‘I feel grateful and blessed’

Actress Nimrat Kaur talks about her fondness for working on Armybased subjects, and how privileged she feels about her work so far...

Last seen in Airlift alongside Akshay Kumar in 2016, Nimrat Kaur is ready to challenge herself with the out-of-the-box web series, The Test Case. Directed by Nagesh Kukunoor and produced by Ekta Kapoor, the series sees Nimrat in training to be a commando. In an exclusive chat, Nimrat talks about her role, life after monetary success of The Lunchbox, her association with Akshay Oberoi, and more. Excerpts:

Did you sign The Test Case for its female-centric subject matter?

I didn’t. I took it up because it’s the story of a girl, who is set to do something that’s never been attempted before. The girl is trying to be the first woman officer in the commando capacity and I found that very intriguing. Personally, I also like to take up Armybased topics as a subject to work on. It’s more like a passion project for me.

How was it working with Nagesh and Ekta?

The word is amazing. He’s very sharp and perceptive. Nagesh is very honest about what he wants to communicate. Even Ekta is very sharp, and has a foresight that not many people have. She’s one of the few people in current times who’s a clutter breaker. Her clarity of thought is par

excellence; it’s commendable.

Do you think that digital platforms have opened up new avenues for the industry?

I think, this is the way forward. I believe there’s a major boom happening in the industry.

Why do you do such selective work only?

It’s just the matter of the ‘phase of career’ that we’re in. Things usually take longer to culminate than usual. I’ve been in that phase so far, but I hope it will change soon. I don’t like these gaps myself, but it might also be because I’m abroad too often, and that takes away a lot of my time. When you are away from the industry for five or six months, you can’t expect films to roll out anytime soon. I don’t believe in quantity. If quality work chooses you, it’s a great blessing.

Are you happy with the way your career has shaped up?

I’ve been feeling very grateful all my life. I feel blessed to do whatever I’ve been able to so far.

Do you believe that The Lunchbox was a game-changer for you?

The Lunchbox has been a turning point in my life. As an actor, the time before the movie and the time after it, have been two completely different for me.

Are you open to doing commercial cinema? Absolutely! I’ve grown up watching commercial movies. I’ve watched it more than anything else. It’s a very big part of my film and background. I would never say no to anything in the commercial space.

How’s it been working with A ks hay Oberoi? It’s been enriching. I’ve learnt a lot from him as a person. Never have I seen him stressed and burdened. He just laughs in any situation.

What’s next for you?

I have no clue. Like I mentioned earlier, I don’t do this purposely, it’s not something I have done consciously. In the first few years of our careers, work chooses us; we don’t plan things. Being an outsider too, I feel very blessed and honoured wherever I go with my work so far.