In an interview with Firstpost’s Lachmi Deb Roy, Sonakshi Shinha and Jyotika talk about Prime Video’s ‘System’, how content is queen and how ageism applies only for female actors, cinema changing and more.
WATCH the exclusive interview below:
Edited excerpts from the interview:
Sonakshi: What was it like playing the role of a lawyer in System?
It was fantastic. This is what I love about my job. I am able to play people from different professions than I am in, and this was the first time for me playing a lawyer. I found it really intriguing because even though she is a part of the system, she is a very flawed character. She is a very real character. She has her own dilemma. And how she just manoeuvres over life and is practical in her approach. She does not feel afraid to make mistakes and learn from them. I enjoyed playing a character like this.
Jyotika: Women’s roles in cinema are changing and your character is very unpredictable. Vulnerability is shown in a very nice way in cinema these days. What do we have to say about the way it has changed?
We have come a long way and it is proving to do well. And it is not to do only with the digital platform. We have had a lot of female films do well like Padmaavat. Maybe it is more on the digital platform, but we have come a long way. I am 40 plus, but I feel I’m getting very diverse roles right now at this point. This is a very significant growth.
Is ageism still very strong in Bollywood?
Sonakshi: It is for women for sure, only for women. It is there for everybody to see. There are a lot of roles being written for women for all ages. That’s a fantastic step in the right direction. We are advancing towards that and moving towards that. We see young people make their debuts, but we also see an actress like Shabana Azmi is still doing fantastic films and series. That’s the beauty of it.
What about your preparation and inspiration for the Prime Video's System?
Sonakshi: I usually work like a clean slate before I start any film or series. I speak to my director which is itself a lot of preparation. For System, Ashwini Iyer Tiwari asked me to watch a lot of real courtroom proceedings. You have a lot of videos on YouTube from the actual proceedings. I did watch some of those and it gave me a realistic picture. I could not have done anything which felt out of place in a world like this.
Jyotika, did you take any inspiration from Suriya since he also played a lawyer before and you also play a crucial part in the proceedings?
Jyotika: I have done a very beautiful film in the south where I have already played a lawyer. The inspiration from a courtroom has already been done. Inspiration is from everywhere. It came from Sonakshi, it came from my husband who did Jai Bhim. Inspiration is from everywhere in life.
A still from System
Sonakshi, Dahaad recently completed three years. It was a game changer for you.
Sonakshi: That was something I was really looking forward to working on. It is one of the best roles I have done in my entire career. I am really grateful for it and I am currently shooting Season 2 of Dahaad currently. And I’m really excited for that.
Jyotika: What next for you? We last saw you in Dabba Cartel, it’s been a gap of a year?
I have been shooting for System and then I am doing a film for Excel with Sunny Deol.
Jyotika: What do you have to say about this shift in cinema where there is no hero and heroine?
It is beautiful. At every age, every actor is getting a part to play. It is an absolute growth.
