Actor Swara Bhasker has impressed fans with some really strong performances on the screen. Be it an intense portrayal of a selfless mother in Nil Battey Sannata, a modern, freespirited girl in the Tanu Weds Manu films, or a small-town erotic folk dancer in Anaarkali Of Aarah – the one thing that stands out in all these is that they happen to be completely unapologetic characters who believe in defying the status quo and doing things their own way.
While it might seem tough to portray such intense roles on-screen, Swara says it comes naturally to her. “I think it’s innate and ingrained in me. I am quite unapologetic in my real life, too and somewhere, it’s got a lot to do with the kind of upbringing I have had,” says the actor.
A law student, Swara hails from a “liberal family” and owes her on-screen choices to her growing up days. “My parents have always encouraged me to think for myself. Being a law student, I’ve studied under open-minded teachers who pushed me to think in a critical sort of way. So, I do have a background associated with politics and academics,” adds Swara.
The 29-year-old, who is shooting for her next, Veere Di Wedding in Delhi, believes that she is not apprehensive about speaking her mind on any given subject – whether related to the film industry, or society on the whole. “It’s important to raise your voice against something that’s wrong because fundamentally, to me, it feels like keeping quiet or being neutral is actually a way of saying that we admit it. So these are things that you feel strongly about while speaking or making a statement,” she says.
Unlike many actors who stay away from commenting on controversial topics, Swara feels you can’t have a reason to skip pertinent questions. “As an artist, you have a responsibility, too, towards the world around us and we actors are also a part of this world. So, we can’t just sit silent on a matter if it requires our opinion, saying that our job is only to entertain. I strongly believe our job is also to influence in other people’s lives.”
