Kritika Kamra Says Shooting ‘The Great Shamsuddin Family’ Felt Like A Grandparents’ Summer Break

A new family-centred comedy-drama, The Great Shamsuddin Family, has sparked conversations for its intimate portrayal of relationships and everyday emotion. Actress Kritika Kamra, who leads the cast as Bani,

says the project stands apart for its warmth and authenticity both on and off screen.

In a conversation with Hindustan Times, Kamra reflected on the response to her character and the experience of shooting a story rooted deeply in lived personal histories.

Kritika said the messages pouring in from viewers indicate how strongly people are identifying with Bani. “My inbox is full of messages. Women are writing to me saying, ‘I saw myself in Bani.’ I have these really long messages where people are listing out scenes and moments and telling me, ‘This is exactly how I feel.’ That’s precisely what I felt when I read the script.”

Her own sense of belonging to the character was immediate. “When I read Bani, I connected with her frustration, her questions about belonging, and that constant sense of responsibility. She feels like she has to take care of everybody, but sometimes she just wants to be taken care of. I’m that elder daughter, that elder sister—someone everyone relies on for decisions. So every time Bani voiced those emotions, it felt very real to me.”

Kamra emphasised that the familial atmosphere on set contributed to the emotional truth on screen. She noted that the house in Delhi where the film was shot fostered a sense of shared space among the mostly female ensemble. “It was very nice. Anusha and Dilip Shankar brought such wonderful people together—not just good actors, but genuinely good human beings. We were shooting in one house in Delhi, so it honestly felt like being on a family holiday.”

Describing how the cast bonded when the cameras were off, she added: “We would eat together, sit, laugh, sing songs. No one would go back to their vanity vans. Farida ji would tell us stories. It reminded me of summer holidays at our grandparents’ house, when all the cousins and massis would sit together. That same feeling.”

The film also offered Kamra the opportunity to work closely with industry veterans Sheeba Chaddha and Farida Jalal. Reflecting on their presence on set, she said, “They have such incredible experience and are such great actors, yet they’re so easygoing and fun. Of course, they’re seniors, and we were very respectful, but it was never stiff or formal. Farida ji is exactly how she appears on screen, bubbly and endearing.”

She credited both actors for setting a high bar for professionalism. “That’s the thing about great people, they don’t tell you what to do, they show you how it’s done. Farida ji, at this age, is so flexible and patient, even with chaotic schedules and long hours. She doesn’t need to do it, she’s a superstar—but it’s her passion. Sheeba also brings immense sincerity, which is why her performances feel so truthful. Just watching them perform and observing their discipline teaches you more than any verbal advice ever could.”

Kritika also commented on the representation of women in Indian cinema, pointing to how the personal lens of the film’s writer-director informs the story. “This is women’s story told by a woman, that’s the difference. Our writer-director is a Muslim woman, and the story and relationships are inspired by her personal experiences. That’s why the characters feel so rounded.”

While acknowledging that male filmmakers can also write strong female characters, she added, “You can’t compare it to when a woman writes women. In fact, even the men written by women are very attractive. If we see more female filmmakers, it creates a beautiful atmosphere altogether.”

The Great Shamsuddin Family is written and directed by Anusha Rizvi. The film features Kritika alongside Shreya Dhanwanthary, Sheeba Chaddha, Farida Jalal and Purab Kohli. It premiered on JioHotstar on 12 December 2025.