Showing posts with label Nushrratt Bharuccha interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nushrratt Bharuccha interview. Show all posts
Every time I was upset, I’d just hop on to a Mumbai local-Nushrratt Bharuccha
9:50 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; February 11, 2024)
Mumbai girl Nushrratt Bharuccha just can’t get enough of the city. The actress, who has lived most of her life in Juhu, says, “I am a true Mumbaikar!” Ahead of Valentine’s Day, the Chhorii actress who loves to spend time by the sea and hop on to Mumbai’s local rides (metro and auto-rickshaws) talks about her love for the city that “made her who she is today.”
‘I’ve always loved sitting by the sea and watching the waves crash into the rocks’
Sharing some of the best memories of growing up in a bustling city like Mumbai, Nushrratt says, “I studied at Jai Hind College, and I have always enjoyed sitting by the seaside promenade and watching the waves crash into the rocks.”
Nushrratt says, “I guess my love affair with Mumbai started there. I live in Juhu, and I remember watching my dad dipping into the waters of the beach when I was a kid. I also love going to Mount Mary Church (in Bandra) to light a candle and pray. One of my fun activities is to ride horses at the Mahalaxmi Racecourse, which I have done a few times.”
‘Every time I was upset, I’d just hop on to a Mumbai local’
Mumbai is known for its local trains, which keep Mumbaikars connected across the length and breadth of the city. Nushrratt, too, has a special connect with Mumbai locals. “I like the sounds of trains. While growing up, whenever I was upset, I’d just go to the Santacruz railway station, hop on to a Churchgate-bound train, and take the same train back to Santacruz. In the two-hour ride, I’d think about things and calm myself down,” she shares.
‘I remember my bus rides to RC Church in Navy Nagar’
Another place that holds a special place in her heart is Navy Nagar, Colaba. “Whenever my friend and I felt that things were not going right in life, we would visit R C Church in Colaba. We’d take the BEST bus till there, then sit at the church peacefully without talking to each other.”
Every time I walk the ramp, I only pray that there is no malfunction-Nushrratt Bharuccha
7:59 AM
Vinay MR Mishra (BOMBAY TIMES; November 7, 2023)
Actress Nushrratt Bharuccha, who was the showstopper for one of the designers at the Bombay Times Fashion Week recently, says that her experience was ‘fun, dreamy and stylish.”
Talking about what she fears while walking the ramp, the Sonu Ki Titu Ki Sweety actress shares, “Every time I walk the ramp, I only pray that there is no malfunction, no outfit should get stuck anywhere, and I don’t trip or fall while walking.”
Lately, Nushrratt has been exploring different facets of her acting talent in various projects.
However, she enjoys being a part of a fashion show and walking the ramp, too. “If I don’t walk the ramp for a year, I feel bad,” she says, adding, “I love chaos. When I was standing backstage (at BTFW), I was seeing all the last-minute chaos going on. Models were getting their makeup done, one model was late, and so the model coordinator asked him not to walk the ramp. And I was amused. But for me, it’s those 30 seconds. When the music cues in, you know it’s your moment and time for your walk. It is all about our personality. So, it is more fun than stress. I just need to be happy with what I am wearing, and I need to have good music.”
‘Gen-Z is inspiring us with their fashion’
Despite being a popular actor, the actress has no qualms walking for a newer designer. “Fashion shows are the only time I get to experiment. That is the only time when I am not wearing clothes for a movie, or an event. It is someone else’s vision. I like trying new designers if you see I always wear new designers. I am happy with new people who come to me as I don’t have a bucket list of designers I want to work it. The idea is to bring new talent in,” she elaborates.
Talking about new and upcoming designers she talks about taking inspiration from the GenZ. “I am going to start looking up to the Genz because they are doing some good stuff. They are taking risks. I didn’t take those risks when I was their age. I was conscious then. They are inspiring us these days,” she signs off.
I am still waiting to be offered a role by a big banner-Nushrratt Bharuccha
8:33 AM
Yesha Bhatt (BOMBAY TIMES; September 27, 2023)
While it has been 17 years since Nushrratt Bharuccha made her debut in films and been a part of movies like Love Sex Aur Dhokha, Pyaar Ka Punchnama, Dream Girl, Janhit Mein Jaari, Ram Setuand the more recent Akelli, the actress feels that she is “still struggling as an actor”.
