I want to sit with a GenZ person and understand their ways. I feel that many times, I sit on a high horse like the generation before us did and say, ‘Humare zamane mein aisa hota tha.’ But that’s not how it works. You won’t be accepted by the audience if they can’t relate to you. I feel we should keep experimenting as artistes because the audience is intelligent and adaptive in a sense that they will want to see different things if you offer them something different. So, even for romance, there’s no point reiterating what we have seen. It’s nice to have a fresh perspective. To revisit films we watched 20 years ago is going back to your comfort zone.
You know it’s Diwali when your breakfast has faral-Mithila Palkar
8:10 AM
Debarati S Sen (BOMBAY TIMES; November 8, 2023)
The quintessential girl-next-door Mithila Palkar is a self-confessed foodie and Diwali is her all-time-favorite festival. This year’s Diwali however, is especially important for the actress as she moved into her new house just a few months back. “This will be my first Diwali in my new house,” she tells us and adds, “I am very excited to decorate my house and host people.”
‘Diwali means family time’
Known for her work in films Karwaan, Tribhanga, Chopsticks, Katti Batti and shows like Little Things and Girl In The City, Mithila is visibly excited when talking about the festive season.
“Diwali is my favourite festival. There is so much happiness everywhere and the energy is different. It is all bright and colourful and everyone is looking forward to wearing new clothes. Diwali for me means a lot of family time and it has always been a festival where the entire family comes together and celebrates.”
‘I am the sous-chef for my grandmom during Diwali’
While she loves the Diwali faral, Mithila ensures that she helps her grandmom with it. “The family gets together and we make mithai and stuff at home. Oh, I am salivating already! Diwali means eating a lot of yummy Diwali food.”
Taking a small bite of the healthy sweet in front of her, Mithila says, “I don’t cook but during Diwali I am the sous-chef for my grandmom (my nani). She is the best cook in the world! We make Kanavla at home, popularly known as karanji. I help her with kanavla especially because that involves a lot of work. Through the years I have always been around her watching what she does. So, I help with putting the pitthi inside, filing it, folding it, cutting it and then frying. I follow her instructions; I don’t overstep because I am not very confident as a cook. We make shankarpali, khazuri which not a lot of people know. It is shaped like a shankarpali but they represent the dhal and gada and something to do with mythology and traditions. Then there is chakli, pohe cha chiwda, shev, rawa ladu, besan ladu. You know that it is Diwali when your breakfast has all these things. We Maharashtraians call it Diwali faral.”
‘We follow a lot of traditions during this festival’
Mithila has grown up in Shivaji Park with her grandparents at the family home and during all relatives gather there. “All of us make sure that we get the time together. We still follow a lot of traditions, mere ghar pe abhi bhi hota hai. The first day is about the Utnyachi Angor, that Nani still does for us – puts utna, does diya, there is a rangoli that we make on the paat (aasan) that we sit on. We put oil and narayal cha doodh (coconut milk) in our hair. My grandfather used to bring sandalwood soap. The men break a green fruit called Chiraat. Amhi chirat bolta, sagde vegra vegra kaitari boltat. (people call that fruit by different names). It has a mythological significance. We follow all these traditions every year. Firecrackers were never really a part of my Dadar Diwali life. There was a time when we would visit my father’s family who are from Baroda, my Kakas, Kakis, Atyas. There we’d have firecrackers. I’ve never been a big fan of crackers. But every evening we have diyas lit in the house. Devala diwa lawaicha, that’s a tradition. We put up ladis and malas in the house. Last year my grandfather expired, and we didn’t celebrate Diwali but this year we are lighting up the house and he wouldn’t have had it any other way.”
‘There is a tradition that I follow with my friends every year’
Mithila has a close group of friends in Dadar and for decades they have been celebrating the festival in a special way. “On the first day of Diwali my school friends and I get dressed in new clothes and together we visit this Ganpati temple, Udyan Ganesh, in Shivaji Park. After that we have lunch together. This is a tradition we have followed for years. Even though most of us have been married or have partners, now, we always make sure that it’s just the girls meeting because that is a tradition that we have kept intact.”
