Bold Act

Shukla’s belief has now strengthened after the film has received favourable reviews at various festivals. The film won the Best Film Award at last year’s Osian Cinefest and was nominated for the Best First Feature Film at the Montreal World Film Festival. “This shows that the audience is now open to different kinds of cinema,” says Shukla,who felt truly liberated while doing this film. “I was a bit nervous on the first day. But when I wore my outfit and got ready to do my first scene,which is in fact the first seduction scene in the film,I felt I had added a new dimension to my acting ability. After all,challenges are what actors thrive on.”

Shukla,who first gained prominence for her role as Bindiya Naik in Shimit Amin’s Chak De! India,is familiar with Delhi. She did her final years of schooling and graduated from Delhi University’s Miranda House. “I was familiar with the Delhi milieu. I was also aware that these kind of aunties exist,” she says. There was one particular aunty,who lived in her neighbourhood and was the actor’s constant point of reference for the movie.

Be it Chak De! India or her first film Khamosh Paani,Shukla has always been inundated with offers where she is more often than not asked to exhibit her bold side. With BA Pass,Shukla did have to add more nuances to the boldness. “In a sense,this is the most brave choice in my career. But I am sure sex will be the last thing on the viewers’ mind when they leave the theatre after watching the movie,” says Shukla,referring to the film’s dark storyline.

As an actor,Shukla is hoping to explore more avenues. But she is happy playing the waiting game. “I have never seen myself as being in any kind of competition. I wanted to become an actor because I truly wanted to enjoy and cherish every role I do. Roles like these are not going to come to me everyday,so I am happy

waiting,” she says.