Nushrratt, who was in Ahmedabad recently, says, “I don’t mind playing any role if the director can visualize me in his/her film. Tweaking the character is an actor’s job, but I must be given that chance.”
The actress, who has roots in Bharuch and Ahmedabad, adds, “I have cousins in Gujarat and whenever I come here, I have a list of places to visit. One thing I eagerly look forward to is having a Gujarati thali.”
‘I have a problem when directors don’t have a reason for not casting me’
Nushrratt, who has played unconventional roles in her career, says, “I am still struggling as an actor. I don’t think I have made a mark yet. I am still fighting for the same roles, attention, and space. I am somebody who can call up the director and ask, 'Why not me?' I am very practical and level-headed and if you give me a reason why I won’t be cast in a role, I can accept that. But I have a problem when they don’t have a reason. If the director is very sure about another actress, I can understand that because they have the freedom to choose whoever they want to cast. I have a problem when a director says he/she would love to work with me, but never offers me a role.”
She adds, “When I interact with the audience, I know that they love me. So, maybe I have left a mark there, but not in the trade. If you see my filmography, I have either worked with the same directors or new directors. I am still waiting to be offered a role by a big banner.”
'Can't take away the magic of cinema'
During the lockdown, the only thing that kept us sane was OTT. It offered jobs to people and I’ll forever be indebted for that. However, you can’t take away the magic of cinema. I want a world where the audiences do not have to pick between the two mediums.
On whether she will do Gujarati films
If I am offered a Gujarati film, it won’t be too long before you see me in one. I was offered a role in the remake of Chhello Divas but somehow, things didn’t work out. But I have not been offered a full-fledged Gujarati film yet.
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When Raj Mehta cast me for Khilauna (from Ajeeb Daastaans), he asked me if I could do the role of a maid. He couldn’t believe that I had washed utensils at home. I sent him a video of me doing that to make him believe that I could do it!
BT Exclusive: Mumbai roads are always jammed, I’d love to take the metro-Nushrratt Bharuccha
8:32 AM
Prathamesh Bandekar (BOMBAY TIMES; February 4, 2023)
Mumbai recently saw the launch of two new metro lines — line 2A (Dahisar to DN Nagar, Andheri West) and line 7 (Dahisar East to Andheri East). While Mumbaikars are excited about riding in it, actress Nushrratt Bharuccha did an exclusive shoot with Bombay Times, and during that, she spoke about her love for train rides and how hopping on a metro is a great way to save time in a city like Mumbai that’s known for its traffic jams.
“It must be more than 10 years since I have travelled by public transport. While studying at Jai Hind College, I travelled from Santacruz to Churchgate. I remember I would have to let a few trains go by as getting in would be a struggle because of the crowd,” she said.
Talking about her first ride in the metro, Nushrratt shared, “This seems like a fun ride. The metro is so well-kept, clean and hygienic… travelling in it is an absolute pleasure. Also, this will help reduce crowd on the road as well as local trains, so taking the metro is a big plus. I would travel by trains while staying in Australia with my brother, and back then, I used to wonder why we didn’t have something like that. I am thrilled that our metro is of international standard.”
Going into flashback mode, Nushrratt says that despite the crowded journeys on local trains, she would love her travel time, something she doesn’t get to enjoy anymore. “I can’t really travel by public transport or trains anymore,” she says, adding, “But I have to admit that I have always loved travelling by trains. I feel a sense of sukoon in train travel. I can sit in a train and travel for hours. Those five years when I travelled from Santacruz to Churchgate, my parents would be worried. I would be so much at peace that sometimes I would doze off. My mother would keep calling me as she would be worried that I would miss my stop. Also, whenever I would fight with anyone, I would take a rickshaw to the station, hop into a train and go on a ride till I calmed down. So, train rides were like a stressbuster for me.”
Ask her whether she would consider hopping on the metro if she was running late for work, and she says, “Absolutely! I hate being late. But I feel that people don’t realize that being late isn’t a choice anymore. It’s now a by-product of living in Mumbai, as our roads are always jammed. So, if the solution is to take a metro to reach on time, I would mask up and hop on the metro.”
