From her debut role in the television series Sapno Se Bhare Naina to portraying the mysterious Ambika Nath in the latest OTT thriller Honeymoon Photographer on JioCinema, Asha Negi has come a long way. The Pavitra Rishta actress spoke to us about her new show, how she prepared for her role and her journey as an actor.
Tell us about your character in Honeymoon Photographer.
Asha Negi: In the series, I play Ambika Nath. It was a lot of fun playing her because most of the characters I’ve portrayed till now were good, sweet and naive. But Ambika is someone who is a little different — mysterious.
Was there anything about her that you identified with?
Asha Negi: I feel that Ambika has the same level of passion as I do. I am passionate about my craft and so is Ambika (about photography). She is an ambitious, strong and confident girl, and so am I.
Your character is a photographer. How did you prepare for the role?
Asha Negi: Although I can’t actually handle a camera, since it is very technical, it was fun to get behind it. For the role, I wanted to look cool and like I know how to handle a camera. I also wanted to add a little bit of my style to it. So, I took a lot of help from my photographer friends. I would watch them and their style when they were shooting.
How was it working with director Arjun Srivastava?
Asha Negi: It was a lot of fun. There was a different energy on set. I guess it is easier when you have directors and co-stars who are of a similar age. He was supportive and caring and made the whole process smooth and comfortable. He was very clear about what he wanted and how he wanted it to be. That really helped me since I am an actor who relies a lot on the director. I believe that a director always has a better vision of the character than I do, so I follow what they have to say.
Do you have to work hard while preparing for your roles or is it more instinctual?
Asha Negi: I would say it is always hard work. In fact, I have started accepting characters and projects based on how difficult they are to prepare for. I want to be challenged. I don’t want it to be a piece of cake. I want to have sleepless nights before my shoot starts.
From your debut in 2010 to now, tell us about your learning curve.
Asha Negi: I have always been an actor who listens to her director, so learning and unlearning is an ongoing process for me. I came to Mumbai unprepared and started learning on the job. Even my shift from television to OTT involved a lot of learning and unlearning. However, these days I am more conscious of my decisions, of what I am doing. Back then, I was just a lost girl.
Playing Purvi in Pavitra Rishta turned out to be your breakthrough role. Can you share some memories of working on the TV series with us…
Asha Negi: I was so young and new to the industry then. I didn’t know anything. Initially, I used to fumble a lot and forget my lines. Now, I am more confident. That is why I am so grateful to television. Even though I was such a novice, I got so much love from everyone; my character got a lot of love. In fact, people still remember my character.
What is next in the pipeline?
Asha Negi: I am excited about a show that will be out in a month, though I can’t reveal much now.
Which shows have you been watching these days?
Asha Negi: Honeymoon Photographer! (Laughs) Actually, I have been really busy for the past few days, so I keep falling back on my comfort shows, Schitt’s Creek and Modern Family.
