Actress Erica Fernandes, who is known for the divergent roles that she plays, was recently seen in Amazon MiniTV’s horror-thriller short film titled The Haunting. In an exclusive chat with The Pioneer, the actress takes us through her character-choosing process, the challenges of playing her character in the short film, and more.
Amartya Smaran
Wanting change is perfectly human. Actress Erica Fernandes, who skyrocketed to fame with shows like Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi and Kasautii Zindagii Kay, is on a mission to discover the best actor in her.
She has witnessed the highest of the highs in the television world, but it all felt a little routine for the actress. The roles offered to her didn’t challenge her. Therefore, she desired a change and signed up for Amazon MiniTV’s horror-thriller short film titled The Haunting. The short film was released on April 21 and has been receiving good reviews.
“As an actor, I look for roles that can challenge me and allow me to explore my craft,” shares Erica. “I try to find unique roles that require me to step outside of my comfort zone. I want a role that can help me grow as an actor and allow me to take risks while still staying true to the character.”
The thespian wants the audience to connect with all her characters on an emotional level. The actress thinks it is essential for a director to have a clear vision of what he/she wants. That, she says, helps her decide whether she has to say yes or no to a role.
Shifting focus to The Haunting, the actress says working on the project was a unique experience. It was both challenging and rewarding, she remarks. It took everything from her to get into the character of Moushmi. The entire team of The Haunting is extremely proud of their work, and she told us that she’s happy with the response the short has been getting so far.
“From the initial concept to the final product, it was a journey filled with hard work, dedication, and collaboration. It was challenging to create the right atmosphere of fear. People have been talking about it and sharing their experiences, which is a great sign that we have achieved our goal of scaring them in the right way,” enthuses the star.
Here, the Kasautii Zindagii Kay actress schmoozes about whether Bollywood has actually become inclusive in its approach over the years: “Bollywood has started becoming inclusive and welcoming to new talent.
However, there is still much work that needs to be done in order for it to become truly inclusive. There are still many challenges that need to be addressed.”
The Haunting actress opines that it is the need of the hour to create an equal platform for talent in Bollywood.
“It is important for the industry to continue striving towards becoming a more open and equal space that provides equal opportunities for all kinds of talent regardless of their background or identity. Only then can Bollywood truly become an inclusive industry that celebrates diversity and encourages new talent,” says Erica.
The debate over whether Bollywood differentiates between television actors and film actors is an ongoing one. The Vizhithiru actress says the differentiation is mainly because of the perception that the TV and film worlds have their respective audiences.
“Bollywood is known for its glamorous and larger-than-life productions,” explains Erica. “While television is more focused on providing content that appeals to the masses as a daily dose of entertainment, this divide also exists because of the different budgets available in each industry. Bollywood films are often backed by big production houses and have much higher budgets, meaning they can afford to create more lavish sets and higher production value. On the other hand, television shows often have a limited budget but still need to create engaging content for audiences.”
It was not easy for her to reach where she is today. She’s had many highs and lows in her career. The Buguri actress was replaced in a movie after she shot for two days.
“It was a huge blow to me, as I had put all my hopes into it, and I felt like I had failed. All because I was ‘thin’,” opens up Erica. However, she didn’t give up and worked hard to succeed and grow as a performer.
“This experience taught me that even when things don’t go your way at first, you can always pick yourself back up with hard work and determination,” the enchanting actress shares with The Pioneer. She simply doesn’t strive for perfection anymore. Rather, she focuses on the task at hand and gives the best she can.
The buzz around Erica being part of the upcoming season of Khatron Ke Khiladi (KKK) has stirred excitement among her fans. However, she spilled the beans and broke the news that she was not going to be a part of the KKK this year. Sorry fans!
“I am an adventurous person who loves the thrill of extreme sports,” expresses the talented actress. “Khatron Ke Khiladi is a show that excites me the most as it gives me the opportunity to take part in some of the most daring and thrilling stunts. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to be a part of it this year, but I’m still excited to watch it and cheer on my favourite contestants!”
She’s someone who likes to keep all her projects to herself until they are ready. And so, ending the conversation, she concludes, saying, “I don’t like talking about them before they are finished because I’m kind of superstitious.”
