We have been a little dishonest with our cinema: Aahana Kumra

Cinema is going through a dull phase, and the only way to rise above it is to make honest cinema, believes Bollywood actor Aahana Kumra. “We have been a little dishonest with our cinema. We are basically churning out the same stories. Audiences now want to experience new topics, and unless you give them that, they will not go to the theatres,” she tells Bangalore Times. Excerpts from a conversation with the actor, who was the showstopper at the latest edition of Bangalore Times Fashion Week.
‘ACTORS NEED TO MAINTAIN SOME MYSTERY’
“An actor’s job is to be a part of cinema that people can consume; they embody a role. An influencer’s job is to share their lives on social media, be it through reels or dance videos. I think that an actor loses value when they begin to do an influencer’s job. Also, it is only in India that influencers are considered for roles because of their fan following. This is rarely seen in the West,” she shares.
‘BY RELEASING A MOVIE ON OTT TOO SOON, YOU RUIN THE SURPRISE’
Reflecting on the evolving relationship between audiences and the big screen, Aahana says, “Everyone knows they can just wait a month or two to watch a movie at home. So, why would they spend money and energy to go watch it in theatres? As a theatre artiste, I feel the reason our shows are packed is because it’s not going to be on TV, so the audience has to come to the show to know the story.”
‘I AM PICKY ABOUT WORK. I WILL NOT SAY YES TO EVERYTHING’
The actor tells us she has been selective about her projects in recent years. “I have done some good work over the years, but I’ve not said yes to anything in the past three years. I want to do roles that people will remember me for,” she says, and adds, “I never stopped doing theatre. It’s something that gives me joy. I also enrolled in a lot of classes to keep myself busy and to upskill myself.”
‘IT’S TIME NEW FACES ARE CONSIDERED FOR ROLES’
She doesn’t hold back when it comes to calling out gender disparities in casting. “Be it OTT or cinema, there are a hundred roles written for men, while there are very few of them for women. And so many female actors fight for that one role. Then, you see the same faces being repeated; it’s like they don’t want to consider anyone else. Why would you take a modern woman for the role of a village belle from Uttar Pradesh? Why not cast people according to what the role demands," she adds.