We were told we can't talk about condoms on national television while promoting Janhit Mein Jaari-Nushrratt Bharuccha
7:53 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; June 11, 2022)
After playing glamorous parts in quintessential commercial films, Nushrratt Bharuccha gradually moved towards content-driven movies that revolved around social issues. In Janhit Mein Jaari, which released yesterday, the actress is seen in a similar light, but this time around, she goes that extra mile as she takes on an unconventional subject that has her playing a condom saleswoman. In a conversation with BT, Nushrratt talks about taking on hatke characters and the new turn in her career. Excerpts:
In Janhit Mein Jaari, you play the role of a saleswoman appointed to sell condoms. How did you react to this role and weren’t you sceptical of playing the part considering it revolved around sex and condoms – subjects that are still fairly taboo in our country?
When I was offered this role, not once did I feel awkward or wonder whether or not I should do this film. Ek phase tha, jab bolte the ki ladki filmon mein kaam nahi kar sakti, phir bolne lage ladki late-night call centre mein kaam nahi kar sakti… see, women here have always faced these hurdles, but we overcame them. I did the same with this project. Also, I was confident about it as Raaj Shaandilyaa (writer/producer of the film), who is known to make clean comedies and had directed me in Dream Girl, was associated with it. Had it come from someone else, I would be cautious, but here I was sure ke subject bhale yeh ho, yeh log kuch crass nahi banayenge and that the film will cater to a family audience.
When were you first exposed to sex education?
I think I was in 7th grade when I heard about condoms for the first time during the sex education session in school. The learning from that period was further inculcated and cemented in my mind when I returned home. My parents learnt that I had a sex education class, and so they sat me down and reiterated it to me from a different perspective. I feel information about topics as sensitive as these should be imparted by schools and parents in tandem. Also, it is important that parents talk about sex to their children because kids trust their parents. What if they learn about it from the wrong person and develop a wrong perspective about it?
You started your career with all-out glamourous roles, but in the past couple of years, we have seen you move towards hatke characters, which are probably giving you more scope to showcase your potential as an actress. What do you attribute this change in your career to?
It is all thanks to the audience. As actresses, there has been a point in our careers where we were fighting for one scene or dialogue in films. There was a time when we wondered what were we doing in this film? And why were we standing in the background? So, actresses have always carved for powerful parts. However, the audience, maybe, was somewhere not ready to see us like that. I think this shift happened over a period of time. Today, there are women who are striding ahead in their careers without any support. They are running their own house. Also, there are men who have seen women in their families rise and be the frontrunners of the house. And so, their stories have become inspirational. My father has seen me struggle and reach where I am. So, a subject that is driven by a woman will interest him, and that holds true for other men as well. Woh connection aur relatability aa gayi hai. So, the more extraordinary the story is (about a woman), the keener the audience is to watch it.
Would you say that now you are being offered challenging parts as the lens through which filmmakers are viewing you has changed?
Personally, as an actor, I am extremely happy with the kind of space I have created for myself. At the time of Pyaar Ka Punchnama, Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2 and Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, my aunt would say, “Agli baar tu kuch aisi picture kyun nahi karti jahan par tu actually kuch kar rahi ho.” Then, when films like Chhalaang, Chhorii or a web project like Ajeeb Daastaans happened, I started feeling satisfied as an actor. Even my family was happy about this change. It has been a fun, fruitful and rewarding journey. It wasn’t easy though, and yes, there were emotional setbacks along the way too. If you are considered for a movie, but things don’t work out, then it’s fine, but what hurts the most is when you are not even considered for a particular project. In that phase, your mind can either drown you or lead you. I chose the latter by focusing on my work and celebrating the work that came my way. Personally, I would like to balance out my choices. However, post Chhorii there has been an influx of female-oriented scripts coming my way. Filmmakers tell me that when I started out, they could not imagine me beyond my glam avatar, but that has changed now.
Professionally, you seem to be in a happy space, but what about your personal life? You have been single, don’t you feel the need for someone special in your life?