Pics: Prathamesh Bandekar
Location: Meetha by Radisson
I always wanted to learn an instrument. I have been learning ukulele for almost seven years-Mithila Palkar
9:08 AM
Soumya Vajpayee (HINDUSTAN TIMES; August 21, 2023)
“Monsoon and music have a strong connect and I love them both,” says Mithila Palkar, in an exclusive tête-à -tête and photoshoot, as the actor, a music aficionado, admits that “music is an integral part of my life”. She adds, “During monsoon, I visit my nani’s home often, sit on a swing as it rains, put on my headphones and listen to music for hours. This is my favourite monsoon ritual and it’s meditative. I also get inspired to sing as it rains, and love when my nani cooks some amazing pakoras and bhajiyas.”
Mithila Palkar has been spending a lot of time honing her ukulele skills. “I always wanted to learn an instrument. While I wanted to learn the sitar, I thought of starting with the ukulele, which is also a string instrument,” says the actor, adding, “I have been learning it for almost seven years. My house has a music room and my maasa recently gifted me a keyboard. I do the riyaaz daily and find it very meditative. I am a self-taught musician. The internet has played a role in helping me learn music. I learnt playing the cups on the internet too.”
Sharing how her love for music developed, Palkar shares that her father introduced her to music. “He’s a die-hard music lover. He would sing while putting me to sleep. The culture of music has been in my house since I was a baby. My nana played the tabla, flute and other instruments,” she says.
The 30-year-old has had a couple of releases and she now wishes “to learn music formally”. Sharing how she and music are inseparable, Palkar says, “I am always singing, even when I’m on the set. When we were working together on a project, my Marathi co-actor Amey Wagh would get annoyed and say, ‘Rolling bolne tak tum gaati hi rehti ho! Mujhe toh focus karne do’. Also, when I was shooting for Karwaan (2018), Irrfan Khan sir (late actor) would call me Binaca Geetmala (a yesteryear radio show). DQ (actor Dulquer Salmaan) called me a jukebox. He would tell me what to sing.”
A lover of “Hindustani and Carnatic classical music”, the Ori Devuda (2022) actor is “yet to delve deep into western classical”. She adds, “I remember while growing up, I would wait for audio cassettes of M S Subbulakshmi (Carnatic singer) that my maasi would get for me from the US. I enjoy like retro Marathi and Hindi music. My favourite vocal combinations are Mohammed Rafi-Asha Bhosle and Sonu Nigam-Shreya Ghoshal.”
I knew that if I forgot even a single line, things would go for a toss, says Mithila Palkar on her Tollywood debut
8:27 AM
Titas Chowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 24, 2022)
After dabbling in Hindi and Marathi cinema, actor Mithila Palkar has now forayed into Tollywood with a romantic drama, Ori Devuda. She sees it as an opportunity to expand her audience base. “I didn’t worry about losing my core audience. I do things that make me happy. That’s how I have navigated my career so far,” says the Little Things actor, adding, “We all know that aaj kaam hai, par kal nahin bhi ho sakta hai. We live each day as it comes. And I am always willing to have new experiences. It is a good chance, as it will help create an overlap of audiences, too.”
Palkar likes exploring regional languages. In fact, she enjoys watching films from the south, too. “When I did Karwaan (2018), I had to know who DQ (actor Dulquer Salmaan) was. So, I watched a lot of Malayalam movies. And when I was quarantined after contracting Covid-19 (last month), I watched South films that were on my list,” she shares.
The 29-year-old says that she didn’t have a Telugu tutor before starting her latest project and she relied on her best friend’s mother’s guidance to grasp the character’s emotions. “I made her read the lines and send voice notes to me. That helped me understand the way the words should sound,” she says.
Palkar’s biggest fear, however, was wasting anyone’s time: “I knew that if I forgot even a single line, things would go for a toss, and I don’t like putting anybody in trouble at my expense.”
I had a strong gut feeling that I would test positive for Coronavirus-Mithila Palkar
8:18 AM
Titas Chowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 11, 2022)
Recently, actor Mithila Palkar took to social media to share that she had tested positive for Coronavirus. She wrote: “I have started my birthday week on a Covid positive note. Bummer, I know!”
Though asymptomatic, she decided to go for an RT-PCR as she had been exposed to a Covid-infected person. “I tested myself as a precautionary measure since I visit my grandparents very often. Also, work is the biggest risk for us because, while everyone gets to wear a mask, actors are still exposed,” she says.
Palkar shares that she had already anticipated her test results: “I had a strong gut feeling that I would test positive, and the amount of time it took to send the report fed into that feeling. But I still gave them (testing lab) the benefit of the doubt that they were overburdened.”
