‘I’ve been a big fan of Zoya’s work’

Bhumi Pednekar’s latest venture is a short film titled Lust Stories, helmed by director Zoya Akhtar. The anthology drama will be released on a digital streaming service, and Bhumi will apparently be seen in a new avatar. Speaking about branching out to a different space, the actor says, “I got this film a year ago and I had no idea which format it was to be released on. I’d seen the first instalment (Bombay Talkies; 2013) and loved all the four films. I’ve been a big fan of Zoya’s work. So when I got a call from her, I said it’s a great platform to collaborate on. I am always looking for great material to associate with, and opportunities that can challenge me.”

This was the first time Bhumi and Zoya worked together, and the actor seems happy that she got to collaborate with the director. “Zoya was always on my wish list. The beauty of her movies is that she comments on discrepancies in social standings and the way our society is based, without being in your face. She picks up everyday situations, and when you look at it from a thirdperson’s point of view, you realise the stupidity behind some of the rules that the society has set. Her stories deal with basic human emotions and are relatable. Working with Zoya was liberating.”

Established actors and film-makers are now warming up to making content on the web, and Bhumi agrees that the trend is influencing Indian online content too. “You now have established actors taking up whatever content the web is producing. It is happening because the censorship is low and you have more freedom when compared with films. Also, it’s a worldwide release and the shows release in different countries, so the reach is wider. Also, the people who watch web content are a lot more evolved. They are more easily accepting (of content). So, for Lust Stories, there couldn’t have been a better medium” says the actor.

Bhumi also feels that the lower penetration of online streaming channel in non-metro cities has nothing to do with the content generated on the medium. “It has got to do with the mindset. People in India still use the internet. In all honesty, it’s only been over a year since online streaming platforms have come up and people have known about it. We’ve not really had great or epic Indian shows that could attract people from that level. But it is happening slowly and steadily. We have pioneers who are trying to do it,” she says.