Ishitta Arun UNFILTERED: Rana Naidu Controversy, OTT Censorship & Possible Collab With Mom Ila Arun- EXCLUSIVE

She is a woman of many facets and talents. Be it acting, singing or penning soulful lyrics, this tinsel town has donned multiple hats efficiently. There's no prize for guessing that we are talking about Ishitta Arun. Yes, our very own Aika Dajiba girl.

Ishitta, who is the daughter of veteran singer-actress Ila Arun, is making waves in the world of OTT. After creating ripples with her power-packed performance in Netflix's Rana Naidu, she is ready to spill magic in the digital space with Hansal Mehta' Scoop, which will premiere on the same streaming platform.

Ahead of the release of Scoop, Filmibeat caught up with Ishitta Arun over a cup of coffee. In an exclusive tête-à-tête, she spoke about OTT censorship, a possible collaboration with mom Ila Arun and a lot more.

Here are excerpts from the interview.

Q- It has been over two months since the release of Rana Naidu and the ove and blessings continue pouring from all the corners. Did you expect such a reaction?

A- Yes, it has been. The universe is amazing. I didn't expect such a massive response. I am grateful for all the love and adoration that is pouring in.

Q- Rana Naidu has received both bouquets and brickbats from the audience. Considering the bold yet unique theme of the series, were you apprehensive about it in the beginning or you decided to go with the flow?

A- Rana Naidu is based on 'Ray Donovan' and I had seen 'Ray Donovan' way before the show was offered to me. So, I was aware of the content and it was true to the story and the world in which the Ray Donovan was set . Of course I was wondering how the writers would translate it into the Indian milieu but Once I knew it was Suparn Verma and Karan Anshuman at the helm of the project with Netflix, I was absolutely relaxed and hence, decided to go with the flow.

Q- What's your take on Central government mulling a regulation for OTT censorship? As an artist, do you believe it curbs freedom of expression?

I think freedom of expression is one that we need to hang onto with all our might. However, having said that, I would like to refrain from commenting on this particular topic.

Q- Ishitta Arun is blossoming like a flower in the world of cinema and OTT these days. What's new on the platter? Shed light your upcoming projects.

A- There's a lot on the anvil. I am very excited about the projects I am being offered at this point. I am in talks with a few directors. One of the projects will go on floor post-September. Other than that, there's writing I am currently doing. I am a performer, so content creation is something that I am always doing. A lot more of me, hopefully, in the coming days.

Q- You wrote the beautiful lyrics for Dhakaad's So Ja Re. The film might have tanked at the box office but the song managed to strike a chord with the audience. So, any plans of penning another heartwarming song?

A- Thank you so much. My husband, Dhruv Ghanekar has been composed 'So Ja Re'. But in terms of words, it holds great meaning in my life. It is based on a lullaby that my grandmother used to sing, which I elucidated and further wrote apart from the first two lines. I am working on around eight songs for a musical, which is slated to open in Japan for which Dhruv is composing the music. I am working on his EPs as well that will be released under new label Wah Wah Records . So, there's a whirlwind of great music that I am part of.

Q- When can we expect a collab with your mom, the evergreen Ila Arun ji? Are you up for it?

A- I hope somebody is reading this and high heavens listen to me. I really wonder why mom and I have never been cast together because we have some serious chemistry. It's a laugh riot when we are together. I am really hoping to collaborate. It's tougher to collaborate with me one-on-one with reels but I am hoping people will cast us.

Stay tuned for the second part of the interview where the lovely Ishitta shared her thoughts on her steamy scenes with Sushant Singh Rajput in Rana Naidu and dropped a hint about the reprised version of Aika Dajiba.

Don't miss to watch Ishitta in a never-before-seen role in Scoop that premieres next month on Netflix.