When Mumbai-based actor Harleen Sethi showed her parents her latest Netflix series Kohrra, she was waiting patiently for them to tell her that she stood out. When the six-episode crime investigative drama got over, her parents turned to her, complimented her Punjabi, said they were proud of her performance and then told her something that helped her see how the show would be perceived, once it releases: Every performance, every actor stands out in Kohrra. "That for me, was the true victory. When everyone is appreciated, every aspect is praised, the show benefits. We all benefit," Harleen tells indianexpress.com as she reflects on Kohrra, the new show that has got the internet talking. The series, which follows the investigation into the death of an NRI shortly before his wedding, features Harleen as Nimrat, the daughter of the troubled local cop Balbir (played by Suvinder Vicky). Her performance of a woman battling an unhappy marriage and wanting to break free has made heads turn, with many looking at her turn on the show as a "2.0" star to her career. In an interview with indianexpress.com, Harleen opens up about her career, why the success of Kohrra feels different from her 2018 hit Broken but Beautiful, the desire to never be just a "pretty face" and the anxiety of what the future holds, after a performance which has grabbed the eyes of some of the most important filmmakers of the country. Edited excerpts: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Harleen Sethi (@itsharleensethi) Has the reception to the show surprised you? We are all very emotional and overwhelmed. We did not expect this, it was one of those shows that I have worked on where the process was far more important, and the focus was never on the result- at least it didn't come across to us like that. Of course, we want our work to reach the audience, but the intent was to work with utmost sincerity. There was a no make-up rule on set, we would go to our vanity, be in our zone, everything that made me feel that this is right. We were so neck deep in the process, that never did I think of the result back then. What does a show like this mean to you at this stage of your career? I think I needed the fog in my acting career to clear out (laughs)! A lot of people are saying this Harleen 2.0 journey. That's not how I looked at it but then I realized that Broken but Beautiful was a mass success, this is more of an industry success. I worked with the same honesty in both the projects. But it is not like I have any regrets, that, 'Oh this (success) should have happened before.' Maybe it was meant to happen now, it is the right time, that my growth as an actor has reached a certain point. I hope this translates to more work and I get opportunities to learn more with different makers. I think of myself as a novice. Just yesterday, I was feeling like, 'Sh*t, do I even know acting? Where do I start from again?' You are only as good as the last ball played. But Nimrat has given me that in the industry what Sameera couldn't. That sense of validation as an actor. Was there a feeling before Kohrra and after Broken but Beautiful, that you felt, what else do I need to do now, which direction to take? As actors, we keep having that conversation, with ourselves and friends. You always think of the pros and cons, that this project will lead you there, that one will make you learn something and so on. A lot changed for me during the OTT boom in COVID. After Broken but Beautiful happened, I was choosy about the projects that I wanted to do, there is a certain positioning you have in your head about yourself. You want to be a poster face, work with those kinds of people, wait for such projects to come. But the OTT phase happened and I realised how a lot of characters were standing out for me. In films, the main focus is on the 'hero' and 'heroines', but in a long format story, every character is important. I started to think, 'Do I only want to be a heroine or a poster face? Or, do I want to be an actor? Do I want to be known as just a pretty face or do I want to be known for my talent?' That transition happened for me in the COVID, when I made the decision of wanting to be an 'actor'. I was exploring acting much more during the self-tests at home during COVID, it was a lot of fun and I realized I started biting into the craft a lot more. That was also the time when Kohrra audition script came to me, and no doubt that I had mixed emotions earlier, because this was the first time, I was doing a more 'character driven' part. I was not a poster face here but it was very graceful of Netflix and others to put me up still. It is not 'my' show in that sense. Before the release, I did think will my character be noticed, will it stand out. Because for the first time I put myself out there as an 'actor', chose quality over quantity. Last year, I chose a mixed bag of projects, but this one was an experiment for myself. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Harleen Sethi (@itsharleensethi) What was the reception like after Broken released? The masses loved it, wherever I would go, people would call me Sameera. The kind of love and adulation I got from them was definitely special. But what used to happen is, when I used to meet the industry people, the first thing they would tell me is, 'Yaar tu kya dancer hai (You are a phenomenal dancer).' And I would wonder, 'I need to change this. Of course I dance, but now I want to act.' I want people to first talk about me in that sense. So it truly has been a fun journey to reach this stage. What was the release date anxiety like with Kohhra? I would have been far more fearful about my performance had I not heard a word about it from people who were making the show. Conversations had begun how people are liking my performance, what I had done on the show. So the anxiety was less in that sense, but still there was this thing that, 'Ok, industry people who have watched it have loved it, but will it connect with people? Will they like it, see the efforts I have put in? Will I stand out?' I remember when I was watching the show and looking at my parents' face, wanting them to say, 'You stood out.' But they said, 'You have done so well, and everyone stand out on the show!' That made me feel very good, because it just helps the show. Now that the eyes are on you, what is the challenge going to be like now? Just yesterday, I had a tough day. I felt I am getting all the appreciation, praise, but is this going to translate to better work? The kind of filmmakers I want to work with, will they approach me? All of those questions were there. It was one of those days when tears were there in my eyes, will people remember this performance, will you be stereotyped as a mother, a Punjabi. But then you have to bring back yourself to the present, to enjoy what is happening. So many would want to be in this position also. I am now just trying to be grateful and be present in the moment. I do want to learn and grow. Sudip sir kept telling me, 'Harleen don't take up anything till Kohrra comes out.' For him, quality matters more than quantity. Last year, I chose a lot of mixed bag of things. I am looking forward to know what I am offered after Kohrra. I can't wait to be on set and work.
