She made a mark with notable performances in films such as Warrior Queen of Jhansi, a historical drama, and Lomad, a thought-provoking film where she portrayed a nuanced complex character. Now, actress Auroshikha Dey is super excited about her upcoming film The Shameless, directed by Konstantin Bojanov (a Bulgarian-American director), which is set to premiere at the ongoing Cannes Film Festival. In the film, she portrays Durva, a confrontational figure who challenges social norms. Ahead of the premiere at Cannes on May 17, t2 chatted with the actress who's known for her dedication to her craft. Excerpts...

What are your thoughts on the premiere of The Shameless at Cannes?

When my director and producer broke the news to me, I was numb for a fraction of a second and took my time to figure out the correct expression for this. It was a dream come true and I felt ecstatic. I feel proud to be presented on such a prestigious platform before a global audience. I feel humbled by this opportunity.

How relatable is Durva as a character to you?

I'm profoundly delighted to have contributed to this project. As an actor, I seek roles that are unconventional and pose significant challenges. This is precisely what captivated me about my character in this film. I was portraying a character that's starkly different from me and bringing that character to life was demanding and immensely gratifying.

As an actor where do you see yourself in the coming years?

I see myself working with as many versatile directors, playing as many complex roles as possible.

What's a must-have in your wardrobe?

Colourful dresses are a must-have in my wardrobe!

What are your thoughts on acting in commercial films?

For me it's not about the commercial and non-commercial aspects, it's more about the gravitas of the character. Every film and character is new, it needs to be nurtured. So when I take up a project, I give it my all.

How did you get the offer for The Shameless?

I'm thrilled to contribute to this outstanding project and my director appreciated my audition, which led to my casting.

What kind of role do you find challenging?

Every film that I have done has come with its own challenges and opportunities and it's a joy going through that experience.

What kind of roles would you like to play in the future?

I don't wish to create boundaries over my expectations, so I look forward to as many diverse roles as possible.

How did your acting journey begin?

My journey began on my feet. I was a dancer and it was back in Mount Carmel College in Bangalore that I got a chance to act at the drama society and FTII happened soon after. What followed next, can be called history.

Who is your dream actor to work with?

I'm a greedy learner. I want to hone my craft by working with and learning from a range of actors.

How was it like working in Lomad?

Working in Lomad was definitely an outstanding experience. When my director Hemwant Tiwari shared the idea with me I was intrigued. Initially, it was in a nascent stage, but when he narrated the entire story to me, I promptly agreed to be a part of it because it had the potential to create history.

How did you get into your character? What kind of brief did you get?

We rehearsed for six months to get things right. The brief was very simple, my director just said that we're going to be a part of the world's first single-take black and white feature film.