00:00I should be so sorry, welcome to INS.
00:02Thank you so much.
00:03And you should know, what was your reason for doing this series?
00:10Do I say honestly or do I say politically correct?
00:14Honestly, I got my job and I got my role attached to this show.
00:21There were so many good names, so there was no way I would have said no for it.
00:25Dr. Shriya, Garval feels he mostly grounded, yet quite strong.
00:29What aspect of her personality did you connect with instantly
00:33and which one challenge you as an actor?
00:35I am very happy that Dr. Shriya's character resonated with me
00:42and it was very easy to play because I think
00:45I am in real life, my core beliefs are also very similar to Dr. Shriya's core beliefs.
00:53She doesn't label people.
00:55She doesn't judge.
00:57For societal pressure she would never give in and do something.
01:01So thankfully, I think seamlessly Ayesha and Dr. Shriya have a connection.
01:09As a doctor and as a partner, Shriya balances empathy with self-respect.
01:15So how important was it for you to show the emotional maturity on screen?
01:19It was actually very important because if you see the characters in single papa,
01:25they are all playing to the comedy.
01:27There are all comic scenes and they have a lot to play around with.
01:32When you think, when you see Dr. Shriya,
01:35she is the voice of reason, she is mature, she is emotionally very strong.
01:45So that show was very important.
01:48Because if we don't see that,
01:50the difference between Dr. Shriya's character and the rest of the characters is not seen.
01:56Talking about your off-screen chemistry with Kunal Khemu, he is organic and lived in.
02:01So how do you both work on creating that case and familiarity?
02:06Actually, that is one thing that I got to learn from Kunal on this set is,
02:12that if you do your work honestly and earnestly,
02:17it will show and reflect in your performance.
02:21Kunal and I met the first time when we had readings of the show.
02:25It was just, hi, hello, I'm Ayesha, I'm Kunal.
02:28Then we met directly on the set,
02:31we ran lines and we just did the scenes, you know.
02:35But he was so focused and I could sense that from him,
02:41that the scene was written very well.
02:44So the scene was written, do it in your best capacity
02:48and then it didn't need to build chemistry off-screen.
02:53I understand, I have worked with many friends,
02:57who I have a very close bond with,
02:59and that shows to me that,
03:01on-screen chemistry,
03:03and off-screen bonding is necessary.
03:05But that's what I learned from him,
03:07that if you just do your job correctly and earnestly,
03:10automatically,
03:11whatever you have to do with chemistry or relation,
03:15it shows through.
03:18What do you think Shreya brings into Kunal's character's life
03:21that changes him emotionally?
03:24I think Shreya teaches Kunal to talk directly
03:29and to keep things simple.
03:31Even if that's a little tough,
03:33that will like help you a lot.
03:36I think that's what Dr. Shreya teaches Kunal.
03:40Audiences are calling Dr. Shreya complete green flag.
03:43So what does that term into you as an actor and storyteller?
03:47I remember reading the show,
03:51and I thought Shreya is a green flag girl,
03:54and if that's what the audience is also perceiving it to be,
03:57I am very happy,
03:58because my work has become a good job.
04:01So I am genuinely really happy about that.
04:04Shreya is empathetic, dependable, and self-assured,
04:07that aren't always highlighted in female characters.
04:10So did that responsibility influence your performance?
04:14No, not really.
04:16I read the scenes,
04:17I did it to my best capacity,
04:19and I never thought that I have to prove myself
04:23and the character to be something more
04:27than what the story demands.
04:29Because it's a female character,
04:31I am happy that I got to play her for sure.
04:34And that I think was the only thought in my head,
04:37that I have to do justice to what I have written.
04:40And it was written so well actually,
04:42and the response I am getting is always,
04:45that Shreya is this and Shreya is that.
04:47So I think I have done justice to the very well written character
04:50that was put on paper.
04:51If we talk about Shreya's emotional journey,
04:54when we go through the relationship in tough phases,
04:57then how difficult and challenging moments
05:00and difficult and challenging moments.
05:02So in this show at least,
05:05that difficult part of Shreya's life,
05:09I think which could be her divorce,
05:11that was not so highlighted.
05:13But I have done a different show,
05:15which was actually revolving around just the relationship,
05:21difficulties and the lowest moments.
05:24Tough toh hota hai, I would like to say,
05:26but kitna maza aata hai.
05:27As an actor, it's such a selfish thing,
05:29that when you can actually show the intensity and gravitas,
05:32that it feels like, wow, I have seen that,
05:34you know, like when you can actually really bring out that sadness.
05:37But, haa sad, but maza aata hai, bhot zaata.
