Nushrratt Bharuccha on Busan nod: This is gratifying

PA still from Tum Bin, starring Priyanshu Chatterjee, Himanshu Malik and Raqesh Bapat

Nushrratt Bharuccha is on cloud nine after becoming the only Indian female actor to bag a nomination at the Busan International Film Festival’s Asian Content Awards 2021. The actor, who received the nod in the best actress category for her segment Khilauna in anthology film, Ajeeb Daastaans, calls it an “unbelievable” feat. “I couldn’t believe it and actually went online to check the official site. It’s surreal,” she shares.

On being asked what an international recognition like this means for her career, Bharuccha says she hasn’t won enough awards to be able to fathom it. “I’ve won just one award for best comedy for Pyaar Ka Punchnama (2011). That’s it. I’ve never understood the whole award process. And then I get this nomination, it’s quite gratifying,” admits the 36-year-old.

Opening up about how she became part of the anthology film, the actor says the decision stemmed from her heart, as she really connected with the story. “I liked the script a lot and I liked the director (Raj Mehta) as well as Abhishek Banerjee (co-star) and thought, ‘Isko karke maza aayega’. We shot this in 2019, when OTT had not become as huge as it is now. So, for me, it was just a short film with which we were pushing the envelope. And I left it at that, thinking there’s nothing more to gain from it,” she says.

Bharuccha believes it was only after playing Meenal, a housemaid, in the film that people started acknowledging her acting chops. “Now, I’m talked about as an actor, which is shocking as I’ve done a lot of different characters. But, I guess, when you do something completely out of your image, people start seeing you differently,” says the actor.