My personal life has gone into some black hole (laughs!) Honestly, you need two things to have a healthy romantic life time and a person. Chalo, ek koi ladka bhi ho mere paas as an option toh main time nikaal bhi lu. Par koi hain hi nahi aas pass. I am constantly shooting. I don’t want to date somebody from the same field as me. Otherwise, the conversations tend to revolve around work. I would prefer to hang out with somebody who comes from another background and a different school of thought. But where do I find a human like this? I have been advised to get on dating apps, which I am not into! So, let’s see…
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Nushrratt Bharuccha doesn’t allow her prejudices or beliefs to impact her film choices
Sugandha Rawal (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 11, 2022)
Actor Nushrratt Bharuccha says she’s always strived to steer away from her prejudices and beliefs while picking projects, and her latest release, Janhit Mein Jaari, echoes that. “I started by [playing] the girl no one liked, an annoying and manipulative girlfriend. I have come from hate to this point. I don’t think any actress would have chosen a role like that,” she says, referring to the Pyaar Ka Punchnama franchise.
She continues, “At one point, I played a villain (Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety; 2018). I have never shied away from supporting the script and the need of the role beyond my own prejudices, beliefs or biases. I have three more female-led films lined up. It’s not like I am going out there and looking for such subjects. I think the most rewarding part is that the audience is liking it.”
The 37-year-old is seen selling condoms in a small town in Madhya Pradesh in her latest release, as the film aims to start a conversation around illegal abortions, overpopulation and the taboo attached to condoms. “The subject gave me an opportunity to headline a subject that I don’t consider taboo. Very rarely have I succumbed to societal or peer pressure, so it (doing the film) was not a difficult choice,” the actor shares.
While Bharuccha and the makers are proud of the film’s subject, they had a tough time promoting it. “We go on several shows to promote a film. All of them told us that we can’t talk about this topic (condoms) on national television. I don’t get that. This film got a U/A certificate and the censor board gave us a clean chit. Then I wonder what is it that will impact the audience negatively,” the Dream Girl (2019), Chhorii and Ajeeb Daastaans (both 2021) actor ends.
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Nushrratt, who plays a condom saleswoman in Janhit Mein Jaari, on how it’s important to give out message of safe sex to people
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; June 11, 2022)
Nushrratt Bharuccha's recent release Janhit Mein Jaari sees her as a small-town woman who sells condoms for a living despite societal resistance. With the social comedy, director Jai Basantu Singh hopes to remove the hesitance around condom use. Bharuccha says she didn’t think twice before diving into the film’s world, eager to take the subject to people. “I never thought whether other actors would hesitate [to take on the role]. I don’t think about the taboos around the subject, I just go ahead and do it. We need to break the taboo around condoms. That was what the team pushed for,” states the actor.
Janhit Mein Jaari is not the first Hindi film in recent times to tackle the issue head-on. Where Aparshakti Khurana’s Helmet (2021) highlighted the importance of safe sex, the upcoming Chhhatriwali has a similar theme, with Rakul Preet Singh playing a condom tester. Bharuccha says it’s not unusual to have two or more films revolving around the same subject.
“Just because a similar topic has been attempted before, it [doesn’t imply that] we shouldn’t make a film on it. There are so many love stories, each made from a different point of view. So, I don’t get worried about it. What we have made is different [from the other two movies].”
With Chhorii, I could take the audience on an emotional journey & make them cry-Nushrratt Bharuccha
7:57 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; December 5, 2021)
Nushrratt Bharuccha is thrilled with the appreciation that’s come her way for her portrayal of a pregnant woman in the recently released horror film Chhorii. The actress has previously essayed glamourous roles in the Pyaar Ka Punchnama franchise and Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, and entertained the audience in movies like Dream Girl and Chhalaang. With Chorrii, she proved her mettle as a performer. In a conversation with BT, Nushrratt talks about her growth as an actor, pushing her boundaries with Chhorii and making brave career choices. Excerpts:
You have been winning a lot of praise for your performance as a heavily pregnant woman in Chhorii. What were your expectations when you agreed to be a part of this film?
I can’t tell you if I expected anything in particular from Chhorii because it is such a layered film. People didn’t know that it’s not just a horror flick, as eventually, it turns into an emotional subject (with a social message).
I could not predict what the audience would feel. I could only hope that they are able to understand the message beyond the supernatural things they see in the film. The reality that we show in the film about what human beings are capable of doing to other human beings is scarier than a supernatural or a paranormal presence. People have come back with responses that indicate that they were deeply moved and impacted by its message apart from being scared. I am happy that it has hit the right chord.
How challenging was this film for you? What was the biggest takeaway from this project?
