Anuritta Jha says she didn’t get any work after Gangs of Wasseypur: ‘It took me years to realise I have to call people, request…’

When Gangs of Wasseypur had released, what was that phase like?

I didn’t know that after a film releases you have to do PR, go out for events, meet directors. I thought people would watch me and give me work. It took me many years to realise that you have to get out of your house, call people, tell them that please give me work. I was not trained to be an actor, I see most of the girls today, who come with that clarity. After I did Wasseypur, I did a workshop with Neeraj Kabi for two years because I thought this (acting) is what I wanted to do. The proper clarity for me to be an actor happened in 2018, it came very late to me.

But by then you had already done a few films? So what happened in 2018?

My personal life has always been very troubled, even before 2018. I realised that I was doing films, they were releasing, one even bagged a national award but nothing would stay if I don’t work harder. Back then, just because I wasn’t visible enough, people thought I had gotten married and quit. I realised that industry can sometimes be very judgmental, so I shouldn’t get affected by it. So in 2018, I started chasing everyone — Prakash Jha (Aashram), Sagar Ballary (PariWar) and that’s when things started shifting.

Post Gangs and before 2018 then, what happened?

There was a time when I was very lost after my mother passed away. I was too focused on dealing with my personal life, the man I was dating. Because my energies were directed there, I think I never valued my work that much. This is from 2013-2016, I feel sick, I wasn’t doing good health wise, it was the worst phase of my life. I was emotionally lost, financially broke and physically ill. So, the work clarity came later. Which is when I made a couple of showreels and started showing it to directors and they liked them. Whenever I have approached directors, they have always shown faith in me. Like, I didn’t audition for Aashram or PariWar, they saw my showreel and said this works.

The rise of streaming platforms aligned with your epiphany.

Yes absolutely. When I saw Mirzapur and a couple of other series, I thought I am from Bihar, why am I not in it? That played on my mind. That’s when I realised I need to get out of my comfort zone and that’s when things changed. I am still shy, it does take me a while to tell people, ‘If you have something for me, please consider me.’

 

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Were there times when people told you to be seen at parties and do networking?

Oh yes. If it is a party where you know you are going to meet some nice people, then I go but otherwise no. I feel in parties a lot of other things happen then getting you work. Also, directors are very smart, they do value your work. I have seen many partying and chilling with people but haven’t seen them in one role. I am not judging them, questioning their choices at all, but I want to be known as a serious actor who takes her work seriously. It is very challenging to get good work, you have to be in touch with the right people. Sometimes by the time you get to know of auditions, the casting was already done!

Do you feel Instagram numbers are dictating casting? Because many in the industry have opened up about this.

Yes. Recently I had auditioned for a series, and they took somebody who had more Instagram followers! But the amount they were offering me for the part was anyway very low. I told them that if they think this is my worth and I am replaceable because she has more followers, that’s fine, because I don’t want to work on this budget. It pinches you only for a few days, but then you are fine. Actors are rejected for all sorts of reasons — hair is not good, eyes are not like that, too fat, too slim. You can’t really invest your energies here. What matters is you need to be respected for your work, that’s it.