An actor must be thick-skinned: Kriti Kharbanda

Giving up and sitting back has never been an option for actor Kriti Kharbanda who insists that as an actor it is important to be thick-skinned in order to survive. Adding that for an actor, there are always enough people to put him/her down, but very few who will motivate, she says, "You should be your biggest cheerleader. The moment you give up on yourself, the world will refuse to help. And when one decides not to, nothing in the world can break you. Before my big hit, people would say, 'she won't last'. However, I refused to pay any heed to that, and focussed on the positives -- there were many still willing to put money on me. Then came the life changing hit. But it happened to me only because I didn't give up and kept going."

Kharbanda who will be seen in Bejoy Nambiar's 'Taish' along with Pulkit Samrat, releasing on October 29 on Zee 5, says that the director managed to bring out the best in her and the role was both challenging and intense. "It is unlike anything I have done before. 'Taish' has introduced me to a very different side of my acting abilities. Working on this film has taught me several things which I would like to imbibe and utilize while working on other projects too."

Expecting that the film will precipitate more work, the actor who made her acting debut in 2009 with the Telugu film 'Boni' and has worked in Kannada, Hindi and Telugu language films does not really see any drastic contrasts between the industries in different regions. "It is all about the the people you work with. I have had good and bad experiences everywhere. There is never a guarantee that if you are working within a particular region or with a production house, everything will be smooth or bad. For me, it has only been about personal growth, no matter which language I have worked in. How I used to understand and respond to a situation --- I wouldn't react the way I did five years ago, considering one matures with age."

Excited about the kind of cinema being made by a newer crop of directors working on a smaller budget and willing to experiment with narratives, the actor who starred in films like 'Veerey Ki Wedding' and 'Pagalpanti' says she is always on a lookout for roles that pose new challenges. "So many talented people coming from across the country are coming forward with novel stories. I would love to be part of those tales."

As one witnesses major films being released on OTT platforms, Kharbanda says that while an actor would love a theatre release considering the experience it offers to audiences, in times like these, premieres on digital platforms are understandable. "Well, if theatre releases are not happening, this cannot mean that we would stop working. Also, it makes all the sense to support the producer if he decides that the future of the film is on an OTT platform."

For someone who does not mind spending time at home, the lockdown was not really brutal. "I am glad that I managed to learn several new things during that time including playing the piano. The idea is to constantly think ahead. The lockdown taught me to prioritize my physical and mental health. We now know not to take anything for granted."

All set to start shooting for her next film '14 Phere' to be directed by Devanshu Singh, Kharbanda adds, "I have also signed something else, which should be announced by the last week of November."

(Sukant Deepak can be contacted at sukant.d@ians.in)

An actor must be thick-skinned: Kriti Kharbanda.

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