Kiara Advani made her digital debut with Karan Johar’s short in Lust Stories and got a lot of appreciation for her performance. The actress, who has now become a part of the Dharma camp, already has two other films with them — Good News and a cameo in Kalank. Here, she discusses how cinema, at large, is evolving by the day and also explains why she is still not too keen on signing a web show...
Only because of KJo
Despite the digital boom, several actors have shied away from acting in a web series. Kiara says the only reason she agreed to do Lust Stories was the opportunity to work with Karan Johar. She explains, “I don’t know if I would have taken it up if it was another director. But now, I feel that with Sacred Games, Lust Stories and other such shows, commercial directors and big banners have started associating with digital platforms; it is definitely opening doors. But, of course, there’s still that doubt if we’re there yet. Everyone wants to be a movie star but eventually, the web is the next big thing. So, people are also opening up to the idea.” She further adds, “Movies, too, stream on digital platforms after a stipulated time. Definitely, a film like Lust Stories is a one-off project, but if there’s a great script that’s universal in its appeal, then it’s a good option.”
No web series, please
So, is she open to doing a digital series? “Right now, movies are my priority, not web series. Maybe two years later, I’ll have a different answer. I’m enjoying the scripts coming my way,” she states. Tomorrow, if there’s something outstanding, my answer would change.”
Audience is quick to typecast
Kiara admits that it’s easy to be labelled in today’s times. “We don’t think much before attaching names or typecasting anyone. It’s not just because I’m an actor. It is more because of that but it happens everywhere else, too.” So did she fear getting stereotyped? Kiara avers, “Because this was a Karan Johar project, I never had that fear. The reason why I may not do a web series yet is simply that I wouldn’t want to stick to a character for years. You’re contract-bound and stuck with time. Then the typecasting happens.” She points out that if one can balance it out, it’s the best option. “At the end of the day, I want to be a commercial Hindi film heroine. So you need to make the right choices,” she signs off.