What makes the Little Things actor upset is that she is spending her birthday, today, in isolation. “Once it was confirmed that I had tested Covid-19 positive, I immediately counted the number of days until my birthday and I went, ‘Oh no’,” she rues. But the 29-year-old quickly adds, “My 12-day isolation will end tomorrow. I was disappointed, but if you know you’ve caught the virus, why go around and spread it? I’m following every protocol because I’m not irresponsible and I’d rather be safe than sorry.”
However, Palkar worries about her grandparents. “It hasn’t stopped being a matter of concern for me ever since the onset of the pandemic. If I’m shooting outside the city, I don’t come back and go to see them immediately, and when I go to see them after a few days, I always have my mask on. Their immunity is already low,” she concludes.
I wear a mask when I visit my grandparents; I don't hug them-Mithila Palkar
8:02 AM
The actress talks about the precautions she took while going back to work during the pandemic and the safety protocols she continues to follow while interacting with her family in Mumbai
Harshada Rege (BOMBAY TIMES; May 2, 2021)
Mithila says, “By October 2020, I had started working. I was being very careful about stepping out of the house. I had to figure out a way to work and not go to my grandparents’ home, who I stay with. I moved out of my grandparents’ house to a separate place for their safety. This year, I finished a schedule in Hyderabad around the time when shoots in Maharashtra were stopped last month due to a spike in the number of COVID cases. Given the situation we were in since February, it was becoming obvious that we may have to stop shooting. Also, people on various sets had started testing positive.”
Though the actress has repeatedly tested negative for COVID-19, she continues to live separately. Mithila shares, “I live in an apartment that is at a walking distance from my grandparents’ home. I am going to stay here until I am 100 per cent sure that it’s okay to go and live with them. I have tested negative, but I am being extremely cautious. We try and take as many precautions as possible, but it’s an unpredictable situation. As an actor, you aren’t wearing a mask when you are facing the camera, so the risk is higher.”
Mithila is being extra cautious as her 93-year-old grandfather had tested positive for Coronavirus in August 2020, and had recovered after 10 days in home isolation. She says, “I have tested negative so far, but even if I go to meet them, I ensure that I wear a mask when I am around them. There’s nowhere else that I am going unless they want me to run some errands or get some essentials. It’s been a while since I have returned, but even now, when I visit them, I don’t hug them. I always maintain distance while interacting with them.”
Irrfan Khan wanted to learn more and wouldn’t shy away from asking questions-Mithila Palkar
6:46 AM
Mithila Palkar, who co-starred with Irrfan in Karwaan, talks about sharing screen space with an actor she was in awe of, and remembers being surprised by the late actor’s curious nature
By Mithila Palkar (BOMBAY TIMES; April 26, 2021)
‘HE WOULD ASK ME A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THE DIGITAL MEDIUM WORKED’
I had my first dialogue of the first schedule of Karwaan with Irrfan sir... that was a daunting task. Like everyone else, I was a huge fan and was always in awe of him. I was extremely intimidated by him, not because he made me feel that way, but out of the respect that I had for him. He was like a film school in himself. It took me a while to come to terms with the fact that I am not his audience, so it was important that I don’t laugh at what he is saying, but react to it. Apart from that, he was just a lot of fun to work with. What struck me was that he was extremely receptive to new things. He would ask me a lot of questions about how the digital medium worked. After Karwaan, he was probably planning to work in something on those lines, so he was really curious to know about this medium, how you get your audience and all of that.
It was amazing that the three of us – DQ (Dulquer Salmaan), Irrfan sir and I – were from different realms of the industry. There was so much to share and learn. The heartening bit was that Irrfan sir was so curious, always wanted to learn more and wouldn’t shy away from asking questions if there was anything that he was unaware of. In fact, he was happily intrigued about how the entertainment space is moving in the digital medium.
‘SOME DAYS, I WOULD GO ON THE SET JUST TO WATCH HIM WORK’
He used to call me Binaca Geetmala because I would keep singing between shots. Even on days I wasn’t required on location, I would go just to watch him work because that was like being at a film school. We all know how amazing he was at his craft.
‘ONE THING I LEARNT FROM IRRFAN SIR WAS TO BE A BETTER LISTENER’
As an actor, something I learnt from Irrfan sir was to be a better listener. When you listen is when you can give something back, and acting is all about give and take. Even in a scene where someone is holding a gun to your head, you have to react to the situation and be aware of your co-actors. It’s an important life lesson, too, but as an actor, it’s essential to listen to others.