It was an extremely challenging role because I didn’t know what it was like to be pregnant. I didn’t know what it is to have maternal instincts. I did a lot of research and homework to play a heavily pregnant woman because if people could not connect to the character and believe that she is eight months pregnant, the film would fall flat. I live off this nervous energy. If I am not constantly nervous and questioning myself, then I will never actually find out whether I am going wrong. The biggest takeaway has been that I have learnt to surrender myself completely to a director, a story and a character. After 28 days of the uninterrupted shoot in the sugarcane fields, I had forgotten that I was Nushrratt. It took me two months to get back to my routine life once I was home. The scenes in the film where you see me cry on screen were too heavy for me, and I was actually crying while filming them. As Sakshi, I had grasped all the emotions and let it take over me. Also, it takes me a while to get these characters out of my system after the film’s shoot. It took me two months to let go of Sakshi. When you take on such characters, you have these emotional triggers, and if you don’t start cutting them out of your system, then they can crop up anytime, which is not good for an actor’s mental health.
What’s been the best compliment you received for Chhorii?
The fact that I have had people calling me and telling me that with Chhorii, I made them cry touched me. So far, through my films, I have only made my audience laugh or made them hate me or entertained them. But this time around, people told me that as Sakshi, I took them on an emotional journey that made me feel proud. People have told me that we did not expect to cry while watching this film, but you made us cry. This has been the biggest compliment for me.
With Chhorii, do you feel more confident as an actor to make braver career choices?
I have always been somebody who wants to take up challenging roles. Not that I have always been confident. I have pretty much second guessed myself on an everyday basis. I haven’t been to an acting school or learnt to act formally. The only thing I have fallen back upon is my learning-on-the-job mantra. It is through workshops and narrations I learn about my character. There is a certain joy in discovering your character on the go. Just like Chhorii, every film and character of mine has given me a certain confidence to take up something interesting in the future. The next film that I am going to announce will leave everyone surprised. Today, I am in such a phase of my career that it is not about me choosing something, but things are just happening to me. I feel the universe is coming together and is turning my thoughts into reality. Among my forthcoming projects, I am a part of a film that has a social message attached to it, while another film is completely out-of-the-box. I am doing a massy entertainer like Janhit Mein Jaari and then there is Ram Setu, which I am proud to be a part of.
It's great to play a positive character for a change-Nushrratt Bharuccha
8:11 AM
Nushrratt Bharuccha, who’s moved into a new apartment, takes a leap of faith with her next
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 9, 2020)
Even after a night shift that ended with her going to bed at 9 am, Nushrratt Bharuccha is excited to talk about her upcoming sports dramedy, Chhalaang. “Being a part of this world with Raj (co-star Rajkummar Rao) and Hansal (Mehta, director) sir makes me want to change my life for the better. It’s great to play a positive character for a change,” she chuckles, adding that she thoroughly enjoyed her diction training in Haryanvi. Interestingly, 10 years ago, Raj and Nushrratt started their journeys together with Dibakar Banerjee’s Love Sex Aur Dhokha. The actress believes there couldn’t have been a better way to celebrate the milestone. “It’s the best reunion for us as it is not a comedy with cartoonish characters; it’s a film that will motivate kids,” she shares.
The film also marks a reunion for Hansal and Raj after Omerta and for Nushrratt and frequent collaborator, producer Luv Ranjan. Was there a Team Hansal vs Team Luv clash on the set? “On the contrary, Luv sir and Hansal sir became friends and it was them against us. Raj and I were team less, while kids were in charge; they’re the life of our film,” she chortles.
Chhalaang is a story about a teacher who becomes a role model for his students. Nushrratt who plays computer teacher, Neelima, admits that she’s had many teachers who made her see things differently, starting with her grandmother who’s the most progressive woman she knows. “She went on a world tour on her honeymoon and taught foreigners how to drape a saree,” she laughs. Her dad helped her with academics while her mom and aunt gave her valuable life lessons. “My aunt was the first girl from my Muslim family to get married to a Hindu boy. Theirs was a great love story,” she asserts.
Recently, she moved into a three bedroom-apartment, a five-minute walk away from her family home in Juhu, which she bought with her own earnings. “I feel very responsible now. While the place was being painted, I’d tell the painters that if I found even one hand print on my white walls, they’d have to stay the night and clean up. I can be a tough taskmaster,” Nushrratt admits, saying the house is like her baby. “I did everything myself, from choosing the colour of the walls to the curtains and even the bedsheets. Thanks to the sheer curtains in my bedroom, I’m up at 8 am every day and the world looks sunshine-y. This Diwali will be special as it will be the first in our new home,” she asserts.
