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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Hormuz Strait disruptions have caused huge economic impact, energy instability in region: Navy chief
Mumbai (PTI): The Strait of Hormuz disruptions have caused severe economic impact and energy instability in the region, Indian Navy chief Admiral D K Tripathi said on Thursday amid the war in West Asia.
Speaking at an event where INS Sunayna, an offshore patrol vessel, set sail from Mumbai as Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar, the admiral said competition at sea has no longer remained confined to oil and energy.
It is now expanding towards resources that will shape future growth - such as rare earth elements, critical minerals, new fishing grounds and even data, he said.
The West Asia crisis began on February 28 after a joint attack by the US and Israel on Iran.
Iran's strikes on its neighbours along with its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz have disrupted the world's energy supplies with effects far beyond West Asia.
"With the conflict in West Asia well into its fifth week, the disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have caused severe economic impact and energy instability in the region," Tripathi said.
There is significant increase in the marine survey, deep-sea research activity, and Illegal Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUU), often encroaching upon the sovereign rights of littoral nations and exploiting gaps in monitoring and enforcement, he said.
Alongside these, threats such as piracy, armed robbery and narco-trafficking backed by unimpeded access of advanced technology to non-state actors, have also become more complex and challenging to counter, the Navy chief pointed out.
Last year alone, the Indian Ocean Region witnessed a staggering 3,700 maritime incidents of varying nature, the admiral said.
Additionally, narcotics seizures in the region exceeded USD 1 billion USD in 2025, highlighting the persistence and spread of such challenges in the region, he said.
