Noted Hindi/ Marathi TV and film actor Anuja Sathe is now making her digital debut courtesy, MX Player’s bilingual revenge series Ek Thi Begum.
“My character (Ashraf) has elements of vulnerability, strength, and power. A ticking time bomb,” says Anuja to IWMBuzz.com.
Not having done something like this before, it was fun to get immersed in the character, following the director’s vision. All this required a lot of prep (workshops and reading work) before going on the floor.”
“The best part is that in the Marathi version, we have different dialects of this great western Indian language. e.g., one major character is a fisherman, so speaks differently. Others also speak in the lingua franca of the nation, hailing from up north. All these nuances go on to make this Mumbai-based saga more organic. However, we have a dubbed Hindi version as well for those outside Maharashtra,” says Anuja, who first came on the national scene with Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran. She has also done Hindi tube shows like Tamanna and Khoob Ladi Mardaani…Jhansi Ki Rani etc.
.As an artist, Anuja likes to dabble in all mediums. “Having said the digital offer actor, directors, and producers a whole new avenue to make some meaty stuff.”
How was it working with E kThi Begum co-stars? “I have worked with half of them during my long Marathi, stage, TV, and film stint. Everybody has given more than their 100%, no wonder the show has come out so gritty and edgy,” adds she.
When we ask about the bold quotient in Ek Thi Begum? she quips, “There are a few bold scenes, but the script requires them. How else do you show a conservative girl becoming a bar dancer to get her objective? Also, in the dark world of crime, swapping s*x for info is a given, right? I am not sure if the same logic applies to some other web products, though.”
Anuja does not feel that lack of on-ground promotions will affect the chance of her show, “As everybody is at home now. I too am couped indoor with family and would request you, guys, to not venture out. Looking ahead, I have a few more projects, but with the whole equation now being disturbed by the lockdown, I would rather wait for more clarity before talking about them,” ends she.
