As the discourse around Black Lives Matter intensified in the US following the death of George Floyd, in India, a well-timed film Axone was released as a reminder of the prejudices faced by people hailing from the North-East. Lin Laishram, who headlines the film along with Sayani Gupta, sees it as her debut despite making an entry in the industry with Mary Kom (2014). Post the sports drama, she featured in a host of films including Prashant Nair's acclaimed Umrika, but none, by virtue of their narrative, structure, propelled her to the limelight.

"There are no roles written for me," says Laishram, explaining that even that even though more parts are being written for women, the industry is at a nascent stage when it comes to understanding these roles. "I love Bollywood films, but never felt I could belong to the same industry as Karisma Kapoor, my idol, because we look nothing like each other. I am a minority who looks a certain way — from my facial features to cultural differences. It makes [getting roles] exceedingly difficult. I am waiting to get my due as an actor and not appearance."