Niharika Lyra Dutt, recently seen on the Jio Cinema’s Doctors, has left quite an impression on the audience with her choice of roles in various projects. Apart from her latest web series, the talented actor also played a pivotal part in Prime Video’s Call Me Bae. Though she made her acting debut in 2012, her first big break happened in 2020 with the much-acclaimed web series Paatal Lok. She is now all set to share the screen space with a few legendary actors such as Shabana Azmi and Zeenat Aman.
In a recent interview with The Movie Mail, Niharika got candid about her journey while working in a medical drama (Doctors) and how it differs from other projects. She also shared how playing a journalist in Paatal Lok and Call Me Bae (2024) were completely different experiences for her due to the divergent set of cast members and the genre of both the shows which were poles apart. Post her upcoming releases, she wishes to try her hands at portraying a detective, musician, and sports personality.
Edited excerpts below:
Q. Doctors (the series) talks about euthanasia, substance abuse, organ donation, and more serious issues. Did it make you overthink things or maybe even disturb you for a bit? Or was it simply enlightening for you?
A. I feel we don’t think about these things on a regular basis. But it’s wonderful that our director talked about such important issues in each episode. When people are making such kinds of shows, they have to consider what they are showcasing and how it must be delivered to the audience to make an impact. So, of course, I thought about it a lot while we were there. Also, rather than feeling bogged down, I was very happy that I could be a part of something that is talking about so many important issues.
Q. In one of the old interviews, you mentioned that you knew how strong Paatal Lok was since you read its script. Is the script of a project more important for you than the actors or directors you’re working with?
A. I feel it’s different for every project. For some projects, you really want to work with a banner, while for some, you want to work with a certain director because you like their vision. There have been times, that I was fortunate to work with a talented bunch of cast. I remember during my college days, I watched NH10 (2015) and manifested to work with such brilliant filmmakers. Years later, I got the chance to work with them in Paatal Lok.
As soon as I was selected for the Amazon Prime show, there was no chance that I would say no to it. But as soon as I read the script I was so impressed. I have never gone through a script that fast and when I reached the cliffhanger, I was blown away. The incredible writers built such an interesting world that it captivated my mind.
Q. You have played the role of a journalist in both Paatal Lok and Call Me Bae. But in the 2020 series, you were mostly surrounded by experienced actors, while in the latter you worked with a bunch of young actors. How different were the working process and energy of the set amid both of them?
A. Well, completely the opposite because one is a comedy and the other is a thriller drama. In the light-hearted show that Call Me Bae is, you need an atmosphere where people are allowed to have natural conversations with each other to get the same chemistry onscreen as well. Meanwhile, multiple fun banters took place among the cast off-camera to get that perfect comic timing while shooting.
On the other hand, in Paatal Lok, the process was much more focused. I was putting in much-concerted effort during that time as I was newer to the industry and I was surrounded by so many experienced people, who knew what they were doing. I had to offer my best. Meanwhile, there used to be a certain concentrated atmosphere and everyone used to work with such finesse, which inspired me the most. Also, the crew had created a little cocoon of a serious atmosphere to be able to achieve a great outcome from such capable actors.
Q. You’ve mostly worked on OTT projects. How do you see the evolution of OTT and how do you think it has changed things for actors in terms of the opportunities they get?
A. OTT has brought out varied storytelling. It has allowed us the space and the time to delve into a world, giving rise to vast opportunities. Of course, you need amazing actors who know their job and can make a world come alive. But the same goes for directors, technicians, costume designers, and others. If they are good at their jobs, they will have support and more work due to OTT.
Q. Is there a specific genre or type of character you are particularly drawn to or eager to explore in the future?
A. I would love to play a detective. I have grown up on a lot of thrillers. That’s the genre that I enjoy. I’ve grown up reading a lot of detective novels, and I’ve always found myself to be one. Meanwhile, I also like singing, so I would love to play a musician and a singer. I want that skill of mine to be able to shine. A sports-drama is another genre that I would love to explore. I want to learn more about the psyche of what it is to be in a competitive sport. To see the kind of rigour that you put your body and mind under. That’s the challenge I look forward to and I am excited about it.
Q. As an artist, how do you navigate the pressures of social media expectations?
A. I decided a long time ago that I do not want to get into that game because gaining more followers every other day is like a trap. It makes you mould yourself into what people want rather than what you can give. And I have to keep reminding myself that Instagram is a tool for archiving my life, and for sharing with people the work that I’m doing. I would like to keep it at that. I use the social media platforms according to my will. There are times when I go without posting for days and sometimes you would see me posting a lot of stories if I’m in a beautiful place. So, honestly, I don’t want to get into that trap anymore. Till now, my work has spoken for itself and hopefully, it will be the same in the future. I believe the right people would not care about the number of followers but the work that I am doing.
Q. What kind of projects are you looking forward to?
A. I am excited about my film called Bun Tikki with the writer-director Faraz Arif Ansari. It is a queer love story, which stars Shabana Azmi, Zeenat Aman, and Abhay Deol. It’s premiering at the Palm Springs International Film Festival and I’m quite excited about it. After that, there is my second show with Applause (Entertainment) called Bawandar. This Vikas Chandra-directed political drama has a fantastic script and features Barun Sobti. Meanwhile, I am also set to start shooting for the second season of Call Me Bae.
