You need to learn to swim in the environment you are thrown in, says Nimrat Kaur. Winning praise for her portrayal of the emotionally repressed and complex Rani Indrani in Kull: The Legacy of the Raisingghs, Nimrat says she was drawn to the character which had several contradictions — “Behind the facade of opulence, poise, and perfection, internally, she is a royal mess.”
As the show highlights fractured dynamics within a royal family, Nimrat says the only commonality between her and the character is that they both have the older child syndrome. “I could relate to the pressures of almost not having the liberty to make a mistake. Sometimes they’re not imposed upon you, you just assume these pressures, and that can be a little tough.”
It has been 12 years since her critically acclaimed performance in The Lunchbox opposite the late Irrfan. Having carved a niche for herself with her distinctive filmography, which includes films such as Airlift, Dasvi, Sajni Shinde Ka Who Wala Video, and international shows Homeland and Foundation, she says her focus is on experimentation rather than run-of-the-mill fare.
“I try to pick stories which excite me as an actor and challenge me in ways that I haven’t been challenged before. The Lunchbox gave me that platform and made people aware I was here to do something different. I feel just being thought of like this extends my career by decades, where people can imagine me in paths outside of how I look or how old I am,” she shares.
In an industry which is yet to shed its cloak of patriarchy and ageism especially when it comes to female actors, Nimrat says she strives to turn disadvantages into advantages. “There are stereotypes that exist, as they do in every work environment. There are some things which can be best defined as choices; it’s all determined by demand and supply. I don’t believe in looking at ‘why this or that,’ but instead, I look at what can I do that it is not a hindrance for me. I want to create a niche and choose parts that will make it difficult for you to forget me.”
Nimrat acknowledges that streaming platforms have given her the wings to fly, unlike during the pre-OTT period. “The struggle and the risk factors of the big screen are high. It is difficult to tell certain stories on the big screens, but they can blossom and come out on OTT. Especially actors like me who want to play different kinds of characters you cannot necessarily love or hate immediately, find scope here,” she says.
The 43-year-old who is from an Armed Forces background. Known to drown out the constant noise with her regular trips to the mountains to recharge. Nimrat says it is a discipline she follows like a religion.