EXCLUSIVE | Netflix's 'Delhi Crime' actress Jaya Bhattacharya: 'The show came to me when I needed a break from a very low time in life and...'

Jaya Bhattacharya has been a part of the acting world for more than 25 years. She has successfully dabbled with both films and television, and also forayed into the landscape of OTT. This has turned out to be a great year for the actress with Delhi Crime 3 on Netflix, Gustaakh Ishq, and is also gearing up for another season of Kaneez.

In an exclusive interview with Firstpost, the actress opened up on all her successful works, the memories she has, and everything else in between.

Edited excerpts from the interview

Kaneez is coming with another season. The play that received immense praise. What are your expectations?

I am extremely glad that we are doing a second season already, expectations are very simple, we get to do many many more shows. The whole team is splendid, full of excellent actors who play their parts so aptly and with total justification to their characters.

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Zeenat Aapa is someone who observes, absorbs, and reacts subtly. How important were silences and body language in shaping this character?

The character of Zeenat Apa has many many layers . Her thought processes come from having seen the ways of the world, which she utilises to protect and shape the future of her proteges. Her silence allow her the time to decide and act at times totally unexpectedly. Body language has to be in sync with the time the story is based in and also in accordance with the character, a singer, dancer, a renowned courtesan.

Did you find any personal resonance with Zeenat Aapa’s journey or beliefs?

No matter what the professional is it always carries self respect along with duty and no matter how much you are dependent on others for your work you have to take certain steps to maintain your dignity and also pave the path for your descendants through action.

It touches upon themes of womanhood, power, and societal conditioning. How relevant do you think these themes are in today’s times?

The conditioning and Societal stigmas remain the same unfortunately in every age no matter how many times society gives women the so called badge of equality. In actuality nothing has changed. Women still have to strife in every day life and ask for acknowledgement.

Is it more challenging acting in a play as compared to films or series? In front of a live audience?

That the fun part, the challenge of performing in front of a live audience and the most beautiful part of it is the reactions that we get instantly. That can be compared to no other mode of performance.

How did Delhi Crime 3 come about?

Delhi Crime Season 1 came about for me at the most opportunity time when I excessively needed a break from a very low time in life. Frankly in the first season, the way I was feeling within played a very big part in the portrayal of the inner pain Vimala felt landing smack in the middle of one of the most grotesque rape cases of the country as truthfully I joined in in the middle of the shoot, it was total raw emotion. No planning plotting on how to portray the character.

Season 3 I just remembered how Vimla is, and again just brought forth the emotions I felt deep within. Vimala felt ess like a character and more like a mirror. Her compassion lives close to the surface, yet it is guarded by a practiced resilience. To feel deeply and still not fracture is a discipline learned early and upheld daily. Breaking is a luxury some lives cannot afford. Duty, unwavering and uncelebrated always takes precedence, stitched into every choice, every silence, every step forward and the wrongdoer needs to be caught and punished by law.

How would you describe your experience of working with Shefali Shah?

Shefali is an actor part excellence and not just that, no airs around her. She along with Rasika are the character on the sets and the whole core team of actors readily supporting each other in every scene. It’s a delight to work alongside such professional actors collectively contributing towards creating a remarkable project.

Do you have memories of the popularity of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi? What were those days like?

Memories of always prevail. The show was a gigantic hit capturing hearts all over the world and truthfully rightfully so. The way I was hated by the public as the character Payal was my reward and award and I’ll ever be grateful for that achievement.

Has OTT improved things for actors?

Yes, OTT has given a lot of opportunities to actors who were not getting the kind of exposure that they deserved. In many ways, the OTT platform has come as a boon for many many creators.

What are your memories of working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali in Devdas? It was the biggest film of that year.

Devdas was and shall always remain one of the most beautiful movies made. To me it’s more like a painting by an artist, Mr Bhansali and the big screen his Canvas. And this is so with every creation of his. I personally am besotted with Guzaarish.
While working with him I realised that he has this frame set in his mind and he works according to that, each nuance, each chord struck in accordance.