The hustles of a star maker

Aahana Kumra on headlining the Indian adaptation of Call My Agent

It was quite a surprise to see Aahana Kumra up her glam quotient for Netflix’s Call My Agent: Bollywood. Adapted from the hit French show of the same name, the series, written by Abbas and Hussain Dalal, sees the actor as a talent agent in a company financially reeling from the sudden death of its founder.

“I have been fond of the [original],” says Kumra, adding that she is thrilled “to bring forth what goes on behind the scene”. “As someone who knows what goes into making actors, this is definitely going to be fun to watch. Given that this is also an untapped subject, I am excited to see the response from the audience.” The actor will be playing the role of Amal Ahmed, based on the character Andrea Martel, originally played by Camille Cottin, who is a great blend of vulnerability and sass. Kumra says Andrea and Amal have inevitable similarities, but there’s a desi touch to her. “Shaad [Ali, director] had a distinct vision for the character. While we can’t change the story, we have added a Bollywood touch to Amal. She is as Mumbaikar as one can be. So, we made her quirky and full-on filmi.”

Having been an integral part of casting before being an actor, Kumra says she added real-life experiences to lend authenticity to Amal. “When you do a show like this, you have to bring forth the hustle that agents put to get actors good roles and at times cover up for them. I know first-hand how tough it is to sell an actor. I will always remember the work they put in to get us everything we do.”

Also read: Aahana Kumra: Indians more expressive than the French

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