How Aahana Kumra found her place under the sun

She says Lipstick Under My Burkha helped her to be seen as an able actor, and opened doors

Actor Aahana Kumra, who played the gritty Leela in Alankrita Shrivastava’s Lipstick Under My Burkha, touched a chord with the audience with her performance. The actor says the film has opened multiple doors for her and has garnered much appreciation both in India and abroad. The film has proved her capability as an artist, and thereafter she has been getting good offers.

“A lot of people have seen my acting through this film. So, finally I’m being considered an actor who has some worth and can pull off interesting roles, especially bold characters. However, unfortunately in Bollywood bold characters are often misunderstood as characters that can do intimate scenes. But I’m referring to those roles that have an identity of their own. These roles are modelled on real life persons that we encounter in our day-to-day lives. Audiences from any part of India can relate to these characters,” she says.

According to Aahana, Lipstick Under My Burkha has influenced her conscience and has made her cognizant of certain things. “Now, I know more about feminism, liberalism and patriarchy. The film has made me aware of my surroundings and what is happening in the world against women. It made me realise that as responsible citizens we must have a strong opinion about women issues and must take stand,” says the actor.

Interestingly, viewers have come up to Aahana to ask if a sequel to the film is on the cards. “The way the film has ended has generated interest in them. Many had asked me what they (the characters played by her, Konkona Sen Sharma, Ratna Pathak Shah and Plabita Borthakur) would be doing next. And if, they have any plans of showing what happens to all the four women,” she says.

Aahana Kumra is working for a play with Nasseruddin Shah now