Chhalaang also opens on Diwali and she is grateful it is getting a release, even if it is on OTT, during the pandemic. “It talks about taking a leap of faith that is really necessary now when people are losing hope,” she points out.
Many of Nushrratt’s colleagues are either off on a vacation or have returned from one. The actress has no such plans. “These last seven months were like a vacation for me even though I was locked up at home. I was mentally relaxed because we didn’t know what would happen next. But now, it will be just work for the next six-seven months; I want to enjoy that. I am currently in Agra filming Hurdang, there’s still around 10 days of work left in Mumbai. Then, I start shooting for Chhori from November 20,” she relays.
Buzz is, she’s doing a silent film with Durgavati director G Ashok, produced by Luv Ranjan, along with her Dream Girl director Raaj Shaandilyaa’s maiden production, to be helmed by Omung Kumar, and the Aadai remake. She doesn’t want to talk about them. “Everything will happen, but to know what and when, you’ll have to wait for an official announcement,” she says shortly. Any updates on Pyaar Ka Punchnama 3 and Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety 2? “Bhushan ji (Kumar, producer) announced them, and he will be producing these films which Luv sir will write. So, it’s up to them to figure the dates, I am clueless,” she signs off.
I am fine with taking a pay cut in these times, as long as I am valued for my work-Nushrratt Bharuccha
7:50 AM
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; October 6, 2020)
There are several actors who have resumed work, and those who haven’t, like Nushrratt Bharuccha, are eagerly waiting for their shoots to take off. Chhori, a Hindi remake of the Marathi film, Lapachhapi (2016), which has her playing the central character, was announced in May and will go on floors in November. Most people in the entertainment industry have made peace with the current situation, which includes accepting pay cuts because of the economic upheaval caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.
Nushrratt, too, has taken a pay cut to ensure that the film gets made the way it should be. She says, “It’s my first solo lead film. It does not have the quintessential commercial selling factors… there are no songs or romantic track. It’s a horror film with a social message. Even the producers are fighting to make the film on a certain budget, so that they can recover their investment. Eventually, a movie is made to entertain the audience and make money, too. Paisa dubaane ke liye koi film nahi banaata hai.”
Talking about reducing her remuneration for the project, she shares, “I know that the industry is going through a tough phase, economically. At a stage like this, we are taking a brave step by remaking a film in a bigger way. After taking stock of the cost and budgeting, the makers came to me with an offer stating that this was the best they could offer me, and I readily agreed. In fact, they were taken aback that we had finalised my fees without any haggling or negotiation.” She further adds, “I have savings to fall back on, but we have daily-wage workers who need the money. In such times, if the entire unit has to take a pay cut, I am absolutely fine with it.”
When asked if she worries that the move might backfire, Nushrratt answers, “I have realised that success for me isn’t defined by the money that I am earning, but by how people gauge my worth. Of course, that doesn’t mean I would work for peanuts. But yes, if I see the intent of the team, if they respect my worth, value me and genuinely can’t afford to pay my fees, I am not too bothered by it.”
I grew with Kartik, laughed with Ayushmann and learnt from Rajkummar-Nushrratt Bharuccha
8:29 AM
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; July 26, 2020)
Ayushmann Khurrana, Kartik Aaryan and Rajkummar Rao have their distinct identity and presence in the industry today. Nushrratt Bharuccha is among the few actresses, who has shared screen space with all the three actors. She has done four films with Kartik (Pyaar Ka Punchnama 1 and 2, Akaash Vani and Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety), one movie with Ayushmann (Dream Girl) and two projects with Rajkummar (Love Sex Aur Dhokha and yet-to-release Chhalaang). While Kartik has made a name for himself as the quintessential commercial hero, Ayushmann is the go-to guy for content-driven films with a generous dose of humour. On the other hand, Rajkummar has shown that he can juggle all genres, be it comedy, drama or horror. In a chat with us, Nushrratt spoke about her experience of working with the three talented actors and the equation she shares with them.
