It’s difficult and time taking for an outsider to get their foot into the door: Angira

Having made her Bollywood debut with Love Per Square Foot in 2018, Angira Dhar thought things would get easier, given the feedback the film, which released on OTT, received. Well, it did, and she started getting offers. But the success also got her stereotyped. “Aap ekbar romcom mein hit ho jaate ho to sabko aapko romcom mein hi dekhna hai... And if I say yes to some romcoms, I’ll continue doing that for the rest of my life. That’s why I decided to wait and did Commando 3 (2019), where I played a different role. And in Mayday, I play a lawyer for the first time. I believe an actor has two things, talent and instinct, and you got to capitalise on that,” says Dhar, who debuted on the web with Bang Baaja Baaraat (2015). A closer look at her career will show how it’s filled with major breaks. “I knew, in the initial stages of your career, you can’t be picky, but I’ve consciously decided to work on things I believe in. I don’t come from a film or moneyed background, but for me work isn’t necessarily equated to money. It’s always quality over quantity,” adds the actor. While comparison and competition are part of every profession, the situation is worse in showbiz where people are in a hurry to make a mark. “Comparison is ingrained in our system. We’re compared to our siblings, peers, colleagues, neighbours and so on. So I’ve decided to never be compared to and never compare. Everybody has their personal journey,” she quips, and goes on to talk about the struggles of being an outsider. “Talent gets recognised, but it’s extremely difficult and time taking for an outsider to get their foot into the door,” she says. Ask if discussions around biases in Bollywood may lead to an evolved workplace and Dhar replies, “One can only hope Bollywood would become more inclusive. We know filmmaking is also a business and that those who are naturally in the setup have an advantage. I hold no grudges against anyone, but hope talent gets an opportunity.” Shreya Mukherjee