Jehanabad: Of Love and War Exclusive! Harshita Shekhar Gaur: Didn’t realize I was recreating 3 Idiots’ Kareena Kapoor till told

Harshita Shekhar Gaur, best known for her role on TV in Sadda Haq, is gearing up for her next release, Jehanabad: Of Love and War. The actress, who is popular on OTT since being associated with Mirzapur as Dimpy, is now seen in a similar role. She discusses the same with OTTplay, while also still processing that she has managed to recreate Kareena Kapoor Khan’s driving a scooty in a wedding dress from 3 Idiots.

Excerpts from the interview…

From Mirzapur to Jehanabad, how do you see your journey on OTT?

A long gap because of lockdown but it’s a step ahead from UP to Bihar.

You were shooting for Mirzapur though, right?

I want that perception for myself! Lockdown was messy but yes, all in all, I did work on projects.

There are slight similarities between Mirzapur and Jehanabad, in the sense of the politics and caste. The approach is also similar. So, what about Jehanabad would you say has piqued your interest?

I understand what you’re saying. It probably looks similar and that’s very given because people will always go back to a reference point. I remember when Mirzapur released, people said it’s very like Gangs of Wasseypur. It’s going to happen but I know that the story is very different and so is the approach. Yes there are similarities because if you want to show a violent world, there will be certain – again, Mirzapur was also set in UP which is very regional and here in Bihar too. In reality also, there are many similarities between the two, as there are differences.

I picked up the story because it’s very different. Even though it looks very similar, my character in this is very different. The centre of it is something I really like. The script is beautifully written and it’s a very instinctive thing that I want to be a part of this show.

It appears that you character is more romantic in comparison to Dimpy from Mirzapur. Would you agree?

Kasturi is very different from Dimpy, yes. Dimpy is very practical, smart and understands duniyadaari. On the other hand, Kasturi is innocent in the way that she’s not gullible or an idiot but she’s so raw and unaware of the worldly things in terms of people and emotions. She’s naïve in a way and very energetic. She’s the absolute opposite of being practical. She just acts out of her feelings and emotions. She doesn’t think twice and of course, is totally die-hard romantic.

At the end of the trailer, you drive a scooty in a wedding dress. Was it your Kareena Kapoor Khan moment from 3 Idiots?

You know, that’s what happens na? If something you do has happened before, then that will come to mind. I’m toh liking the similarities that the people are drawing. I like the scene – her being on the scooter and doing that. The idea wasn’t that. It just played like that. You’ll understand it when you see it. I had fun.

Why I asked is because many dream of recreating the moment. It was an iconic scene anyway. So I thought your dream came true through the scene…

I didn’t even think about it like that till people told me that it looks like that. Even while we were shooting for the scene, not even once did it cross my mind that it’s similar to what Kareena did. The premise is different. When you see a girl in a wedding dress riding a scooter, then obviously it looks similar because that is the same. I don’t mind it. It’s enjoyable, yay I created something that I loved at that time!

We all know about how you were the leading face on TV in Sadda Haq in times when women as leads was just coming up. Tell me about your journey post that. Has it been tougher on OTT? Would you say OTTs are yet to see women in lead full-fledgedly? Because shows like Mirzapur and The Family Man also have a male lead as the face…

It's now better on OTT. Female-led films were fewer and not well-perceived or welcomed than male-led movies in cinema. I’ll always be proud and grateful for Sadda Haq and how Sanyukta’s character really stands for women empowerment but I want to bring your attention to how TV shows are always led by a female. They are the show-runners on TV. Even back then when women-oriented films were not welcomed, TV was already doing it. OTT is offering you such things even more. I know that the shows you are talking about are not as much a hit, we have a lot more scope of seeing women as the carrier of the shows. There’s Masaba Masaba, to name a few. OTT has given that opportunity to makers and actors to create a show which is female-led as is also appreciated. That way, OTT is still changing the course of things. For me, it’s the opposite of what you’re saying. I find it easier on OTT.

Do you see yourself in films anytime soon or do you want to continue working on OTT for a while?

As an actor, we focus on doing everything. It’s not such that if I haven’t done a film, then I’m not focusing on a film. It’s also something like projects came to me and I didn’t like them or something I liked and that didn’t happen. No actor can say they are only concentrating on a certain medium. As actors, we concentrate on projects. We want to do good ones. Whether it’s on OTT or films, I’m focusing on my acting, wherever that takes me. I’m focusing on my projects – whether they’re shows or films but the idea is to do something which I like doing while I’m in the process of it and then people liking it.

The films that you were offered, did you find a leading role or supporting role in them?

Both, actually. The supporting actor was like literally supporting and not just in the film for the sake of it.

What is the update on Mirzapur? When do we see it?

After Jehanabad (grins). Once you watch this show, you’ll get an update on Mirzapur too.

Your upcoming projects?

Nothing that I can talk about currently. This year, though, hopefully there’s much more.