What was your first reaction when you were offered ‘Bestseller’? Have you read the book?
I would encourage people to please see the show first, if you haven’t read the book. I haven’t even read the book. I didn’t want to be influenced by the book because it was adapted for a visual medium quite differently. So I wanted to stay true to that. I’ve always been a fan of OTT platforms and the kind of narrative-storytelling style which is elongated, which is episodic. And I always knew that I wanted to do something female led. And when I was approached for ‘Bestseller’, I was really excited. When I read the script, I thought it was amazingly paced. I was so excited to play it out of the park. I want people to meet this woman, she’s quite different.
You have a huge responsibility as the lead in ‘Bestseller’. What is the new thing that you have explored with this series?
I’ve always felt responsible about all of my roles. And I feel when a director gives you a role, you take custody of it. You adopt that person, you become the guardian of their intention. And I’ve always had that approach, whether it’s a smaller role or a female led one like this series. Having said that, I do feel that as a woman, portraying a female character can be like different things rolled up into one.
Where did you look for inspiration for this gritty psychological thriller? Did you relate to the character at all?
No, not really. Not with this character, because she’s from a very different background from me. She has a very different cultural upbringing from me, the story is very different to me. Usually I’m not looking for myself in most of the characters I play. I don’t think I’ve actually yet played a character that’s similar to me really! However, what’s interesting about portraying this role is to explore those layers. You see them in different kinds of women and her motivation is completely different. There were no parallels I could draw, except that she’s quite resilient like me.
After working with Mithun Chakraborty in your debut movie ‘Luck’ (2012), you are reuniting with him for your OTT debut ‘Bestseller’. How have things changed after a decade?
I think a lot has changed for me. Honestly, I’ve changed dramatically as a person. I also felt almost serendipitous that in my first ever film Mithun Da was there and then for my first ever OTT, where I’m the lead, Mithun Da is there. So I take that as a good sign. I think that I’ve changed a lot in terms of understanding. And I said this earlier as well, that it is about people we’re playing and it’s about the people that we encounter while making movies, and it’s so important to acknowledge and value the good that you come across and those people that really help take you forward. I don’t think I had an understanding of that before and in the way that I’ve not changed and actually worked really hard to go back through is to have the same sense of hope that I had, like before I started ‘Luck’. Like I have so much to do and so much to say. And I think as you keep working some days, it feels like you’re a bit jaded, you know, and then to work really hard to rekindle the fire within myself for the artistry and for the business and me as a woman.
To conclude, what should the audience expect from ‘Bestseller’?
I think that it’s a very multi-layered show and it’s thrilling in the way that the story is told. Because of the format as well, you get more time to understand the motivations and the mindsets of characters. So it’s interesting to see how each of the characters develop and why they develop that way. And I think people will enjoy that.
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