Nandita Das On Staying True To Her Craft And Conscience: ‘Lost A Lot Of Work’

Renowned actor and filmmaker Nandita Das has never followed the conventional path in Indian cinema. Beginning her artistic journey as a theatre performer, she soon made her mark in some of the most groundbreaking films of the 1990s and 2000s.

Now, after nearly three decades in the film industry, Nandita reflects on her choices, her creative philosophy and the constant tug-of-war between art and commerce.

Nandita Das on the Changing Face of Cinema

Having spent close to thirty years in the world of cinema, Nandita Das has witnessed the industry transform dramatically. From storytelling styles to audience behaviour, much has changed — yet one thing, she observes, has become worryingly clear: art is no longer free from commercial influence.

“Economics

is interfering so much with art these days. People say ke acha yeh film box mein kaisa tha aur woh kaisa tha. For any form of art, time is the only true judge,” she said during an interview with Hindustan Times, reflecting on how creative expression has been overshadowed by box office numbers and trends.

From Fire to Zwigato: A Journey of Courage and Conviction

Nandita Das began her cinematic journey in the late 1990s and quickly became known for her powerful performances in thought-provoking films such as Fire (1996), Earth (1998), Bawandar (2000), Kannathil Muthamittal (2002), Azhagi (2002), Kamli (2006) and Before The Rains (2007).

Unlike many of her contemporaries, Nandita never allowed herself to be boxed into commercial cinema. She said she has always chosen roles and projects that challenge norms and provoke meaningful conversations.

Nandita on Choices and Privileges

Nandita acknowledged that her artistic path hasn’t been easy, but she finds deep satisfaction in the freedom it offers. She considers it a privilege to pursue only those stories and characters that genuinely resonate with her, even if that means losing out on mainstream projects.

She is candid about the professional sacrifices that have come with her choices. “Although I’ve lost a lot of work, I’m somewhere there in the periphery of it. Despite all of those things that I haven’t made a part of my life, I’ve been able to be true to my conscience. And that I feel is a bigger privilege,” Nandita added.

With quiet honesty, she reflected on the roles that slipped away. “Kuch roles miss ho gaye,” she said, acknowledging that every decision comes with its price. But she believes the ability to choose is far more valuable than any missed opportunity.

Many of her friends often tell her that her career could have been different if she had made other choices. But Nandita remains unshaken. “But I may not have been the same person as I am today. I have no regrets,” she concluded.

Nandita Das on Her Next Film

After the critical success of Zwigato, Nandita Das is now preparing for her next directorial venture. “I’m trying to raise funds a little differently through private investors for the project. It is a couple’s story through which I am trying to decode relationship, marriage, separation, motherhood, everything that I’ve gone through. It’s my most personal project,” she shared. The film, according to Nandita, will blend personal truth with social observation.