"I was so happy on his sets": Actor Saba Azad on working with director Anurag Kashyap for upcoming thriller

Known for her role in the comedy series 'Who's Your Gynac', actress Saba is set to appear in the highly awaited Anurag's directorial, which is expected to be released by the end of this year.

While sharing the latest updates regarding the movie's production, Saba told ANI that they had completed the shooting of the movie. She described her experience in the film as 'liberating' for a theatre actor such as herself, who enjoys the creative freedom on the sets regarding her role.

"We have finished shooting the film. It was fantastic. Actually, I have known Anurag since I was a child. He has also known me since child, as we were in the same theatre group. It was a fantastic experience. Anurag is a very trusting director. If he has hired you, then he has hired you for a reason."

Saba continues, "He is like, now let's collaborate. I think the freedom he gives you in sets, and as for me who comes from theatre, it's delightful. It's so liberating that you don't often get such an opportunity in films. That kind of freedom. He was like, here's your scene and I am not going to stand on your head for the dialogues. Just bring out the essence of your scene. I was really so happy on his sets. It was just the best."

Actress Saba was culturally exposed to cinema, dance, music and theatre since childhood. She reportedly started performing from a young age with her uncle, Safdar Hashmi's theatre group, Jana Natya Manch. As a child, she worked with theatre veterans MK Raina and the late Habib Tanvir.

She debuted in Bollywood with the film 'Dil Kabaddi' in 2008. It starred Irrfan Khan, Soha Ali Khan, Konkana Sen Sharma and Rahul Khanna in the lead roles.

Sharing her views on the difference between acting in films and theatre, Saba said,

"I think they are completely different art forms. Everything thinks that since it's acting, it's the same. I would say that they are totally different professions. Acting on stage is a different beast. Acting on screens is a technical craft. It's like, not only do you think about where you catch the light, where your end mark is, you have to look slightly left of the camera, over the shoulders of a light man there, also to bring your emotions. Actually, it's a very cerebral craft."

Saba continued, "Whereas theatre is about one shot, which you have to get in one go, for which you rehearse for three or six months. Then once you get on stage, it's just you. So, I mean, it has a different adrenaline rush. I find them totally different crafts. I deeply enjoy both of them."

She also called 'Observing' an essential tool for a performer.

"You have to be an observer. If you don't step out, you don't travel by train or railways; if you don't seek those experiences or put those efforts to khi na khi aap impoverished reh jaaenge as a performer (Translation: You will be left as an impoverished performer). I think the essential tool of a performer is an observer. How well do you observe?" said Saba.

The actress is currently being seen in Zee5's thriller series titled 'Crime Beats'. Along with her, the series also stars Saqib Saleem, Sai Tamhankar and Rahul Bhat along with Saba Azad. Sudhir Mishra and Sanjeev Kaul have directed the series which was released today.

Crime Beat follows the "journey of a rookie crime journalist, struggling to find his footing both professionally and personally. His breakthrough comes when he uncovers a lead on a fugitive gangster's return to India. As he delves deeper into the investigation, which has the potential to make him a journalistic sensation, he is pulled into a dangerous web of deceit and hidden agendas.

Saba further shared the updates about her future projects. The actress revealed that she will be next seen in the second season of 'Who's You Gynac' followed by a film with Excel, which is a biopic of singer Raj Begum, the first singer on Radio Kashmir. It will be directed by Danish Renzu. (ANI)