Kritika Kamra on The Great Shamsuddin Family: 'They are messy but also likeable, imperfect but also... they seem so real' | Exclusive

Kritika Kamra, who is currently winning praise for her portrayal of the responsible eldest daughter, Bani, in the new dramedy, The Great Shamsuddin Family, offered an exclusive glimpse into the film's making and themes in a recent interview with OTTplay. The film, which follows a chaotic day in a Delhi family's life, is now streaming on JioHotstar (OTTplay Premium), and Kamra sheds light on the intense family dynamics, the intimate shooting experience, and the significance of being directed by writer Anusha Rizvi.

Kritika Kamra on Bani’s core conflict

Kamra touched upon her character Bani's pivotal moment when she declared, "I don't want to take care; I want to be cared for," relating it to 'elder sibling syndrome' and the societal burden placed on women.

She told us, "I think that on some level, maybe all of us relate with that a little bit, where the older siblings are in our real lives. And the key feature of being the older sibling is that you have to keep it together a little bit. You don't have the, or I don't know, but you're just not wired to be able to let loose. You have to kind of be the responsible one, be the grown-up, and be sort of taking care of other people."

ALSO READ: Kritika Kamra: 'OTT was edgy once, but now it's becoming data-driven' | Exclusive

Societal expectation of women as caregivers

She further elaborated on the general expectation from women as carers, "I think most working women also would. Women would generally because you're, you know, you are told that you're the nurturer, you're the carer, and that is glorified... So, it can get a bit much. Sometimes you want to be taken care of."

The entire narrative unfolds over one day in a single Delhi house. Kamra spoke about how the contained shooting environment mirrored the story's chaos, though she personally enjoyed it.

Enjoyable filming experience

The actor said, "I think we shot for about 25 odd days, maybe less, actually. So, it was a very contained shoot. Literally, because we were contained in this one house. 95% of the film is inside one house, which was made with great detail... we were all confined to that one house and mostly one room and kitchen. So, yeah, unlike my character's reaction to everybody showing up, I was elated."

She found the character and the family dynamics highly relatable. "There were many relatable moments for me... Anusha's characters: they are so well-rounded and relatable, and they are messy but also likeable, imperfect but also, you know, it's just that they seem so real and like people you know... So, there wasn't any one thing that was like, 'Oh, this is my north star; now I've found it, now I've found the character.' It wasn't like that. It was just multiple moments that made the whole thing really relatable to me."

Significance of female filmmaker’s vision

Kamra highlighted the importance of having a woman director and writer, Anusha Rizvi (Peepli Live), at the helm of a story rooted in family dynamics and identity. The actor went on to say, "That was the biggest draw for me, uh, because this film is a bit autobiographical in that sense. She has taken inspiration from her own family, her experience, and her thoughts about identity, about belonging, about home, and about showing up for family. So, it was really important for somebody who has that lived experience to tell a story like this with the sensitivity and humour that it requires."

She praised Rizvi's subtle yet smart approach: "She tends to say some really important things very subtly and uses humour very, very smartly. So, I mean, to me, like, this only works as an Anusha Rizvi film."

On direct-to-OTT release

Regarding the film's direct-to-OTT release, Kamra acknowledged the changing landscape of content consumption. She shared, "What you just said is something that we are told constantly, that this is the kind of film that would only, you know, belong on OTT, and honestly, at the end of the day, I think if the audiences want to find something to watch or if there is good word of mouth, then people find that thing wherever it is. But this whole thing of families watching together, yes, it's very convenient. I love watching things at home."

The Great Shamsuddin Family, directed by Anusha Rizvi and starring Kritika Kamra alongside a strong ensemble cast, Shreya Dhanwanthary, Sheeba Chaddha, Farida Jalal and Purab Kohli, is currently available for streaming on JioHotstar (OTTplay Premium).