‘I AM AN EXCITED STORYTELLER’
Alot has changed for the Sacred Games actor, Kubbra Sait vis-à-vis her stardom after the popular web original. But the actor says that she still does the “same things” and celebrates the good moments of her new life.
“I’ve always been a hugger, not somebody who shakes hands with people or says ‘hi’ from far. Now there’s so much love that I’m receiving from every end that I can have a free hug donation camp. That is what stardom has done for me. Apart from that, I still eat my pani puri from the same place in Juhu, and still go to the same salon. For the first time in my entire hosting career, I travelled with a manager and hair and makeup person. I was delighted,” says Kubbra, who came to light for her role of a transgender character, Kukoo.
Ask her what keeps her passion burning and she says, “Everyone can do whatever they want to. I also have my challenges. But, when you put your challenges aside, and look at your life and work towards it, that’s what makes a difference. That’s what keeps fuelling your dream.”
Narrating stories of her parents, at a recently concluded storytelling fest in the city, Kubbra shared experiences with her mum. She says,“The story was about my mother. More often than not, we become our parent’s parents, refusing to recognise that they are faulty. And we also realise how faulty we are. I love being a storyteller. I’ve been that for four years now, and yet I feel new. I never thought Delhi audience would be so patient and tuned in.”
Recently, Kubbra bedazzled in an embellished creation at the International Emmys. The web series was nominated for in the Drama category. “It felt like a dream, in my own dream. It was super joyous. We didn’t win, it’s a bummer. I am somebody who vociferously wants to win. But, watching Nawaz walk from our table to McMafia table and then to the stage, and all of us cheering for him was a moment in itself.”
Kubbra often visits the Capital for work, and like any foodie, loves Delhi’s food. “My first family trip by train was to Delhi. My grandfather was then an MP. We were staying in the ministers quarters. We ate street food and butter chicken. For me, a visit to Delhi is incomplete without a trip to Amritsar. Delhi is my gateway to visit the Golden Temple,” she says.
With a decade-long career as an actor, anchor and now a voice artiste, Kubbra has been doing it all. She says,“I’m polyamorous with each craft. I’m a good anchor, I’m learning to act and I’m a nervously excited storyteller.”
Much like in reel life, the 36year-old is uninhibited in real life, too. Talking about social media scrutiny, she says: “Somebody just took off on me saying,‘You never spoke on the trans bill.’ And I was like, ‘Hang on, I was in a time zone difference.’ I didn’t know what was going on, and I don’t need to all the time. I’m okay with it, and everybody should be, too. But, I enjoy social media.”