Exclusive interview with Payal Ghosh: From Bollywood breakout to leading lady
When she was 17 years old, she accompanied her friend to an audition for Sharpe's Peril and landed a role in the BBC Telefilm. In the period drama based on English soldier Richard Sharpe, Payal had played a village girl, the daughter of a revolutionary freedom fighter from Bengal. Payal also starred in a Canadian film in which she played a school girl in love with her neighbour's servant.Since her parents disapproved of her decision to join films, during her college holidays, she ran away from her home in Calcutta and came to Mumbai. She joined Namit Kishore's acting academy, where she met Chandra Sekhar Yeleti who offered her the lead role in his Prayanam, opposite Manchu Manoj. Later, she was seen in the Telugu films Mr. Rascal and Oosaravelli and the Kannada film Varshadhare.
She completed her first Tamil film Therodum Veedhiyile, directed by Saro Sriram, in which played a traditional girl, who lives in Erode. She was selected as the female lead by Vivek Agnihotri for his Bollywood film Freedom and filmed for it in 2012.She signed another Hindi comedy film, Patel Ki Punjabi Shaadi opposite Vir Das, directed by Sanjay Chhel. which released worldwide on 15 September 2017.
Interview Questions and Answers.
Tell us a bit about yourself
Why do you want to be an actress?
It felt like it was just me. I loved the camera. I loved the idea of being another character and to prepare for that I was just so comfortable there.
What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
What do you enjoy most about acting?
I can't give my weaknesses honestly. But being a Bengali, I am a foodie. It gets to me. I am very in the moment and that's my strength. I live in the present and I prepare for things ahead. That can be called strength.
What is your favorite film or theater production?
My all time favourites are DDLJ, DtPH, YJHD , Hum sath sath hai ,HAHK and there are quite a few more in Indian cinema. I loved the RRR Movie.
Which acting technique do you use when you forget a line on set ?
I generally never forget a line. I come from a traditional background where learning was very important and I got into the habit of reading a lot. It helps me to memorize things much better. But if I forget, I try to pick a clue from the set, the environment and the co-actors sometimes.
What techniques do you use to develop characters or embody the character you’re playing ?
I will try to research about them. Get a reference point in some of them. I try to learn about their psych and how they would behave in normal circumstances. Once that part is on, I get to look at it.
Please discuss your last experience on stage or in a film
I recently shot for my upcoming film red. I play a troubled character. And being a happy and content person, it was difficult. I took references from the great Parveen Babi ji and Marilyn Monroe as well.
What do you believe is the most challenging aspect of being an actor?
The most challenging would be to come out of a character if you have lived with it. It takes away a part of you. That to me is difficult.
What types of projects have you acted in before?
I have done drama, romance, and comedy. I am yet to do a hardcore action film which I am looking forward too.
Do you believe talent or training is more important to an actor?
They are both important. But some are absolutely not trained and yet are fabulous actors. To each other. It's about finding what works for you.
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