‘IT FELT INCOMPLETE TO PROMOTE KARWAAN WITHOUT IRRFAN SIR’
Throughout Karwaan, we three were a unit travelling together, and then, to suddenly promote it without him by our side, felt incomplete (Irrfan was unwell at that time). Dulquer and I would take turns to write to him and tell him that we are missing you; we felt the void even then. It’s hard, even now, to talk about him not being with us anymore.
— As told to Harshada Rege
Good conversations and chai make for my perfect date-Mithila Palkar
7:49 AM
Amrita Prasad (BOMBAY TIMES; February 16, 2021)
Mithila Palkar often has her fans professing their love for her acting skills and curls. But, for her, true love is something that she hasn’t found yet. While the Karvaan actress has been linked to her co-stars before, she says she isn’t dating anyone. “I am happily single and enjoying this phase,” says Mithila.
‘I BELIEVE IN FOREVER WALA LOVE’
The actress says that although she believes in the idea of eternal love, she isn’t someone who falls in the love-at-first-sight category. “I definitely have to be friends with the person first before liking or loving him. I also believe in ‘forever wala’ love,” says Mithila. Ask her what would be a perfect date for her, and she says, “I like good conversations over a cup of chai and that’s an ideal date for me.”
‘RESUMED MY KATHAK TRAINING AND SPENT TIME WITH MY GRANDPARENTS DURING THE LOCKDOWN’
The lockdown gave Mithila a chance to work on herself and resume her dance training. “I don’t think I would have gotten so much time to spend with my grandparents, at a stretch, had it not been for the lockdown. I also resumed my kathak training, was working out, sleeping on time and eating a lot of food prepared by my grandmother,” shares Mithila.
‘WILL DO A MARATHI FILM IF I GET A GOOD SCRIPT’
It has been more than three years since Mithila was seen in the Marathi film Muramba, which also featured Amey Wagh, Sachin Khedekar, and Chinmayee Sumeet. While people have been asking her to do another Marathi film soon, Mithila says she’s waiting for the right script. “If I get a story that intrigues me, I would jump at the opportunity,” she says, adding, “In fact, when I decided to be an actor, all I wanted to do was Marathi theatre. Plus, my experience of working in Muramba was so good that I would not take anything less than that for my next Marathi venture.”
‘I DON’T WANT TO RESTRICT MYSELF TO ONE MEDIUM’
Mithila has been the toast of OTT platforms and has won accolades for her portrayals in web series. She shares that the recognition that these platforms are getting only points towards the fact that good content triumphs. Having said that, she adds, “I just want to be a better actor every day. Content and people associated with a project matter to me and not the platform so much. I just keep giving my best irrespective of whether the content is going on OTT, in cinema halls or on stage. I don’t like to limit myself to one medium.”
Just because I do OTT doesn’t mean I will not take films up-Mithila Palkar
8:17 AM
Juhi Chakraborty (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 2, 2021)
Actor Mithila Palkar’s popularity can be solely attributed to the digital platform. And while Palkar admits that she owes it all to the OTT medium, it isn’t going to stop her from dabbling with big screen projects.
“When digital came along, the kind of content that was being made was what I wanted to do. I am glad that I got to be a part of that digital revolution. Personally, I lack the vision or foresight about what this eventually became, but I am glad about where it stands now. I am glad that the internet is now a medium of entertainment. I just viewed it as an opportunity,” says the actor, whose full-fledged Bollywood debut was with Karwaan (2018).
With the boom in the digital space, more and more actors from Bollywood, who’d earlier stay far away from it, are now showing keen interest in web projects. So what happens to people like her? “I think this is the most interesting time to be a part of the industry because we all are in the same playground, which makes it most exciting. That’s what we have all struggled for since many years and it is great that we are finally here to tell stories that we want to. We don’t want to tell stories of a hero and heroine. We have started telling stories about people. It is great that we can all collaborate and all mediums are intermingling,” shares Palkar.
However, the actor, who has been part of web series such as Little Things, Girl In The City and web films such as Chopsticks and the recent Tribhanga, adds, “Will that stop me from doing films? No. Just because I do OTT doesn’t mean I will not take films up. I will obviously want to see myself on the 70 mm screen. It is now amazing to see that we all are working together and there is no film actor and OTT actor demarcation. It is all going to change and it is already changing.”
Mithila Palkar credits web for giving her identity, says OTT a leveller without bias
7:53 AM
Shreya Mukherjee (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 8, 2020)
It’s not as if she didn’t harbour dreams of starring in a Bollywood film, but actor Mithila Palkar is content with the way her journey has shaped, working mostly on the web.
