Mouni Roy: London Confidential isn’t about coronavirus
Actor Mouni Roy on her raid the digital space with London Confidential. The ZEE5 film also stars Purab Kohli, Pravesh Rana and Kulraj Randhawa.
mouni roy, london confidential, zee5
Mouni Roy makes her digital debut with London Confidential.
“Expect tons of thrill. It’s a really pacy movie and can keep you guys sleuthing throughout,” said Mouni Roy while talking about her film London Confidential. The spy-thriller, also starring Purab Kohli, Pravesh Rana and Kulraj Randhawa, is streaming on ZEE5.
In an exclusive chat with indianexpress.com, Mouni talked about her raid the digital space and London Confidential.
Here are excerpts from the conversation:
Q. what’s London Confidential all about?
London Confidential talks about the brutal killings of Indian agents within the backdrop of an epidemic . While one is getting over, there’s a rumour of another one. I play Uma, an undercover officer, who is trying to seek out a mole in her team, while solving the mystery round the new threat.
Q. We see you during a never seen before avatar during this film. How was the experience and what went behind preparing for the role?
It was very exciting and challenging on behalf of me because the character is extremely different from me. She is out there living two lives and is so straightforward. While I even have watched a couple of spy films, most of the preparation was through the script only as we hardly had any time. However, our director made us do homework where we had to write down our thoughts a few particular scene, or equation with other characters. i feel taking these mental notes really helped us play our parts. it had been so refreshing to play Uma, and understand how important these agents are as numerous lives are hooked in to them.
Q. We usually see male actors playing RAW agents. Since you’re at forefront during this film, does one think it might bring a shift in gender stereotyping?
I don’t know if it might or wouldn’t , but it definitely should. This woman is pregnant, and given the scenario, she cannot return to India to her husband. Her job is so important to her that with none little bit of personal worry, she is out there trying to guard lives. For her, to even take an opportunity isn’t an option, and neither she wants it. I can only hope that folks can resonate with the character.
Q. tons has been said about how the show is predicated on the coronavirus pandemic. What does one need to say?
Honestly, it’s not about coronavirus. As I earlier mentioned, there’s an epidemic within the backdrop but that’s just about about it. The film is more about the officials being killed and the way Uma and Arjun (Purab Kohli) attempt to search for the traitor among them.
Q. The film was shot during the pandemic. Was it unnerving to exit for work?
The lockdown had just opened in London once we started filming. Still, i used to be very nervous and you’ll actually sense the fear from the energy. There was a group of very strict rules that we had to follow, and my hair and makeup team would literally sanitise me at intervals. the great thing was that throughout the schedule none folks got affected. we might actually take the swab test hebdomadally as even one testing positive could cause tons of inconvenience. it had been not comfortable but i feel that’s the new world. and that we all want to figure , so we’ll need to affect it.
Q. Talking about the new normal, what’s your combat films taking the digital route?
London Confidential is my debut within the OTT space, so i’m most definitely very excited. i’m happy that friends and family will all be ready to see the film. And honestly, things is worldwide, and it’ll take time before it’s completely safe to exit . And even in such times, digital medium has given such an excellent opportunity to creative people to be ready to tell different stories, and actors to try to to varied parts. It’s nice to be ready to sit reception and choose the genre we would like to consume. All said and done, i’m an entire movie buff and that i can’t wait to observe films in theatres. i’m also a positive person, so i’m hoping everything will return to normalcy and that we won’t be talking about 2020.
Q. With lesser content being created, pay-cuts and insecurities piling up for artistes, how did you retain yourself positive through the phase?
Don’t let it fool you in the least . it had been a tough task (laughs). For the primary few days, i used to be a wreck wondering what would happen. it had been so unnerving as everything came to a standstill. Every project was tentative. However, I took a step back to ascertain that the entire world was in it together. and really early , i made a decision that I won’t be a idler , and that i was actually very proactive throughout the lockdown. From meditating for 10 minutes, I now roll in the hay for quite an hour everyday without fail. Earlier this year, I didn’t even know where the spoon was within the kitchen, and now I can cook every Bengali dish that you simply can name. I went back to painting, singing and dancing. I even have also started reading the Bhagavad Gita, and it’s been an enormous help. It did take tons of effort.
Q. And what’s still keeping you back in Dubai?
I had signed up for a couple of virtual webinars, and there have been few other work that I needed to end . Mostly by October, i will be able to be back.