‘KARTIK AND I CONSTANTLY PUSH OURSELVES TO FIGURE OUT NEW THINGS TO DO ON THE SCREEN’Kartik and I started out around the same time. We grew as people and actors together. From one film to another, slipping in and out of characters became easy because we understood each other’s processes very well. Once you are familiar with someone, you get into a routine and sometimes struggle to find new stuff to do. We were like, ‘Iske saare expressions dekh liye, maine saare reactions de diye, ab naya kya kar sakte hain?’. So, Kartik and I would have that, ‘Ab naya kya karein, bol na’ conversation, every day. But it’s a lot of fun to push ourselves to figure out new things to do with the same person on the screen.
‘I HAVE NEVER HAD THE KIND OF FUN I DID WITH AYUSHMANN ON THE SETS’During Dream Girl, I was really taken aback by how much fun this man can have on the sets. I had a blast working with Ayushmann. He says that his humour is not great and people don’t laugh at his jokes, but I would be cracking up all the time. I have never had this kind of fun with anybody before, and it was a new experience for me. To watch him do what he does was amazing. In fact, even the director’s brief for us was, “Ayush and Nush, just have fun.”
‘I WOULD ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING SOMETHING FROM RAJKUMMAR’Though we weren’t paired opposite each other in Love Sex Aur Dhokha, Raj, Amit Sial and I got along really well during the shoot of the film. We would be chatting and gossiping all the time. And now, after almost a decade, I am working with him again in Chhalaang. Looking at how evolved his craft is and the range of films that he has done, I think to myself, ‘How has he done so much and how have I done so little? He has done such amazing work in these years. I would go to the sets of Chhalaang looking forward to learning something from him. I would bug him to help me get the Haryanvi accent right because he is such a pro at it. So yes, that’s how it’s been with Raj – a blast from the past and a learning experience in the present.
I have to scare the viewers, make them emotional and laugh too-Nushrratt Bharuccha
8:43 AM
Nushrratt Bharuccha on her first horror film; admits she was petrified when she stepped out after three months of lockdown for dubbing
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 17, 2020)
Unlock 1.0 may have changed the routine of many, but Nushrratt Bharuccha is staying home. “My unlock has been locked. I only went for some urgent dubbing and since I was out, I got myself a coffee, but carried my own mug,” she shares.The actress lives in a building which opens to a beach. But while other residents have been chilling there all this time, she did not venture out due to the Coronavirus lockdown. “Now, I have started going there on some days, but only till the gate. The only thing I would risk stepping outside for is work and that is not happening right now,” she sighs.
Nushrratt admits that while she was excited to go for dubbing, she asked her driver about 50 times if the car had been sanitised before getting in, and on reaching the studio, was petrified of walking into a building which was not her own. “I saw people who weren’t my family and that was scary. Even when I met people who were familiar, I showed my excitement from afar,” she reminisces. Inside, she refused to sit on the sofa until she was assured that it had been sanitised. “My director asked me if I was going on a space mission since I was covered from head to toe,” she laughs. Ask her what was the dubbing for, and she turns mum, not prepared to announce it just yet.
During the lockdown, the actress had announced her next, Chhori, a remake of the Marathi horror film Lapachhapi, with Vishal Furia, who directed the original, returning to helm the Hindi adaptation. This is the first film that Nushrratt will lead from the front and she is terrified. “I haven’t ever done a role where I’m responsible for every emotion in the film. I have to scare the viewers, make them emotional and laugh too. The film revolves around this one person stuck in a situation. But I’m excited to be the makers’ first choice,” she exults.
To prep for her role, the actress has been working on gaining weight to look like a pregnant girl. “Soon, Vishal will give me the first draft of the script and then we will be able to crack it,” she informs, adding that there is no plan on when the film will go on floors and she’s not complaining.
Right now, she’s not even ready for a photo-shoot. “You have to touch everything around because you can’t do one with gloves on and I can’t see myself doing that,” she rues, admitting that even visits to salons are strictly out of question for now, as also gyms. “I will buy all the equipment and open a gym in my building,” she quips.
And what’s the status quo on the sequel to her 2018 comedy, Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety? She is clueless on its progress, but sure has some ideas for Part 2. “Now, I can finally tell the makers to make someone else the antagonist. They owe me that,” she laughs, admitting that she is sure that by the interval, they will have her convinced to switch roles again. “They are used to having me as the bad girl. If I am not the villain, the audience won’t watch the flim.”
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