Aahana Kumra vies Hindi films were all about “being dark, angry and edgy” in 2023. In Chandigarh, from where she also took off for Amritsar for her “annual darshan to the Golden Temple,” the Lipstick Under My Burkha actress hopes 2024 can usher in levity and fun back into Bollywood. Excerpts
‘Indian audiences don’t want to laugh anymore’
I am doing three films in 2024, including one comedy. I am glad someone is offering comedy because primarily I don’t think India is a country for the funny genre. We don’t want to laugh as people, we only want to watch unhappy, dramatic and sad films and cry. Formula films are still ruling, and thus the trend of grotesque and violent films is prevailing. It is also confusing for producers because they also want their money back. I strongly feel we are sinking into this dark phase in cinema. Tell me of how many funny films do you recall in 2023? Especially Christmas used to be a time for happy, sweet, fun films, but no, now we are only interested in killing someone on screen to entertain people even during this time of the year. Besides cinema becoming dark, edgy and angry, we don’t have multi-starrers anymore either. It is about a hero dominating the screen and he wants to be treated like a star and hog all the attention. Thankfully, I ushered in the New Year in a fun way, with my family at a resort in Bikaner
‘OTT is not as interesting as it was when it started’
I am starting a new English play with Kunal Roy Kapur in February, which is about two people in different constellations. On OTT I haven’t been offered interesting scripts in last two years, since now I only want work that is interesting. When OTT came in, there was some very memorable and profound productions being made for the platform. But now, it’s also become commonplace, and chasing to beat competitors
‘Veggies in Amritsar are so fresh, I don’t feel like eating non-veg food’
I pick up raw and cooked veggies from Amritsar and take back for my father in Mumbai. Some of the Airport officials recognize me and give those puzzled looks seeing what all I pack in my luggage, right from mooli, sarson saag, mattar, gajjar, to shalgam and gobi ka achar. Amritsar has always been about a food trip for me, and I definitely stop at Kesar ka dhaba. When I come to Amritsar, I don’t eat non-veg because the veggies here are so fresh.