Actress Priya Bapat, who plays a crucial part in the upcoming anthology titled Zindaginama, shares why it was an emotionally challenging character, especially after losing a parent just before the project started
Actress Priya Bapat, who is known for playing versatile characters on screen, is showcasing her never-seen-before avatar in the upcoming anthology titled Zindaginama, which revolves around six stories that address various emotional and mental health conditions.
Priya is part of the segment called Bhanwar, directed by Munjiya famed director Aditya Sarpotdar.
Talking about playing a Bihari village woman on-screen who went through domestic violence and enormous mental trauma, Priya Bapat says, “When I read the script, I knew that it would be emotionally very heavy, taxing, and tiring. You know my character did not have much dialogue to hold on to; it was one of those silent characters experiencing the trauma and expressing it through gestures. Performance-wise, it was quite internal and difficult. Unfortunately, by the time we went on the floor for the shoot of our schedule, I lost my mother, and it was one of those first projects after I lost her. So, I could feel the grief of the character and connect with her to a different degree altogether. I was living those moments and letting things flow. Of course, I cried a lot!!
She further added, “I took it up as a challenge and am thankful to the casting director who decided to cast me, who is a Maharashtrian for a Bihari rural lady. I had to do justice to the opportunity by bringing authenticity through my performance. I felt this opportunity could be an image-breaker for me because most of the time I played characters based in urban India.”
As the anthology addresses multiple mental health issues, the question arises whether the audience from every walk of life will be able to connect with the content. Explaining the thought behind the intention of making such films, Priya says, “I think when we make films on such sensitive issues, the intention is not about the box office numbers or views on the video; it is about starting a conversation. If one person gets either inspired, moved, or even feels safe to talk about it, I think the one number will turn into a million very soon.”
The anthology Zindaginama will be streaming on SonyLiv from October 10.
