Tejal Sinha
For three decades, Anubha Fatehpuria has held her ground as one of Kolkata’s most respected theatre artists. Trained and nurtured in the city’s intellectually rich cultural circuit, she has worked with some of the finest names in theatre while simultaneously continuing her practice as an architect. And yet, despite her deep roots in the world of stage, cinema found her — or rather, she stumbled into it almost by accident. From her first screen outing in Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi to her recent appearances in projects like Mai, Lost, Jamnapaar, Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, and now Aap Jaisa Koi and Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury’s Dear Maa, Anubha has quietly built a body of work defined by layered performances and emotional authenticity.
“I had never really thought of doing films,” she admits candidly. “For the longest time, I was deeply content with my theatre, which continues to be extremely enriching for me. It’s been 30 years on stage now. Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi, which I did for the love of the script and the experience of working with such a stellar team, was meant to be the only film I’d do. But one thing led to another — and here I am, enjoying the screen as much as the stage.”
Theatre, however, remains her foundation. She still recalls with absolute clarity the moment she knew acting would remain a part of her life forever. “It was my very first play in 1995,” she says. “I vividly remember a frozen moment when I felt like I had split into two — one half of me performing, the other observing, and realising this is what I want to do. Of course, alongside my architecture, which I continue to practise even today.”
From Kolkata’s rigorous theatre traditions, Anubha carries with her a discipline that informs every film she works on. She describes her process as rooted in script respect and collective understanding. “I was taught that the script is sacrosanct — it’s not just about your character, but the entire landscape of all the characters and where you stand among them,” she explains. “I like to approach a performance from different entry points, with rehearsals being key, whether with the team or by myself. That discipline has come directly from theatre.”
While she insists that almost all her roles have pushed her out of her comfort zone — “since very few of them are close to who I am in real life” — she looks at this challenge as a gift. “To create a lived-in body language for any character is always demanding,” she reflects. “But that’s the joy of acting — you’re none of them in reality, and yet you must breathe them into existence.”
Her recent project, Aap Jaisa Koi with R. Madhavan and Fatima Sana Shaikh, struck her as particularly intriguing. “I really liked the premise of the story,” she shares. “And for the first time, I was offered a role that felt close to who I am in my daily life. Interestingly, my part didn’t have much text — so the fun lay in exploring silence, and discovering how to ‘speak’ without words.” Working with Madhavan and Fatima left a strong impression too. “It was wonderful. Inspiring, actually, to see how preparation and flexibility can co-exist in an actor’s process — both of them brought that balance beautifully to the set.”
If Aap Jaisa Koi allowed her to experiment with stillness, her next, Dear Maa, gave her a chance to explore deeply personal and urgent themes. “I responded to the script from a very emotional space,” she says thoughtfully. “I believe it’s high time we normalise and encourage adoption. I was moved by how the film highlights nurturing as a quality beyond gender. The story has a matured lens on relationships, and the character I play felt important to bring to life.”
In the film, she plays a house-help who is far more than a background figure. “She’s an integral part of the family, almost a matriarch at times. There are subtle shifts in her shades, but always within a loop of strength,” Anubha explains. “Her heart is divided between her family back home and this family she has adopted where she works. A lot lies in-between the lines for her — and that’s what we discussed with Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury while building the role.”
Speaking of her director, she says with admiration, “He is exactly what his cinema reflects — deeply humane. The way he treated the house-help character itself was a quiet but strong social statement. On set, he directs with both heart and head equally, and he has a nurturing quality that extends to everyone.”
Motherhood, of course, is a recurring theme in Anubha’s on-screen journey — from Mai and Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya to Dear Maa. Does she ever worry about being typecast as the “mother”? She shakes her head firmly. “Not at all. I don’t fear being typecast, because every mother is unique in the world. It’s a challenge to make one different from another, and I enjoy that. At the same time, yes, like any actor, I’d love to explore other roles too.” She believes what makes a good on-screen mother is simple: relatability. “Even if they are different, each must feel real.”
Her futuristic turn as Shahid Kapoor’s mother in Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya gave her a chance to lean into comedy. “It was a mother with all the usual affectionate traits, especially towards her son and daughter-in-law — almost to the point of naivety, which added a comic slant to the performance.”
Asked if she has ever said no to a role, she clarifies that she’s never rejected a part for being “too one-dimensional.” Instead, her refusals come from self-awareness. “Only when I feel I won’t be able to do justice to a role,” she says, “because then I shouldn’t take it up.”
As for her artistic influences, she insists that co-actors of every age — including her many on-screen “children” — have shaped her. “Every co-actor can teach you something unique to their process, provided you remain open to learning.”
Looking ahead, Anubha is keen to explore new narratives. “The world is full of stories I haven’t yet told,” she smiles. “I’m excited to play characters that surprise me.” Age, she believes, is no barrier. “A lot of interesting writing is happening today — characters are being imagined beyond brackets, and that keeps me optimistic.”
Her plate, in fact, is already full. “Jamnapaar Season 2 should be out soon. There’s also a film and a web show lined up. And, of course, I hope to be making more theatre, both as an actor and a director.”
From the stages of Kolkata to screens across India, Anubha Fatehpuria has built a career rooted in sincerity, resilience, and versatility. Perhaps the best way to describe her journey is in her own words: “To make each character relatable — even if they are vastly different. That’s what I carry with me, whether on stage or on screen.”