05:41For sure, but I also think that if Shreya's commitment,
05:56she's willing to adjust as well.
05:58But what she's looking for is that commitment.
06:01Okay, first you confirm that you are committed,
06:04and then, you know, then I'm willing to shift things
06:07and adjust things for you.
06:09Break-up and separation scenes,
06:11where silence or pauses ke role,
06:13aapke li kitne important hote as a performer.
06:16It's so important.
06:17It's very, very important.
06:19When I had a show on Minus One,
06:21Lionsgate pe jo tha,
06:23it's just about break-up and separation and sadness
06:28and that's what my character is going through throughout.
06:32And who was the director,
06:34he had so much emphasis on pause,
06:37and stop.
06:38And in that moment,
06:40it was very difficult.
06:42As an actor, the camera is on,
06:44and you're just sitting on the front,
06:46and you're not saying anything,
06:47and you're feeling it.
06:49But when it actually translates,
06:51and you're seeing it,
06:53something beautiful happens.
06:55Usually as an actor,
06:57aap kitna calculative hote ho,
06:59ki mein yase kar dunga,
07:00yeh dialogue ke baad,
07:01I'll do this,
07:02or yeh dialogue ke baad,
07:03I'll do that.
07:04But then,
07:05when you give into the silences,
07:06and the pauses,
07:07I think something beautiful happens.
07:09That is not planned.
07:11I think more than me,
07:27it's the people casting me,
07:29kiunki,
07:31zaadha tar,
07:32mujhe aise hi roles mil hai,
07:33abhi tak.
07:34And it's also fairly simple,
07:36to play also.
07:37But I'm really looking forward,
07:38because,
07:39to next year,
07:40because I have some,
07:41very different roles waiting,
07:43which I'm very, very excited to play.
07:45And I think tab,
07:46yeh change dojaega perception.
07:48Minus one explored modern love,
07:50and honesty,
07:51and vulnerability.
07:52So how did the project,
07:53shape your understanding,
07:54of emotional storytelling?
07:56There's actually a lot,
07:57that I learned from minus one,
07:59because,
08:00like I said,
08:01jab aap emotional scenes,
08:02kar rahe hote ho,
08:03ya aap e graph,
08:04apne character ke liye,
08:05build kar rahe ho,
08:06in an emotional story,
08:08you're,
08:09feeding more,
08:10to your selfish actor self,
08:12jo,
08:14bhoat muskil hota hai,
08:16to avoid it, you know,
08:17you're thinking more of,
08:18ke mein yeh scene,
08:19itne intensity se karungi,
08:20ya aur yeh scene,
08:21itne intensity se karungi.
08:23But,
08:24eventually,
08:25of course,
08:26you have a director,
08:27to direct you through it,
08:28and to, you know,
08:29correct that for you.
08:30But,
08:31jab maine show dekha,
08:32I realized,
08:33about lot of things,
08:34that I could have,
08:35let go of.
08:36And, you know,
08:37more than giving that importance,
08:39to my self,
08:40as an actor,
08:41I should have given to,
08:42the story,
08:43at that point.
08:44To woh ek learning tha,
08:45for sure.
08:47Looking back,
08:48how do you see your growth,
08:49from playing confused,
08:50evolving,
08:51young adults,
08:52to emotionally sorted characters,
08:53like Shriya?
08:54I am to,
08:55I don't know how I see it,
08:56I am just very happy about it,
08:58because,
08:59mujhe lagta hai like,
09:00growing up in life also,
09:01when I was playing those characters,
09:03I was that person.
09:04Then,
09:05age wise also,
09:06I grew up,
09:07and,
09:08I got that project at a time,
09:10where I feel like it,
09:11I am,
09:12mature,
09:13and emotionally strong now,
09:14so it was nice to play that,
09:16at an age,
09:17right now.
09:18Your consciously,
09:19chosen role character,
09:20emotionally authentic,
09:21is that a conscious filter,
09:22with selecting projects?
09:24No, honestly,
09:25I do everything I get,
09:26and luckily,
09:27I have got very good projects,
09:28that I have,
09:29and very good people,
09:30I have worked with,
09:31so,
09:32I do whatever work I get,
09:33and I am really happy,
09:34like, going that way.
09:36What kind of,
09:37human characters,
09:38excite you,
09:39now,
09:40emotionally complex,
09:41flawed,
09:42or,
09:43quietly powerful ones,
09:44like Shriya?
09:45They are both,
09:46so interesting,
09:47because,
09:48the audience,
09:49hasn't seen me,
09:50play,
09:51a lot of different roles.