“When I got the opportunity with News Darshan (a satire show on YouTube), I was more than happy. But at that time, nobody knew how big this is going to become. From 2015 to 2020, the wave has just blown up. Internet gave us liberty to tell different narratives, break away from usual hero-heroine stories,” she says.
No wonder, Palkar, 27, isn’t the one looking for a validation from the Bollywood. “Web gave me my home, my identity, a platform where people could reach out to me, watch me on. I’m ever grateful,” the actor shares.
Moreover, she doesn’t believe in the notion of OTT platforms becoming star-driven with time. “The content is the king and the audience consumes content. We, as actors, are the carriers of it. Also, OTT gives equal ground to talents, so no such biases,” she explains, adding that there is also equal amount of struggle on the web. “Here also (on OTT), you have to go through rejections, that does affect you. People think I get scripts every day. That’s a misconception. I still audition, get rejected,” she says.
Irrfan Khan would refer to me as Binaca Geetmala-Mithila Palkar
8:24 AM
As told to Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; April 30, 2020)
My fondest memory of Irrfan sir was him referring to me as Binaca Geetmala, because I'd always sing on the sets of Karwaan. If he liked something that I was humming, he would request [me to sing] it.
I haven't been to acting school. But merely [being in his] presence was like attending one. My lesson from observing him was to focus on the small details in a scene, and understanding nuances. We lost a gem and I don't think this void can be filled.
I relate to Kavya in the third season of Little Things the most-Mithila Palkar
8:47 AM
Mithila traces her three-year journey with Little Things as she is nominated for Best Actor (Female) in the upcoming mid-day and Radio City Hitlist Web Awards
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; February 23, 2020)
In her role of Kavya, who navigates the ups and downs of a live-in relationship in Little Things, Mithila Palkar made people sit up and take notice. Three seasons later, she is a web star in her own right."From being unsure about what she wanted to do in life to finding a work-life balance, Kavya has matured into a responsible adult and a doting partner. I relate to that growth, and relate to Kavya in the third season the most," says Palkar, whose endearing performance in the love story has fetched her a Best Actor (Female) nomination in the upcoming mid-day and Radio City Hitlist Web Awards.
Dice Media's Little Things began on YouTube in 2016, and was later picked up by Netflix. "It had an instant connect with the audience because of its universal story of [two people navigating] a relationship," reasons the actor. The idea for a long-format series came about after Dhruv Sehgal and she did two sketches with FilterCopy. "That's when producer Ashwin Suresh suggested that Dhruv write those sketches to adapt to a longer format."
There have been several fun-filled moments during the shoot. "The tennis court scene in the eighth episode of season three is one of our favourites. It was one of the most challenging sequences to shoot and Ruchir Arun, the director of that episode, was ambitious about it. We spent an entire night filming it," she laughs.
The actor, who featured in the Irrfan and Dulquer Salmaan starrer Karwaan (2018), is hoping to gain a foothold in Bollywood while balancing her digital commitments. There has been talk that a fourth season of Little Things is on the cards. Ask Palkar, and she smiles, "You will know soon."
More About Little Things
- Prateek Kuhad has composed the music for the series
- Lead actor Dhruv Sehgal is also the creator and writer of Little Things
- Dhruv Sehgal and Mithila Palkar first met at the Thespo Youth Theatre Festival after which they worked together in a FilterCopy sketch
Cast Your Vote For The Hitlist Web Awards
Mithila Palkar has been nominated in the Best Actor (Female) category for Netflix’s Little Things 03.
The other nominees are:
- Shefali Shah (Delhi Crime; Netflix)
- Shweta Tripathi Sharma (Laakhon Mein Ek 02; Amazon Prime)
- Rasika Dugal (Out of Love; Hotstar)
- Geetanjali Kulkarni (Gullak; Sony LIV)
- Sobhita Dhulipala (Made in Heaven; Amazon Prime)
- Dia Mirza (Kaafir; Zee5)
- Little Things 03 enjoys nominations across five categories, including Best New Season, Best Actor (Male), Best Supporting Actor (Female) and Best Writing.
- There are 14 categories that the public can vote in. Log on to www.hitlistwebawards.com to cast your vote.
- You can also vote via SMS. Send HITLIST <space> category name <space> your choice (a/b/c/d as on the website) to 57575.
- Voting lines close on March 8.
