 "EXCLUSIVE | Netflix’s Baramulla actor Arista Mehta: ‘Aditya Dhar in a subtle way has put across a message…’")
The central plot of Netflix’s Baramulla is about a mysterious case of the disappearance of children and encountering supernatural occurrences. Nestled deep within a beautiful valley lies the snow-covered, slow-paced city of Baramulla, where rumours and legends intertwine with reality. It sets off a chain of events that unravel unsettling truths and shake the town to its core.
In an interview with Firstpost, actor Arista Mehta talks about her role in Netflix’s Baramulla and more.
Edited excerpts from the interview:
How does it feel to be a part of Netflix’s Baramulla ?
Filmmaker Aditya Dhar has come up with something so big. It’s not rubbing people on their faces, but it’s a very subtle way of putting across the message so I’m honesty very grateful to be a part of this.
What would you like to say about working with a brilliant craftsman like Manav Kaul?
Manav (Sir) is very fun to work with. He is from Baramulla, Kashmir itself. He knew a lot of places and after the shoot was over, we would ask him where we could go to know the place better. He used to tell me different things about the place. He’s very easy to work with and really helpful. There were a couple of instances when I was unable to understand a few things, how to deliver this and get this across, so he was really helpful in making me understand the nuances of my character.
Was there any particular scene that you found difficult to perform or challenging?
The scene where I go to the other world because Noorie is seeing something and reacting to it. She’s seeing a shadow and something scary, and is running away from it. I have to imagine it, and then stare at a black wall and be scared of it. That was even difficult to shoot. And then the scene where I get the allergic reaction. The makeup itself for that scene took an hour. It was very uncomfortable and I was getting cold and itchy. Even though it is a very small part that you get to see on the screen for about 2 to3 minutes, there was a lot of preparation involved and very difficult while shooting it.
What’s next?
I am shooting for another Netflix show, but there is time for that. We have not gone on floors with it. We are still in the preparation zone. We should be able to come out with it next year.
WATCH the trailer of Netflix’s ‘Baramulla’ here:
Lachmi Deb Roy is the Entertainment Editor of Firstpost, Network18. She reviews films and series with a gender lens. She is a 'Rotten Tomatoes' certified critic. Her interviews are called 'Not Just Bollywood' because she takes a huge interest in world cinema. She has been the winner of the prestigious Laadli Media and Advertising Award for Gender Sensitivity for two consecutive years, 2020 and 2021. OTT over theatrical releases is her preference unless and until it's a King Khan film. She takes interest in fashion, food and art reviews too.