Our Stories Must Show Women Beyond Kitchen Walls: Nivedita Bhattacharya

Bambai Meri Jaan actor Nivedita Bhattacharya in a conversation with SheThePeople talks about her new Amazon Prime Video series, her struggles to work in the industry dominated by men and her message for the women of today.

Speaking about the show Bhattacharya shared the struggles the team had to go through due to COVID-19. The actor said, "It took us so many years to finish the show. I guess end of the day hard work and perseverance pay off. We had only shot for 15 days when the pandemic hit and then everything stopped."

"Six months later we were allowed to resume shooting with several restrictions in place. It was extremely difficult to manage the shoot with less than half the team available on set. Soon after, the delta variant hit the country and we were back in lockdown."

Sharing that the struggles didn't end with COVID-19, it was followed by the cyclone. The actor said, "The disaster destroyed half of our set. A large chunk was taken away so we had to again stop and reconstruct the set."

About Her Character 'Sakina'

Talking about her character 'Sakina' on the show, Bhattacharya said, "Sakina is constantly struggling. She might look like just a wife or a mother but she is the backbone of the entire family. She's the one who's constantly fighting and striving to keep the whole family together despite all odds.

"She's constantly sandwiched between her love for her husband and her son. Sakina is burdened with the fact that because of her own decision something in life her whole family's life went for a toss and her husband's life turned 360 degrees." 

According to Bhattacharya, when the script came to her it just looked like a love story. 'But somewhere in between that, there are the elements of good and immoral things.'

Sakina & The Modern Women

The actor talked about how her character from Bambai Meri Jaan, represents a modern woman. She compared the love for family Sakina has to that of every woman today has for their families. "We have our careers but our emotions for our brother, our family, mother, father, they remain the same. So Sakina is all about strong emotions. She's all heart, all love," the actor shared.

"Sakina asserts her authority in her home. The rule of her home is simple; family comes first, no matter what. Your differences can be outside, but when you're here, you have to respect the fact of the father-son relationship."

Working With The Husband

Talking about her experience working with her husband during the show, Bhattacharya said, "It was a fantastic experience. We collaborated after several years. We were offered many roles together in between but that can't be your criteria to sign a show. You have to justify your art at the end of the day."

'The Vaccine War'

Bhattacharya's other project with Vivek Agnihotri The Vaccine War also left an impact on the audience. "The Vaccine War is based on a book called 'Going Viral' by Dr. Balram Margar. It was the pandemic which brought our scientists together. The show primarily deals with the story of how India as a nation came up with this indigenous vaccine," shared the actor.

Sharing her experience playing the character of Dr. Pragya in the film, she said, "It was fantastic. Playing a scientist doesn't come easily. Scientific terms that are adjuvants and sub-adjuvants and other complicated terms that not easy to memorise."

"Apart from that, there was a whole struggle with the costume. A special kit had to be worn. It's pretty heavy and it's like the whole process is you have to have a zillion showers, vaccinate yourself in different stages before you enter the laboratory because not a spec of any outside virus anything can get in because otherwise your test can go haywire."

Talking about how playing a woman scientist on the show opened her eyes to the struggles of them she said, "75% of the team was women. So, it was more dominated by women rather than men. Most of these women are homemakers too. I was blown, away by how they managed to just balance everything. I met Dr. Pragya and all the other scientists also after the filming."

Message For Today's Women

Talking about the evolving television and film industry, the actor said, "We need to show women doing everything and we need to make them real. I mean, there is no harm in them being in the kitchen. But there has to be more to them beyond the kitchen. We need to celebrate being a woman."

"I think women have been reduced to their clothes and their face and you know how fit you are. Although, that is gradually changing. If you have the power to change it, you have to come up with more. There's no harm in them being very well-dressed. But at the same time, they have to have more layers to their character."

Inspiring young girls Bhattacharya says, "Just be yourself. Have confidence. Don't get swayed by anything and everything. Don't believe everything that comes out on social media. Don't compare yourself to others. Work on yourself, work on finding your skill."

"Everyone is gifted with something or the other. Be strong in your convictions, and in your beliefs. It's an arduous journey. Nothing comes quick fix. Never keep your inquisitive mind at rest. Keep learning."

Suggested Reading: Shweta Tripathi Sharma Shares Three Green Flags That Nurture Marriage