Not a day goes by without Dulquer Salmaan and I talking about Irrfan’s absence-Mithila Palkar
7:54 AM
Lasyapriya Sundaram (BOMBAY TIMES; August 2, 2018)
Mithila Palkar is India’s bona fide digital star and the actress will soon be seen in Karwaan alongside Irrfan and Dulquer Salmaan. In a chat with BT, Mithila talks about wanting to be an actor since she was 12, how she bagged Karwaan, and why she doesn’t want to be a star who is unapproachable.
Karwaan is your third film, but you have already featured in Katti Batti (2015) and the Marathi film Muramba (2017). Did you always want to become an actor?
I always knew that I wanted to be an actor. I made my debut on stage when I was 12 and I was sure that this is what made me happy. However, nobody takes a 12-year-old’s career choice seriously. Everybody laughed it off. I also ran away from it, but acting eventually found me.
Growing up in Mumbai, what were the influences that propelled you towards taking up acting as a career?
Theatre and cinema have been major influences in my life. Initially, I wanted to do Marathi theatre because Marathi is my mother tongue and there was a certain comfort level. I have grown up watching plays at Shivaji Mandir and used to participate in plays in school, too. Like a lot of people, I also grew up watching Bollywood films.
Traditionally, getting an opportunity to be a part of a film is considered a huge struggle. Were you ever plagued by such thoughts?
I knew I would turn to films at some point, but I didn’t approach the profession thinking that I want to play the lead in a film. I wanted to be an actor and I didn’t know how to go about making a career. I experimented with whatever opportunity came my way. When I got the chance to work in shows on the internet, I jumped right into it. I want to be part of good content and it doesn’t matter where it is being showcased.
How did you bag the role in Karwaan?
I was working with a theatre company that organises a youth theatre festival called Thespo. Both Akarsh (Khurana, director of Karwaan) and I are Thespo alumnis. He told me that he was making a film and that he was going to suggest my name to Nandini Shrikent, the casting director. After the audition and look test, I had to wait for a long time. I thought it wouldn’t work out. I was really looking forward to it because who wouldn’t want work with two of the finest actors in the country, Irrfan and Dulquer Salmaan. But thankfully, it worked out. They are effortless and spontaneous.
Does it feel strange that you are not promoting the film with Irrfan?
It feels incomplete. Not a day goes by without Dulquer and I talking about Irrfan’s absence during promotions. He brings a different kind of energy to the table and we miss that a lot.
Who do you turn to for advice when you are choosing films?
Quasar Padamsee and Toral Shah are my mentors and strongest pillars of support. I have been fortunate enough to meet a lot of people who have helped me. Akarsh, too, has been very supportive through the film because it is daunting to share screen space with Irrfan and Dulquer Salmaan.
In showbiz, celebrities are always expected to look good and are constantly papped. Are you prepared for such scrutiny?
I live in Dadar with my grandparents. I think they will keep me grounded. I will still be getting kadi patta for them from the market. Home gives me a reality check.
What do you think your fans like about you the most?
I think the game changes when the wall between you and the viewer breaks. For the viewers, I think I come across as relatable. I don’t want to be put up on a pedestal because stars are worshipped in our country. I definitely want to be successful. I always want to be approachable. But I also feel the internet has changed that. I like the fact that you can write to Shah Rukh Khan and he might just reply back to you.
Irrfan Khan started calling me Binaca Geetmala-Mithila Palkar
7:51 AM
Mithila
Palkar on sharing screen space with the actor and debutant Dulquer
Salmaan and how she landed their next, a slice-of-life road movie
directed by Akarsh Khurana, her first lead role in a Hindi film
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 5, 2018)
After making a name for herself online, Mithila Palkar forayed into films with a brief appearance in the 2015 Kangana Ranaut and Imran Khan starrer Katti Batti, and 2017 Marathi comedy-drama Muramba. This year, she features in her first leading role in a Hindi film, Karwaan, which also features Irrfan Khan and Malayalam star Dulquer Salmaan in his Hindi debut. She plays a 19-year-old girl getting into the real world of adulting in the Akarsh Khurana-directed slice-of-life road film, which is produced by Ronnie Screwvala. “She is a spunky, unapologetic and confident girl, absolutely uninhibited about her opinion and the choices she makes,” the 25-year-old actress says, adding that she knew Akarsh because of their theatre background.
“He told me about this film and suggested a few names besides mine to casting director Nandini who called me for an audition. I went through all the processes of selection, which was followed by the agonising wait for an answer. When I finally learnt that I had made it, I was over the moon,” she beams.
