Namita Lal: Being Part Of Indian Cinema Is A Dream For Most Actors

Indian cinema is quite the goal when it comes to acting for many, says actress-producer Namila Lal. Namita, who is known for her projects Before life after death, Lihaaf, Country of the blind, Oxygen, Football-The Goal and her upcoming movie Inn Galiyon Mein with Javved Jafferi, says that she has always been focussed on characters, rather than the medium.

"Being part of Indian cinema is a dream for most actors. Personally, I don't like calling it 'Bollywood' because I believe all Indian films-whether from the South, Marathi cinema, Bombay, or Calcutta-are part of the same cinematic landscape. For actors like me, who focus on strong character roles, any Indian film with a compelling storyline is an aspiration," she says.

She adds, "I get inspired by many actors in Hollywood. My biggest inspirations are Meryl Streep and Kate Winslet. In India, I look up to Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit, and Shefali Shah. I have a lot of inspiring actors in both international and Indian cinema."

In Bollywood, star kids get their first launch easily and even get a second chance. She says that this is very natural. "As far as star kids are concerned, I think this happens in every industry. If your parents are part of the same field, you're more likely to enter it as well, and you'll have the necessary connections to get opportunities. However, once they get their chance, success ultimately depends on the audience, the director, and the storyline. At some point, everyone is on an equal footing. It's just the initial opportunity they receive, which is understandable, as their parents or grandparents have worked hard to establish themselves in the industry."

Meanwhile, talking about what is a success today, she says, "Audiences are loving different kinds of storylines. If you look at Lapata Ladies, which did so well, and Stree 2, these are two films that turned out to be surprise successes. That's why audiences are becoming more perceptive, I think. With so much international content and a wide range of choices available-whether in cinema or on OTT platforms-there is bound to be a shift in audience preferences. This is a good thing because independent filmmakers are getting better opportunities to create films that can succeed."