Actress NUSSHRATT BHARUCCHA, is not just an ace actor but a passionate human being. She conversed with The Pioneer’s SHIKHA DUGGAL about how she is stuck in a war-torn country, fighting against all odds for survival, and her upcoming film Akelli, among others.
What does it mean to be a cool person? Oh, then, you should undoubtedly meet NUSSHRATT BHARUCCHA. When we had an exclusive conversation with her, she came across as a passionate and very interesting lady.However, deep down, as our discussion moved ahead, we felt she had a beautiful soul too! The buzz around the country is that she’s fighting an arduous battle for survival. Hold on, we are indicating her upcoming movie, Akelli. We wanted to know everything about how she is stuck in a war-torn country, fighting against all odds for survival, and more in the film.
But right before that, something very engrossing came up that didn’t allow us to stand by any further and ask, “Nusshratt, what is this Dawoodi Bohra Family that you belong to?” The actress replied instantly, “Brought up in a very small yet progressive and empathic community — this is the sect that is also known for its mercantilism.
We don’t have the ‘Pardah’ system! What’s interesting is that we are also known for colourful “ridas”: it’s not a hijab or a pardah, but so many bright colours not covering our face is what makes us distinctive. You can easily distinguish us from the rest of the Muslims. Neither do we believe in idol worship! We worship an icon who is alive; we listen to him, and he guides us. He emphasised starting our own business and building a community that does everything together, and it’s so progressive.”
She’s a forward thinker, and now you know from where she gets it. Coming back to her riveting movie that has shaken the internet, Love Sex Aur Dhokha fame describes the onset of her Akelli journey: “When I first read the script out loud, I refused. I turned down the offer! I didn’t want to do Akelli, foremost being that there was a debutante director on board and the subject is very sensitive.The grandeur had to be enormous!
The emotions of countries were involved and needed absolute fairness for an on-screen portrayal. You can’t just shoot anything! Take the brownie points for making an impactful story; this was my utmost belief. We were supposed to create a combat zone. I didn’t think the director was ready, and I straightaway let him know that this was an “attempt”.”
Right after she said no, the pandemic hit them. That’s when the director evolved the script in a much better way, and it came out right this time.The team worked on the ideation process once again, did their scouting, tried apprehending what was possible and what wasn’t, and came back to her three years later with the same offer for her to play the lead protagonist. She confessed that she is very conscious of sensitive subjects because she doesn’t want to do any wrong to the character on screen.
Her career and her internal emotions could be impeded. So, why take that chance? She gave them the option of choosing another actress too, but alas, this project had to be hers and only hers! But she admits that she doesn’t mind some films going to other actresses too because she doesn’t want to do any disservice to the project she is a part of, as simple as that. Cool!
Proceeding further, “I am very familiar with a combat zone — let me tell you how. I have been to the Kargil war zone hosted by our Indian Army a few years ago, and I saw all those areas that were shelled by the opposition. I was shocked! Wars destroy us. They took me to the bunkers. The children are given a drill in their respective schools about what happens if an alarm goes off. They have to rush to these bunkers! When I went down there, it was fully stocked with basic necessities. So the after-effects of that war still persist; they’re still very much in the air and imprinted in the hearts of people and soldiers.
That’s what wars do to us! I documented everything — we were travelling in an army convoy and staying in the same hospital where the injured soldiers from the battle were brought up. The whole emotion was so real.”
She promises a gripping storyline, and she takes us to Iraq. So while shooting, what were her takeaways from a country that goes through so many scandals and tragedies on an everyday basis? Well, she asserted, “No matter how much we progress as a race, terrorism has become a global phenomenon, and it’s just not stopping. There is no place for terrorism; it can sow its dirty seeds anywhere in the world. Nor is it only about guns!
This film taught me how centrist minds are also a form of terrorism. And terrorism is travelling faster than we are. And we have no idea how far ahead they are. These real-life terrorists are waiting to ambush us! All-inclusive, I feel so safe in my country. Our defence Army is managing potential terrorist attacks so well, so I feel safe here in comparison to some of the Middle Eastern countries where terror has become an everyday thing. Iran and Afghanistan are knocked down by these terrorists.”
During their research, so many stories of women getting raped popped up, and it was disturbing to hear. They couldn’t have shown the whole scene; it was so bothersome. Very recently, somebody in the media called out in the open, “Nusshratt, I was frightened to see you in the trailer, and it was difficult to watch,” and she took that as a compliment; “it should frighten you, man,” is what she felt. This was just a visual representation, if you know what we mean. That’s why the compos mentis in the beginning caused apprehension in her. She didn’t want anyone sitting in another country to point out that that’s not what happened to us!
“So, we shot at Uzbekistan because we found the authenticity of a deserted land there. We had to show that I was not familiar with the place! The country has great terrain; the scenery was gripping, and there were deserts we could shoot at. Lonely places, just as we wanted. There were places that were dilapidated, and nobody was living there, so we used them as our shooting locations. And there were so many buildings like this! When I reached Uzbekistan, my first impression was similar to my character: Where have I come? It’s not a place where you can build a livelihood. The shooting conditions got difficult.
We didn’t have proper food to eat, no proper bathrooms, and the connectivity sucked! Our locations were extremely far from each other. Not many filmmakers go to Uzbekistan to shoot because they just don’t know how to work on land like this. Technical difficulties also started to arise! I really felt as if I was stuck in Uzbekistan,” added the Pyaar Ka Punchnama fame.
When the actress altered the spelling of her name, it was all over the press. We were curious to know how her life events changed post-that, and she expressed with absolute gratitude, “If I have altered my name, that doesn’t mean I am not practical in life. I am.
But at the same time, because I am in a creative field, by default, I would like to believe in energies. Or manifestations! Sometimes, we find work in very mysterious ways. Now, my name is actually a phonetic sound that connects to a higher level of energy, according to numerology. I also chant! Because Buddhism is something that none of us can refute. This change in my life brought me peace, so why will I negate it? I won’t.”
Her character in the film is trying her best to escape; we question the actress over the same in her real life, and she responded, “This film industry: as much as we love it, what I witnessed throughout my career is that it’s a very unforgiving place. Every day I am fighting a battle over here! None of them stood by me. Another aspect is that because I am a public figure and I put up a post on my social media, I am trolled mercilessly.
Crap comments! It’s difficult to get through and live with it every day, and I can’t be off social media now; that’s no solution. Isn’t it? To add on top of that, I still face rejections on an everyday basis! I am compared most of the time, or casting directors tell you you don’t cut it for this particular role. I don’t fit the part; it’s okay with me, but don’t criticise my appearance. I have been told you don’t look good on this poster with these features! I don’t understand this. They try to bracket me, it’s demeaning.”
