Lara Dutta: Want women to know at 40, life is just beginning

Proud to headline Hiccups & Hookups that revolves around a 40-year-old finding love again, Lara Dutta discusses how layered roles are being written for leading ladies today

Stories with women at

the centre have been on

the rise in Indian

entertainment. While that is

cause enough for celebration,

it is noteworthy that the parts

written today are braver and

far from conventional. Lara

Dutta, who delivered an

impressive performance in

Bell Bottom earlier this year,

is set to ride this wave with

Hiccups & Hookups,

Lionsgate Play’s first Indian

original.

The slice-of-life series is an

adaptation of the popular

American show, Casual, and

revolves around a pair of

siblings who navigate the

world of dating, love and

separation. With the

November 26 release, director

Kunal Kohli wanted to take

another step forward in

shattering the industry’s ageist

ways. “I play a woman at the

crossroads of life who is

separating from her husband

at 40, trying to raise an

opinionated teenage daughter

while foraying into online

dating and finding love again.

It was exciting to explore this

role. Today, the roles being

written for women are layered

and showcase various aspects

of life,” states Dutta, who

shares screen space with

Prateik Babbar.

The actor considers herself

fortunate to be an active part

of the changing tide in the

industry. Eager as she was to

lead a woman-centric drama,

Dutta says the show’s

insightful writing was another

draw. “In today’s world, life

doesn’t end with the end of a

marriage. There is so much to

look forward to. We wanted to

convey that through Vasudha

[her character].” An actor, no

matter how talented, can only

be as good as the material

provided to him/her. She

credits Kohli for capturing the

victories and vulnerabilities of

women while encouraging

them to reclaim their life. “A

woman could have grown-up

children, but her life is first

her own. Others can’t be the

be-all-and-end-all of one’s

life. Vasudha’s trysts with

finding love again is amusing

on some days, and heartwarming

on others. I hope it

ignites self -realisation in

women. We want women to

know that at 40, life is

possibly just beginning.”