09:52I haven't been able,
09:54to prove myself,
09:55in those different roles.
09:56So, honestly,
09:57all of it,
09:58like,
09:59both, both kinds.
10:00Do you feel,
10:01today's audience,
10:02is more receptive,
10:03to soft,
10:04emotionally intelligent,
10:05storytelling,
10:06and loud drama?
10:07For sure,
10:08100%,
10:09and I think,
10:10this change,
10:11has happened,
10:12in the past,
10:13few years,
10:14I mean,
10:157-8 years,
10:16say,
10:17OTT,
10:18has also,
10:19boomed,
10:20that change,
10:21has happened,
10:22but I think,
10:23the audience,
10:24was always,
10:25evolved,
10:26enough,
10:27to watch,
10:28soft dramas,
10:29you know,
10:30like,
10:31even some of the,
10:32older films,
10:33you are right,
10:34so,
10:35I believe it,
10:36I don't know,
10:37how,
10:38correct I am,
10:39but,
10:40exposure,
10:41to international cinema,
10:42has also grown,
10:43so,
10:44I think,
10:45that has also,
10:46helped people,
10:47see,
10:48I love,
10:49dramatic movies,
10:50and shows,
10:51so,
10:52yeah.
10:53For sure,
10:56I think,
10:57before,
10:58it was very,
10:59like,
11:00as an audience,
11:01I am saying,
11:02hero,
11:03hero,
11:04hero,
11:05he's a hero,
11:06Hayiani,
11:07hero,
11:08and that,
11:09now,
11:11high characters,
11:12I think,
11:13length,
11:14absolutely,
11:15i could actually see,
11:16so,
11:17it has definitely,
11:18that shift has happened.
11:19In the film, people should also experiment on the director.
11:22They should also experiment on the director.
11:26For sure, experimentation should always be on.
11:30But then you look at it from the commercial aspect of it.
11:34You know, experiment,
11:36how much risk-to-reward ratio an experiment you can do.
11:42But I feel like if you have that freedom to take risks,
11:48and I think everyone should, definitely.
11:51What are your future risks?
11:53There are two really interesting projects that are happening,
11:57and I think one of them is a risk that I am taking,
11:59because it's very different from anything that I've played,
12:01but I've not signed it.
12:02So I'm going to wait.
12:03I'll wait, shoot it, and then talk about it.
12:07But there's a music video that I've done with T-Series,
12:10that's coming out in January.
12:12So that I'm really looking forward to.
12:14You've seen your journey graph,
12:16and you've seen it better side,
12:17and you've seen it better side,
12:18and you've seen it better as an actor.
12:19I have definitely evolved actor,
12:22and as a human also.
12:24I think I have...
12:26I've learned a lot of things,
12:28and I hope it's for the better.
12:30People who are around me can say that.
12:32But acting-wise also,
12:33I think,
12:34first of all,
12:35I would say it very flatly,
12:38and badly.
12:40So I've learned when I started,
12:43and I hope I keep learning,
12:45and keep getting better.
12:46For sure.
12:47Because,
12:48maybe,
12:49so to say,
12:50beginning,
12:51he filter copy sketches,
12:52or YouTube shows.
12:53Before I had a feature film with Excel,
12:55which didn't really,
12:56like a lot of people didn't watch it.
12:57So,
12:58I was very sad.
12:59But luckily,
13:00filter copy happened,
13:01so I had a reason,
13:02you know,
13:03I would go to set,
13:04have fun,
13:05come back.
13:06And,
13:07that's where people actually got to know me.
13:10That character's name,
13:11and that really gave a big push,
13:12you know,
13:13and confidence,
13:14that people like me.
13:15And that really gave a big push,
13:16you know,
13:17that people like me.
13:18So,
13:19even if I fail,
13:20I can keep continuing to show up,
13:21and there will be people who will appreciate it.
13:23So that really,
13:24really helped,
13:25in a big way.
13:26Please watch Single Papa,
13:27if you haven't seen it yet.
13:28It's such a fun,
13:29love,
13:30and fun.
13:31So,
13:32that's where people actually got to know me.
13:33And,
13:34that's where people actually got to know me.
13:35That's where people actually got to know me.
13:37That's where I didn't know me.
13:39I didn't know me.
13:40And that really gave a big push,
13:41you know,
13:42and confidence,
13:43that people like me.
13:44So,
13:45even if I fail,
13:46I can keep continuing to show up,
13:47fun,
13:48light,
13:49warm show,
13:50you can see with your whole family.
13:52Or,
13:53if you're just alone,
13:54if you miss the family,
13:56you can see alone too.
13:58And yeah,
13:59that's it.
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