Acting abroad doesn't count as work experience in India: Nimrat
Mumbai: Acting in Hollywood is often seen as a career boost but Nimrat Kaur says her stint in the West isn't counted as work experience in India.
Despite having appeared in two American shows "Homeland" and "Wayward Pines", Nimrat said an actor is only talked about in the country when he/she is doing films here.
"I have worked abroad but that doesn't really translate here as work experience, so I am just two films old.
How you are remembered in India is by the films that you are doing here," the actor told PTI.
"The work that I am doing abroad is relatable and recognised by a handful of audience, or say a niche audience who watch shows that have Indian actors," she said.
After being part of two hit films, "The Lunchbox" and "Airlift", the 35-year-old actor is making her debut on the digital platform with a web series titled "The Test Case".
Describing this web series as a big opportunity for her as an actor, Nimrat said it was a "no brainer" for her to give a nod to this project.
"I was sure the story will be told with utmost passion and truth. It is a great opportunity and it would have been silly on my part to let go it."
Nimrat's father was an Indian Army officer and as she has grown up in cantonment areas, it was sort of a natural habitat for her.
"Many a times the set did not seem like a set. I felt it was an environment that I remember. Wearing the uniform was a childhood dream. And for the first time in my life, putting up a costume did not feel like a costume, it was a surreal experience to put the uniform," she said.
"I don't think I could have asked for more special experience as an actor in this juncture in my life. I feel blessed to be playing this part," the actor said.
"The Test Case", traces the story of India's first woman combat officer, who struggles to carve out her own identity in the male-dominated arena.
Considering that the plotline of the series is new, the actor believes she has a major advantage as an actor to play the part of an Army officer.
Nimrat said the reason why female actors are not seen doing roles of Army officers on screen is because in real life too there are not many women in this profession.
"I think 90-95 per cent of the Army is male-dominated.
That tells us about the number of women entering into the Army," she said.
"Also, I can't recall films being made on Army or about war front here, while in Hollywood you see a massive strength of movies being made on army, soldier or war," she added.
"The Test Case", backed by Ekta Kapoor, returns after a gap of about nine months.
The web series, which released its first episode reportedly in April last year, was shelved amid rumours of creative differences between Kapoor and director Nagesh Kukunoor.
However, Kapoor cleared the air saying the series has peen pushed ahead due to budget issues.
Nimrat said when the series went off air, she was deeply saddened and disappointed.
"I understood that there were factors and circumstances which were not in our control. The monsoon had hit and we couldn't shoot because of that and some other reasons. Most of our work was outdoor and once we knew monsoon was over we were on the floors again," she said
The series also features actors Atul Kulkarni, Rahul Dev and Annup Sonii. It will stream on ALTBalaji app from January 26.
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Veteran filmmaker Shyam Benegal passes away at 90
Mumbai, Dec 24: Veteran filmmaker Shyam Benegal, who heralded the Indian parallel cinema movement in the 1970s and 1980s with films such as "Ankur", "Nishant" and "Manthan", died on Monday, his daughter Pia said. He was 90.
The filmmaker passed away at Mumbai's Wockhardt Hospital due to chronic kidney disease, Pia Benegal told PTI.
"He passed away at 6.38 pm at Wockhardt Hospital Mumbai Central. He had been suffering from chronic kidney disease for several years but it had gotten very bad. That's the reason for his death," she said.
Wockhardt Hospital sources said Benegal had been admitted in the ICU.
In his prolific career, Benegal made films on diverse issues, documentaries and television serials, including "Bharat Ek Khoj" and "Samvidhaan". He had celebrated his 90th birthday just 10 days ago on December 14.
The director told PTI on the occasion that he had to frequently visit the hospital and was on dialysis.
Benegal is survived by his wife Nira Benegal and daughter.
His films include "Bhumika", "Junoon", "Mandi", "Suraj Ka Satvaan Ghoda", "Mammo" and "Sardari Begum", most counted as classics in Hindi cinema.
The director's most recent work was the 2023 biographical "Mujib: The Making of a Nation".
