Actor Kubbra Sait on Monday said she is thrilled to represent Sacred Games along with the show's crew at the International Emmy Awards where the series has bagged a nomination.
The critically-acclaimed Netflix show has been nominated in the best drama category alongside Brazil's Contra Todos, Germany's Bad Banks and UK's McMafia.
Kubbra, who was widely praised for her portrayal of transgender Kukkoo in the first season of the show, said she is confident that the team will win the award at the ceremony, to be held on November 25 at the Hilton New York.
"I am putting it out there in the universe everyday that we are coming back with the winning trophy. For me, it is the excitement of representing a show that has created a universal reach. Everybody has been moved, has been touched, and felt the exhilaration of being part of this incredible show across the world.
"And just to represent that at an international level and be with the entire crew and relive the moments is an award in itself and I am looking forward to the reward as well," Kubbra said in a statement.
The actor said with her character Kukkoo, the third gender has been "finally" portrayed with "love and pride".
"I don't think that's an ordinary feat at all. I am indebted to the writer who made the character standout so beautifully. It wouldn't have been possible without the writing. The incredible team and the way Anurag believed that a girl could play it just amazing," she added.
In August, Sacred Games returned for its sophomore season, which was helmed by filmmakers Anurag Kashyap and Neeraj Ghaywan. Vikramaditya Motwane served as a showrunner. Actors Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Saif Ali Khan reprised their roles of Ganesh Gaitonde and Sartaj Singh, respectively.
The actress defended her claim that acting demands more than desk jobs in a recent interview.
She said office workers can "chill out" during work hours, unlike film stars.
Fans and working professionals called her comments privileged and out of touch.
The backlash started after her appearance on Amazon Prime's Two Much with Kajol & Twinkle.
Critics pointed out the financial gap and support systems actors have compared to regular employees.
Kajol probably didn't expect this reaction when she sat down with Twinkle Khanna on Two Much. But her comments about actors working harder than people with 9-to-5 jobs have blown up, and not in a good way.
Fans slam Kajol after she says actors work harder than regular employees sparking online outrage Getty Images
The comments that started it all
Kajol was speaking out about her earlier comments on Two Much with Kajol & Twinkle on Amazon Prime, where she said actors work harder than most people. This time she was explaining why she thinks that.
She told The Hollywood Reporter India that her days are full of shoots, events, and very early flights. One day involved waking at 5 AM to catch a flight to Jaipur for a 3 PM event.
But it was her take on regular jobs that got people talking. She claimed desk workers don't need to be "100% present" and can take breaks, "chill out," and relax while working. She kept coming back to the unending scrutiny actors face like the feeling of always being watched or something as simple as how you cross your legs or who's snapping a picture in the background becomes a constant calculation. You have to be switched on, she insisted, all the time.
The internet, frankly, was having none of it. YouTube and Reddit exploded with responses. "For the kind of remuneration actors are paid, they shouldn't have a problem working 12 hours a day for 4 days a week," one user wrote. Another pointed out that films typically take 3-4 months to shoot, while regular jobs run year-round.
The responses got more pointed. "Vanity mein naps or massages bhi toh hum lete hain," a Reddit user commented, referencing the comfort of vanity vans. Someone else joked: "If you work poorly, you get fired. If you act poorly, you get a Filmfare award."
The bluntest response yet? "Respectfully, Kajol, shut up."
Nobody denies acting is demanding. Long hours, public pressure, and constant judgement are very real. But comparing it to regular employment ignores some major differences.
Most people work 12 months a year with two weeks' holiday if they're lucky. They don't have spot boys fetching drinks or vanity vans for rest breaks. One netizen nailed it: "A working parent's schedule is continuous, every single day, with no wrap-up party or off-season."
Online erupts as Kajol defends claim that acting demands more than everyday 9-to-5 workGetty Images
There's also the money. While her fee for a single film is probably more than most people earn in a year, she says that doesn’t make the work easy. Still, it does provide a comfort that regular employees don’t have. Kajol has not yet replied to the backlash.
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