Single Papa actor Ayesha Raza: 'Had slight insecurity about films with my look, just went with the flow' | Exclusive

Ayesha Raza recently shared her insights into her latest Netflix series, Single Papa, and reflected on the evolution of her roles in a candid and exclusive interview with OTTplay. The comedy-drama, which tackles the still-debated topic of a male parent adopting a child, is currently streaming on Netflix.

Ayesha Raza on Singh Papa in comedy genre

Raza expressed her excitement that a subject as significant as a single male adoption was approached through a comedy lens, believing it aids in acceptance and non-preachy storytelling.

The actor told us, “I think it was exciting that it was a comedy genre. I mean, at any rate, if this was being talked about, I think it's important. But I think as it is a very fresh topic for a lot of Indians, and for, um, especially a single dad, I think the fact that it's in a comedy is better. Matlab uss hisaab se I think it will be accepted better, I think it will be taken in, and I think bina kuch preachy kiye, ya bina kuch zyada samjhae sikhaye, a point you might understand at the end of the show. What is this? What is this journey of being a father?”

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Reflecting on career evolution

Reflecting on her journey, which spans from a TV reporter in Dhoom to recent substantial roles in films like Dil Dhadakne Do and her current projects, Raza admitted to being a non-ambitious actor who followed the flow of opportunities.

She stated, “Pehle toh main bata doon I'm not a very ambitious actor. You could call me lazy or non-ambitious; it's a mix-up. I'm not lazy when I perform, but I'm not a go-getter personality-wise. So, I was more enthused about theatre, and I had a slight insecurity about films with my look and the way I was. So, I thought, 'Oh, nobody will take me in films, so I'll keep doing my theatre,' and I did voice-overs and dubbing for a very long time. So, I thought, 'I'll manage with this.' And then when films started happening, woh apne aap (it happened on its own); whatever audition came, I gave it; whatever came, I gave it. And I think I just went with the flow.”

Special nature of recent characters

Raza highlighted the common pattern in her cinematic roles and the special nature of her recent work. The actor went on to say, “So, sometimes a reporter... I got three or four reporter roles, so at one time I had said that I'll never do a reporter role in the beginning. Then, when I came to the mother's category, there were four lovely roles: mummy, chachi, bua, and masi (mother, paternal aunt, maternal aunt, and mother's sister), so I mostly play in this category. Sometimes a happy mother, sometimes a sad mother, sometimes an angry mother, sometimes a sorrowful mother, but it keeps going in that. With time, I think I was blessed to get a role like Aap Jaisa Koi. In Single Papa too, she was a mother, but the mother has her own journey, her own arc, her own, you know, so these two roles in the last two years have been very special to me.”

She concluded by expressing gratitude for the platform she has received, “I don't have a huge following, or I'm not, in that sense, a very popular actor, but I feel that if Netflix put their faith in me, they've given me this opportunity, and for that, I'm very grateful.”

Single Papa, a comedy-drama starring Kunal Kemmu, Manoj Pahwa, and Ayesha Raza, is currently available for streaming on Netflix.