‘I’m not stuck up about only playing a heroine’

For Aahana S Kumra, 2020 was a successful year, professionally, with as many as five web releases — Khuda Haafiz, Sandwiched Forever, Marzi, Rules of the Game and Betaal. The actor also won the Asian Academy Creative Award for Marzi in the Best Actress in Leading Role category. Grateful for the opportunities, love and recognition, Kumra shares, “There has been so much craziness and negativity in the industry recently, but I’m a shining example that even coming from a nonfilm background, if you work hard, experiment and are not stuck up about, ‘Oh, I only want to play a heroine’, there is enough work for you.” She feels that being open to everything greatly worked in her favour. “I’ve learnt very early in my career that you need to say yes for the doors to open. There have been roles that many actors rejected but I’ve done them. I prefer being a working actor than a waiting actor. If films, web or television isn’t happening, I’ll do a play, but I won’t sit at home,” she explains. On the subject of her upcoming projects, Kumra, 36, shares that she is doing a play, is in talks for a film and just finished shooting for her web project, which is an Indian remake of French show Call My Agent. Thanking streaming platforms for better opportunities for artistes, she says, “OTTS have been backing talent and how! If they would’ve also started preferring stars, then many of us would’ve been jobless. OTT has given us wings to fly or else we would’ve never got pivotal parts and only been playing sisters/ friends to heroes/heroines in films for years. When I did Marzi, I realised for the first time how it feels to have the camera on you all the time. Me and Rajeev (Khandelwal; actor) carried the show on our shoulders. And the recognition only validates our effort.” Interestingly, she has been offered the lead part in the film she’s presently discussing. “But they still have that dilemma about casting us. Also, they don’t write many roles for women. On web, it’s not just about looking pretty or adding a star value. OTT platforms have well-etched roles for all. And web audience is honest,” she adds. Hoping for the world to be rid of the pandemic soon, Kumra is looking forward to a fruitful 2021. “I’m up for more challenges, more transformational roles, more edge-of-theseat series, more films and collaborations with more female actors. On the personal front, I would like to settle down, start a family. But of course for that you need the right person,” she concludes.

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/ OFFICIALAAHANAKUMRA Shreya Mukherjee