Exclusive! Paoli on Karm Yuddh: OTT is giving more opportunities for the pan-Indian artistes

Paoli, Asutosh Rana, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Pranay Pachauri, and Satish Kaushik’s Karm Yuddh started streaming on Disney+ Hotstar on September 30. Directed by Ravi Adhikari, the trailer of the show promises a succession war between the members of Roys – a Kolkata-based wealthy family. Paoli is seen as a feisty contender for the throne. The actress admits that through her character Indrani Roy, there is a celebration of Devi Durga. In an exclusive chat with OTTplay, she talks about her character, Puja plans, and her journey so far. Excerpts:

Puja is here. What are your plans?

Oh, I don’t plan at all. I prefer to stay in Kolkata during the five days of Puja. This year I will be in Kolkata. There are inaugurations and I will almost complete my pandal hopping during that time. I like the festive vibe around.

What about the new saris?

I did not buy any. I had a few gifts and I will wear them. These days, I am avoiding mindless shopping. I already have a lot and I am wearing those. I am trying to follow sustainable fashion. I buy when it is needed to help the artisans and weavers but I am avoiding shopping for the sake of shopping.

Your new series is here. Tell us about your character…

My character Indrani Roy is the youngest contender of the Roy dynasty. She comes from a high-profile family. Her father used to be one of the police commissioner. There is an age difference between her husband Vardhan and her. Indrani is a strong and ambitious individual. There is a blend of stealth calmness and fierce ambition in her. Evidently, we see a family feud. She is the only woman contender and she fights in a very patriarchal space. She has her emotional vulnerabilities but hides in the garb of her strong personality. Abhimanyu is her stepson and there is a bonding between them. While others were to helm the family out of greed, in her case, it is also about protecting. Through her character, there is a celebration of Devi Durga’s power. We did not know about the release date. Coincidentally, the series got dropped on the eve of Durga Puja.

In the trailer, Ashutosh Rana’s character is not revealed enough. What is the relationship between Indrani and Guru?

Asutosh’s character Guru is a very interesting one. You will have to watch the show to understand. He is one of the contenders. Pranay Pachauri plays his son. There is an equation between Guru and Indrani. There is an understanding between Indrani and the media person’s character played by Chandan (Roy Sanyal). The show is on how the dynamics between family members and

This is yet another national project where you are one of the lead characters…

I feel blessed. This one has a beautiful star cast and a captivating storyline. I have worked as a character in several projects, including Kaali and Raat Baaki Hai. In Bulbbul, my character is very prominent. I am glad that makers are considering me for such important characters. I feel my work in the Bengali industry is being noticed. Karm Yuddh is a huge saga and I hope that I will get many such meaty characters in the future. My journey is still on.

From Hate Story to Karm Yuddh – how has your journey been so far?

My journey was not an easy one. There is competition but it has always been a healthy competition. I started with traditional films but it is because of the OTTs, the exposure got bigger and better. Now people want to watch content from different regions. OTT is giving more opportunities for pan-Indian artistes. OTT is also making spaces for stories from different regions.

You have always been very choosy about your work…

Yes, I am selective about characters. I have a bucket list of directors I want to work with. I also want to work on many other platforms. But I know for sure that I do not want to pursue one particular type of character. I want variation.

It was a lovely experience. I had a wonderful time shooting with the team. We shot during the pandemic and we shot between Goa, Mumbai, and Kolkata mainly, and also a portion in Dehradun.