Ask her about shooting with Irrfan and DQ, as she calls the Bangalore Days actor, and she says, “More than me getting used to them, they acclimatised to my madness and I got away with it as the youngest member of the team. I was always singing, which DQ and Irrfan sir got used to. Given that I would sing random songs — they would start with ’70s-’90s hits and suddenly veer into classical territory. Irrfan sir started calling me Binaca Geetmala, while Dulquer named me Jukebox,” Mithila laughs. Working alongside Irrfan was a huge learning experience for the actress. “I have grown up watching his films and I am still in awe of him. I was nervous while working with him, but he put me at ease, and taught me how to be present in a scene. On the other hand, I hadn’t seen a single film of DQ before I met him but imagine if I was a fan of both before I started working with them. I would have started crying out of nervousness. Fortunately, I got to be DQ’s friend first. But between breaks, I started watching his films on set, including OK Kanmani, Bangalore Days, Ustad Hotel and more recently, Charlie, and now I am a fan,” she adds.
Ask her if Irrfan, who is currently undergoing treatment for NeuroEndocrine Tumour, will be returning to promote the film and she keeps it short, “I hope for the best. My hopes, love and best wishes are with him.”
After making a name for herself online, Mithila Palkar forayed into films with a brief appearance in the 2015 Kangana Ranaut and Imran Khan starrer Katti Batti, and 2017 Marathi comedy-drama Muramba. This year, she features in her first leading role in a Hindi film, Karwaan, which also features Irrfan Khan and Malayalam star Dulquer Salmaan in his Hindi debut. She plays a 19-year-old girl getting into the real world of adulting in the Akarsh Khurana-directed slice-of-life road film, which is produced by Ronnie Screwvala. “She is a spunky, unapologetic and confident girl, absolutely uninhibited about her opinion and the choices she makes,” the 25-year-old actress says, adding that she knew Akarsh because of their theatre background.
“He told me about this film and suggested a few names besides mine to casting director Nandini who called me for an audition. I went through all the processes of selection, which was followed by the agonising wait for an answer. When I finally learnt that I had made it, I was over the moon,” she beams.
Ask her about shooting with Irrfan and DQ, as she calls the Bangalore Days actor, and she says, “More than me getting used to them, they acclimatised to my madness and I got away with it as the youngest member of the team. I was always singing, which DQ and Irrfan sir got used to. Given that I would sing random songs — they would start with ’70s-’90s hits and suddenly veer into classical territory. Irrfan sir started calling me Binaca Geetmala, while Dulquer named me Jukebox,” Mithila laughs. Working alongside Irrfan was a huge learning experience for the actress. “I have grown up watching his films and I am still in awe of him. I was nervous while working with him, but he put me at ease, and taught me how to be present in a scene. On the other hand, I hadn’t seen a single film of DQ before I met him but imagine if I was a fan of both before I started working with them. I would have started crying out of nervousness. Fortunately, I got to be DQ’s friend first. But between breaks, I started watching his films on set, including OK Kanmani, Bangalore Days, Ustad Hotel and more recently, Charlie, and now I am a fan,” she adds.
Ask her if Irrfan, who is currently undergoing treatment for NeuroEndocrine Tumour, will be returning to promote the film and she keeps it short, “I hope for the best. My hopes, love and best wishes are with him.”
I am a grammar Nazi and Dhruv Sehgal doesn’t care about grammar, so, we are at loggerheads over it-Mithila Palkar
8:05 AM
Set to debut in Bollywood, online sensation Mithila Palkar on juggling digital shows with big screen projects
Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; March 13, 2018)
It is a decisive year for Mithila Palkar — after making a mark on the digital platform with her web shows, Little Things and Girl In The City, she is switching gears to the big screen. As she juggles her Bollywood debut Karwaan and the second season of Little Things, the self- confessed “grammar Nazi” talks about her love for acting and finding a reluctant supporter in her 90-year-old grandfather.
How did Little Things happen?
Honestly, things happened by chance. People wanted to see Dhruv [Sehgal] and me on screen together, and we thought a web series was the right way to go. Season 2 was always in the pipeline, it just took us two years to put it together.
Dhruv and you share a crackling chemistry.
He was the DOP of my first sketch of FilterCopy and the web show, News Darshan. He came on board Little Things when we didn’t find anyone to play the role. Luckily, our chemistry worked. Off- screen, we are not best friends. Neither are we in constant touch, but we understand each other’s thought process. I am a grammar Nazi and he doesn’t care about grammar, so, we are at loggerheads over it (laughs).
