Katha Patel: I asked everyone on the set how I could play Jhanvi in Swagatam better

Neeraj Joshi’s Swagatam is gearing up for a grand OTT release on ShemarooMe later this week. This romcom thriller, which releases on May 20 on ShemarooMe, is a tale full of plot twists, secrets and red herrings, dispersed with a budding romance and plenty of light-hearted moments.

Starring alongside Malhar Thakar, Ojas Rawal, Chetan Dhanani and Vandana Pathak is debutant Katha Patel. The amiable actress, who is keen on exploring her skills as a performer in the film industry, will be seen playing the role of Jhanvi in Swagatam. Here are excerpts of her conversation with OTTPlay about her experience of being introduced in Swagatam.

What are your thoughts on Swagatam being your debut film?

I cannot contain my excitement. It’s out of bounds; this film is a dream come true for me. Being my first film, Swagatam is very close to my heart. And also, the cast was so good and it just turned out to be perfect.

When did you find yourself inclined towards acting and how was the journey till Swagatam?

I was always into the performing arts since I was a kid. After I finished college, I started dabbling in modelling. Any which way, either through modelling or through auditioning, I wanted to get into this industry. So when I got a call for Swagatam’s casting, I gave the audition and got selected. That’s how Swagatam happened.

What do you think sets Swagatam apart? What drew you to the script of the film?

The first time I read the script was when I fell in love with it completely. It has so many elements - it is a thriller romcom with so much drama, many small things that make a big impact and the story has an incredible plot which keeps on building with a very good climax. This is how I got drawn to the script and hopefully the audiences will too.

How was your experience of working with recognised Gujarati actors like Malhar Thakar, Ojas Rawal and Vandana Pathak?

Honestly speaking, I was very nervous in the beginning because of the cast. I knew everybody - I had either seen them on screen or in person. And I knew that they are the best at what they do. So it was really a challenge for me to even share the screen space with them. But luckily for me, right from the director Neeraj Joshi to the AD Nasir, from Malhar to Ojas and Vandana ma’am, I found everyone to be so helpful. As a beginner, it is very helpful if someone senior to you gives you even the smallest of tips. If I had performed on my own, it would not have been this great but their guidance made Swagatam a wonderful experience.

How did you navigate the process of bringing a character to life for the first time in your career?

The first day of the shoot was really difficult for me because I could see everybody else on set performing so naturally, almost like they were born to play their characters. And on the other hand, I was struggling to match their pace. But with time, I delved so deep into the character of Jhanvi that I understood her completely, from what she did to who she is. I think this helped me portray her in a better way.

Do you believe that an actor should be able to change things about their character if that enhances the narrative or is it imperative to stick to the director’s vision throughout?

I believe an actor does have the freedom and right to do something with the character if they want, but at the end it is the director’s vision that is most important. After all, it is their way of seeing the story that matters. Being a director, they have a clearer direction in mind. As an actor, one should definitely follow the director’s idea of the character. But I also feel that if there is something that is not aligning with the character, we can probably put it out there.

I literally used to go to everyone on set - right from the actors to the director - and ask for suggestions on how I could play Jhanvi better. I would ask if I can deliver my dialogues better or if a certain angle is more flattering for the character.

In addition to this being your debut, which comes with its fair share of inhibitions, Swagatam was also shot entirely in a pandemic. How was the experience on set?

Everybody was definitely a little scared but the Swagatam team ensured that all safety precautions were taken. Nobody was allowed on set without masks and sanitizers. so everything was taken care of entirely and everything was in control.

What are your thoughts on Swagatam being an OTT release?

With the current times, I think it’s great that ShemarooMe is releasing Swagatam since I would love to distract my audiences a bit and help them switch to an OTT platform to entertain them. Anyway, we are not allowed to step out right now so I think an OTT release is great for this film.

What are some OTT shows that you have recently watched and loved?

Malhar Thakar’s Vaat Vaat Ma on Shemaroo is a very light romance with a hint of comedy, though it is a drama series. But I think people can really relate to it because it's the normal day to day functioning of a husband and wife. And the cherry on top is that it is my co-star’s series.

What roles do you wish to explore in the future?

I started taking acting lessons around Swagatam because I thought I needed them. I have been practising since then and I want to explore myself as an actor. I want to portray characters that I am not in real life. I am really bubbly and cheery as a person, but I really want to explore that side of me which even I haven’t seen in its entirety. A difficult, serious role is one that I really want to explore in the future.