Zindaginama is an anthology series that is quickly gaining popularity and currently streaming on Sony LIV. In an exclusive chat with Zoom, actress Shweta Prasad Basu talks about playing the PTSD survivor in Zindaginama.
Excerpts from the interview
What prompted you to be part of this series?
Definitely the subject. I'm really happy that this conversation, this dialogue on mental health has started with so many projects, filmmakers and producers. It's an important one, it's an anthology of six stories on mentally unwell people based on their stories and their characters. If it can impact them and bring hope and strength to them, I think then I've done my job as an artist and that definitely was my primary incentive to take up this part.
Was it tough playing this traumatised woman without going overboard?
Of course, as an actor it was a challenging role, I had to push my boundaries and it was so challenging because it's also a responsibility, right? I'm playing somebody who's going through PTSD and PTSD is something that we usually associate with war or with accidents or some heavy trauma but it can be of any kind.
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You play a woman petrified of conjugal relationships, how much and how deeply were you affected by a character?
I wasn't affected by the character at all, my job as an actor is to feel 100% and fully for the character and use my body, my voice and my face as a medium to project what the character is going through and what is written in the script by the writers and how my director is directing me so that it has a fruitful and complete impact on the audience, so there was no effect as such.
How do you deal with actors less talented than you?
I don't regard anybody as less talented, that's not my place to judge anybody. I only concentrate on myself and myself as an actor and the best that I can do. My competition is my previous work, I need to do better than yesterday. If I give an audition or if I performed on a previous project, I just try to better myself and the best version of myself as an actor or as a person and I think that is a philosophy that I live by as a person as well where I don't race and I don't compete.
Shouldn’t you be doing more work?
I really don't know what to say. I mean, I'm very happy with the kind of work I'm getting. Can I get more work? Definitely.
What was it like working with Sameer Nair and Applause Entertainment?
Applause Entertainment and I have been in a continuous association for a couple of years now. We've done two seasons of Criminal Justice and they also produced my short film Retake which I directed with Mr Anupam Kher in the lead. I think good producers make good content. Sorry, content is a bad word. They produce good stories, they encourage good filmmakers and good projects and it's always been a lovely association with them.
What are your forthcoming projects?
Well, I have a couple of releases and projects in the pipeline that I'll be shooting for very soon. I'm looking forward to a wonderful 2025. I have a lot of things in the pipeline and I'm very excited.