Now that you are making your Bollywood debut, will web take a backseat?
After Karwaan releases on June 1, I’ll start shooting for Girl In The City Season 3. Things have slowed down in the digital space for me, but films won’t put a stop to it.
Were you overwhelmed when Karwaan was offered?
Of course! Nandini Shrikent, who I’ve auditioned for in the past, was the casting agent for the film. Once shortlisted, I had to undergo a look test and was brought on board. I was sold on the fact that Irrfan [Khan] sir and Ronnie sir [Screwvala, producer] are associated with the film. Who wouldn’t want to act with Irrfan?
Your family wasn’t keen on you being an actor. How did you convince them?
I knew I wanted to be an actor at the age of 12. But I kept running away from the idea because I didn’t get support at home. I belong to a middle-class Maharashtrian family where nobody thinks of acting as a career. My grandfather was against it. He finally relented on the condition that acting will come second, first, education.
What has been their reaction to your work?
My grandfather was excited about my advertisements, but was skeptical of my work on the web. He didn’t believe that I was working because he couldn’t see me on television. But at 90, he learned how to use a smartphone, and now he watches my shows. Praise from him is humbling.
It’s a big deal to have your face on a poster-Mithila Palkar
6:18 PM
Deepali Singh (DNA; March 4, 2018)
From becoming a viral sensation with her cup song that increased her followers from 5,000 to 45,000 overnight two years ago to acting in web series to completing the shoot of her debut film Karwaan, which sees her sharing screen space with Irrfan Khan and Dulquer Salmaan, Mithila Palkar has come a long way. The 25-year-old Maharashtrian girl with her trademark curly hair is over the moon with the love she has received for her two web series, Little Things and Girl In The City, and for her role as Indu in the critically-acclaimed Marathi film Muramba. Now, as she readies for her big-screen debut in Hindi cinema, she tells After Hrs that she could not have planned her life better. Excerpts...
Whether it’s Meera Sehgal from Girl in the City or Kavya Kulkarni from Little Things, your characters have mostly been chirpy. Do you think you would be able to pull off a serious role?
I think that happens because I am like that in real life. But my films allow me to explore another side of my personality. Also, since it’s just the beginning, it’s exciting to explore whatever opportunities I get and fortunately, I have received enough of them. So, Indu in Muramba is not a chirpy, neither is the girl in Karwaan. Or for that matter, my character Ria in the play Dekh Behen was also not like that. They are intelligent, confident, and spunky girls, but they are different characters. So far, the audience has liked them.
You stay with your conservative Maharashtrian grandparents who, you had said, did not approve of your profession. Your roles in web series have dealt with concepts like live-in relationships and pre-marital sex. How comfortable are they with it now?
They have been large-hearted and have come around, just to let me be an actor to start with. They are aware that this profession comes with a lot of pre-requisites. They also know that I’ll not do anything that is not required.
In fact, before watching Muramba, I gave them a disclaimer saying Amey (Wagh) and I share a kiss. I know it wouldn’t have been easy for them, but they were very brave about it. Now that they’ve watched the film, it’s a big weight off my chest. I won’t say they are okay with it, but they understand.
How did you land the role in Karwaan?
I went through the usual process of auditioning. I have auditioned for the casting director Nandini Shrikent earlier and knew director Akarsh Khurana as well. They suggested I try for this role as they thought I fit the bill. I had to wait a long time before I was told that I had bagged it. It was such a nervous and exciting wait for me! I had done a supporting role in Katti Batti but this is my debut as a lead in a Hindi film. To put it simply, it’s a big deal to have your face on a poster.
How was the experience of working in the film?
I knew Akarsh from my theatre days, so even though I was extremely nervous about working with Dulquer Salmaan and Irrfan Khan, I knew there was someone around if I needed advice or guidance. Karwaan has been my favourite set to be on so far. My co-stars are such talented artistes. I was like a wide-eyed kid, constantly learning.
Tell us about your equation with your co-stars...
My equation with them was quite funny. I was really nervous but they were not intimidating at all. I constantly keep singing or humming, so, Irrfan sir called me Binaca Geetmala, and Dulquer called me Jukebox. After a point, Dulquer was like, let me suggest songs to you, so I know what you’re singing because my list of tracks is really random. I’m an old soul so I sing old numbers, but I can also switch to 2000s or ’90s hits.
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