The film spoilt me, says Saiyami Kher on her digital project Choked: Paisa Bolta Hai

Earning acclaim for the role of a Maharashtrian girl in Choked, Saiyami, among the nominees of the Best Actor - Film in the mid-day and Radio City Hitlist OTT Awards, on how other movie offers now seem pale

When Saiyami Kher called Anurag Kashyap to tell him she would take up the film that he had offered her days ago at a film festival, his response was rather unique. “He said, ‘Ab, mera dimag mat kha. This writer called Nihit Bhave has written it. Find him, brainstorm on ideas, and work on it.’ That’s when Nihit and I started working together, and brought Sarita to life. We are both Maharashtrians, but he went over and above, helping me with the lingo,” says the actor, adding that his cues enabled her to pull-off  the role of the protagonist in Choked with the flair that she did.

Among the nominees in the Best Actor — Film category of the mid-day and Radio City Hitlist OTT Awards, Kher says she, along with Bhave, also did a look test for the part, on their own accord. “We also roped in my friend’s child, and conducted a photo-shoot together in the get-up. We took the pictures to Anurag, who jumped and danced with joy, because he loved them so much.” 

Along with the assistant directors and cast-members, Kher too chose to stay at Kashyap’s residence throughout the filming process. That is where, she says, she could build her camaraderie with co-star Roshan Mathew. “Even when we were not on set, we’d try and interact [the way our characters did].” 

Heaping praise on Kashyap, Kher says working on the film has “spoilt me”. “His characters are so real — they’re exactly like the people you would see when taking a train to Virar. Rarely do young actors get the chance to play such parts, early on in their career. When you have been able to put yourself out there [the way I did], other offers don’t seem to match up to this,” she signs off.

Best Actor — Film (Female)

Saiyami Kher has been nominated in the Best Actor (Female): Film category for Choked: Paisa Bolta Hai. The other nominees are:  

. Janhvi Kapoor: Gunjan Saxena : The Kargil Girl (Netflix)
. Radhika Apte: Raat Akeli Hai (Netflix)
. Tilottama Shome: Chintu Ka Birthday  (Zee5)
. Tripti Dimri: Bulbbul (Netflix)
. Vidya Balan: Shakuntala Devi (Amazon Prime Video)

Log on to www.hitlistottawards.com to cast your vote.

You can also vote via SMS. Send HITLIST <space> category name <space> your choice (a/b/c as on the website) to 57575.

Voting lines close on Feb 9.

Did you know?

Kher, along with a few other cast members, and the assistant directors of the film, stayed at director Anurag Kashyap’s residence throughout the shooting of the film.

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