Anushka Sharma has bankrolled Amazon Prime series Paatal Lok under her banner Clean Slate Films. (Photo: Instagram/anushkasharma).
Anushka Sharma is riding high on the success of her debut web production Paatal Lok.
In this interview with indianexpress.com, the Bollywood actor-producer shares her experience of working on the hit Amazon Prime Video series. Anushka also gets candid about the vision of her production house, Clean Slate Films.
Here are excerpts from the conversation:
Good content has come to be associated with your professional persona. How does that make you feel?
I am happy my work has been appreciated as an actor and now as a producer too. I have always wanted that if my name is associated with a project, it should be something that people are eager to watch.
Paatal Lok is being lauded by critics and the audience alike. How does that make you feel as a producer?
I don’t think about comparisons, but I am happy that it has become a huge talking point and established very firmly that content is everything. The only way to go forward is to stick to great storytelling and writing. Even as an actor, I have believed that writers need to be treated with utmost respect. It’s something we have to focus on in the future if we have to generate content that is of international standard.
It makes me really happy that we have produced Paatal Lok. Every aspect has been appreciated, from the writing, actors to the technical crew.
Having seen success in the web space, how do you view it?
On an OTT platform, one can flesh out the story and invest in its characters, unlike in feature films where there is limited time. Hence, viewers connect with the characters more as they see more of them. Of course, one has to be sure of the content which one plans to present on the OTT platform.
What does being an actor and producer mean to you? Are you more inclined towards one role?
Being an actor allows me to get a perspective into somebody’s life very deeply, to live it over a period of time. It’s something that enables you to be less judgmental and more empathetic as a person. It plays a huge part in your individual growth. That’s why I love acting so much. I will continue to act until I can walk and talk.
As a producer, it’s another way to express myself creatively. I want to take decisions which are bold and push the envelope. I want to use my position to back content and ideas which are truly phenomenal, path-breaking and unique. I enjoy being an actor and producer equally. I don’t have a favourite. We started production only six years ago. We are learning from our mistakes as we go along.
Paatal Lok is the result of many steps we have taken as producers, right from NH10 till now. It’s going to be a continuous process of learning, unlearning and sticking close to the vision we have for our company.