‘Camera is my first love’

TALENTED actress Amrita Prakash looks back on her amazing journey with immense gratitude.

Having worked across every medium, including in a variety of TV shows and films, she has a sense of fulfilment. She was nominated for a National Award for Best Actress at 16 for a Malayalam movie and has helped Indian TV grow globally.

Eastern Eye caught up with the popular star for a catch up.

Which of your roles is closest to your heart?

That feels like having to choose between one’s children. But it would be Milli from Tum Bin and Choti from Vivah. They were immensely popular characters and I loved having lived them. I’ve never stopped thanking Anubhav Sinha and Sooraj Barjatya for these two.

How does acting for TV compare to films?

Acting for TV is a time-based challenge. You get the script on the day of the shoot and don’t have the liberty or time for rehearsals or retakes. Acting for cinema is a character-based challenge, where you don’t shoot everyday, and so, unlike TV, you don’t always take the character home and ‘become it’ more and more, everyday. However, you have to be honest to it, because unlike television, a character in cinema will live and relive with audiences for a long time.

Which TV project challenged you most?

My current character in Patiala Babes is challenging and that’s why I actually took it up. It is a very complex role with multiple layers and shades. She changes every minute in a single scene and has a dark streak, which is challenging to relate to. I’m still getting to know her, and hopefully, will figure her out soon.

You’re working on Patiala Babes, have a web project due, endorsements and your own production house, so have your hands full. What is the master plan?

Having spent the last two decades in Bollywood and Indian television, I have learned to not have a plan. Because no matter what and how much you plan, life’s variables get in the way. So the plan is to have none. To just continue doing what I do, with integrity, gratitude and honest dedication.

What inspires you?

True love towards the craft inspires me. I love working with people who are in the business with love for the craft, not for a quick shot at fame and money. Empathy, niceness, work ethic and commitment to the work inspires me. And that’s what’s helped me survive in this competitive and ruthless industry, for as many years, while many have come and gone.

What do you enjoy watching on TV?

I have been binge watching this series called This Is Us and am obsessed with it. It’s a beautifully crafted story and the performances are impeccable.

Who is your acting hero?

Honestly, I admire different actors for different works. However, I have always been in awe of Madhuri Dixit.

What according to you is the secret towards a great performance?

Experience! No one is a perfect actor. But it is a craft that you can keep getting better at. It’s not always possible to be “in” the scene and character at all times. But the more you work, the more characters you play, the more mediums you try, you develop your nuances for every moment, role and medium.

Why do you love being an actor?

I love it because I live so many lives in one lifetime, which is the case for most actors. But I also love it because I always say that the camera is my first love. And that’s honestly true. As an actor, you develop a certain chemistry with the camera and every actor has their own. And it’s a very integral relationship. In a scene, more than the other

actors and dialogues, what you’re actually meant to do is work with the camera. You are always aware of it and it picks on everything you want it to know, and don’t know. It’s a magical relationship and the biggest romance of my life.