Just like her films (Lipstick Under My Burkha, The Accidental Prime Minister etc.), Aahana Kumra is quite selective about the projects she does on the digital platform. After being part of some critically acclaimed web series like Inside Edge, Rangbaaz and others, her latest web series is equally intriguing and exciting.
Marzi, which will stream on Viacom18’s Voot Select, is inspired by the #MeeToo movement. “It’s a story that happens in one night. A man and woman go out for dinner, and things don’t go according to their plans. It’s basically his words against her, and no one knows whom to believe,” says the actress who shares the screen with Rajeev Khandelwal in the web series.
The twist, she says is that there is evidence against both of them and both could be lying. “It speaks about consent, which is a very important subject in today’s time and between a man and woman because it’s in such a diabolical space because your yes, could be my no.”
She adds that the series speaks about an ongoing topic and a lot of conversation is happening around it. “I am sure Marzi will add to that conversation, and I am glad subjects like these are being made right now because, for so many years, both men and women have been conditioned to think in a certain way. We have boxed ourselves for so long and so many years. These subjects are making us rethink about the way we look at both man and woman,” says the talented actress.
She says that when something goes wrong, we doubt the man because we have been conditioned to think that way. Aahana says that she has always been interested in picking up women stories. “But having said that, Marzi is not just a woman’s story, and it’s equally a man’s story, and I cannot take that away. But I was looking at it from my character’s perspective, what is it she has gone through? How do you prove something that has happened in a closed room and there is no evidence?”
EMOTIONALLY DRAINING
Aahana says that Marzi has been the most emotionally draining project for her in a long time. “I was very emotional drained during the shoot of the series. There are some things in life for which you have to put in your 300 percent and that’s what I did with Marzi,” she says, adding, “I was always unhappy and kept watching things that made me uncomfortable. On the set, it’s always easy to get distracted because you are surrounded by different kind of people. But I was a very unpleasant person while shooting and I am thankful to the crew ad cast for understanding that. They did not interfere and let me remain angry for the sake of that character.”
BUT DOES SHE LET EVERY CHARACTER HER WHILE WORKING ON IT?
“I try doing that with most of them. If a character requires me to be physically strong, I work on my physicality. After shooting for Marzi, I did two other projects which needed to do action and worked on it accordingly. Every role comes with its own set of challenges, and you have to tackle it accordingly,” said Aahana.
She adds that for her, things go much beyond how she looks. “A lot is about how I can play this character and make it interesting for myself and the audience. If I am enjoying watching it, how will my audience enjoy because they must have seen many other actors doing the same thing,” she adds.
