From Kingfisher Calendar girl to Bad Cop, model-actress Aishwarya Sushmita is carving a niche for herself slowly and steadily. The actress who was last seen in Neeraj Pandey’s Khakee: The Bihar Chapter talked to us about playing a con artist in Bad Cop, working with Anurag Kashyap and Gulshan Devaiah, and the story behind her name.

How did Bad Cop happen?

Aishwarya Sushmita: When I read the script, I found Kiki’s complexity and depth so interesting. She is a con artist who operates in a morally grey area. That allows for a lot of nuanced storytelling and character development. After doing Khakee: The Bihar Chapter, I was looking forward to something that would break that image of me as Meeta Devi. And Kiki is in complete contrast to what I’ve done before. The whole idea was to get into that space. As an actor, you want to perform a range of characters and emotions. You want to come across as a versatile actor, especially when you are at the beginning of your career.

Bad Cop had action, comedy and many layers. I was intrigued by that. I thought this would really serve me the best at this moment.

How did you prepare for the role of Kiki?

Aishwarya Sushmita: Kiki had a limited timeline when the script came to me. She may be a con artist but that’s what she does for a living. In her world, that’s right for her. To prepare for the character, I took some improv lessons. I had a teacher, Ashish Tyagi, with whom I rehearsed to understand Kiki’s psychology and how she would react in certain situations.

I also watched the movie Focus, starring Margot Robbie and Will Smith, where Robbie plays a con artist. I did a bit of study, not to replicate her performance but to understand the different interpretations and techniques of how I could do it differently. So, that was the process.

What were your takeaways from working with Anurag Kashyap and Gulshan Devaiah in Bad Cop?

Aishwarya Sushmita: I mostly had scenes with Gulshan because Kiki and Arjun are partners in crime. But I also got some time with Anurag Kashyap as we have a few things together. I’ve always seen him as a director. I never thought I’d be working with him as a co-actor. I look forward to getting a chance to work under his direction. But even as a co-actor, I felt there was so much to learn while just talking to him. He will always have something to tell you that motivates you to elevate your work. His passion for filmmaking is contagious. When I came back home, I started thinking about how I could improve myself.

When he’s talking, he’s very honest about every single thing. Sometimes even if he is trying to criticise you, it won’t come across as criticism. I think working with Anurag Kashyap was perhaps one of the most significant milestones of my career.

And Gulshan Devaiah?

Aishwarya Sushmita: He’s a very friendly person. We spent 20-25 days together working. I felt that we bonded well and the rapport developed over time. On the first day, we had a 12-hour shoot and it was a mix of action and intimate scenes. I was a bit nervous about it. When I met him, he was very chill and calm. It was nice working with him overall.

What are your expectations from Bad Cop?

Aishwarya Sushmita: Work gets you more work. I don’t think there’s any other way. Yes, I have a lot of expectations from Bad Cop because this character has so much complexity and depth. The audience will certainly get to connect with Kiki on a deeper level as long as they are not too swayed by Karan-Arjun’s (both played by Gulshan Devaiah) action sequence. And that will also at the same time break that image of the desi girl or Meeta Devi from Khakee.

Was becoming a model a stepping stone towards pursuing acting eventually?

Aishwarya Sushmita: You’re right. I remember when I was doing my Master’s in Philosophy at Delhi University, I went straight for the Kingfisher calendar. The Kingfisher calendar happened to me because of my personality. Although everyone around me was pushing me to pursue modelling, I didn’t have that confidence.

However, I’ve always thought of acting because entertainment has been a very integral part of our life since childhood. We have grown up watching TV. As a child, I remember I used to think, is it possible to become an actor? But eventually, when modelling happened, I really thought that it could be a stepping stone for me. It can help me connect with the right people. And this is what happened. A lot of things came my way.

Does your personality as a model get in the way of bagging substantial acting roles?

Aishwarya Sushmita: Yes, absolutely. In general, models have an image of a very neutral face, which is a contrast to acting, because acting requires a lot of expressions. But modelling is a profession that an individual pursues. That’s not her real self. That’s again another character that she becomes on the ramp or at a photoshoot. But I’m a very expressive person and that definitely helped me in acting. Modelling helped me become more confident in terms of the camera. It added value to my personal self.

What are your upcoming projects?

Aishwarya Sushmita: I’ve shot for a Netflix pilot. There are some short films that I’d start shooting soon.

Is there a link to you being named Aishwarya Sushmita based on Aishwarya Rai and Sushmita Sen?

Aishwarya Sushmita: Back in the day, we used to watch pageants very seriously. When Aishwarya Rai and Sushmita Sen went to represent our country, my parents actually took it as a moment of pride and decided to name me Aishwarya Sushmita. My parents were really inspired by both of them. This is my official name, on my passport too.

I’ve met Sushmita many times. She met my father too, and they had a conversation. It’s nice to exist in this industry with that name.