Exclusive! Samara Tijori: Important that fans loved me in Bob Biswas even when I wasn't running the show

Last seen in Bob Biswas, Samara Tijori is now creating waves for her latest web series, Masoom. While she is the leading face alongside Boman Irani this time around, Samara believes that Bob Biswas gave her as much an opportunity and thus, the film, led by Abhishek Bachchan, is her debut on OTT.

Samara tells OTTplay that she didn't have it easy in the industry despite having Deepak Tijori as a father. She talks about her initial struggle days, how her parents only helped her by supporting her choice - to go for acting and what her plans ahead are. Excerpts...

Bob Biswas and now Masoom. What has your OTT journey been like?

It's been great. Even Bob released on Zee5 and this is on Hotstar. I just feel like I want to explore all the platforms. I've got such good responses because of the vibe of the show.

Your character actually is intriguing. She's the one who questions that something is wrong in this perfectly normal-looking family and then things go downhill...

Yeah, she's like this mini detective.

Would you call this your debut?

Not really. I made my debut with Bob Biswas and the responses I got after the release were insane - whether from the industry or someone from the outside. They told me they loved the character and really wanted to know what was happening in her life. That was so exciting and important for me because I played a character that wasn't running the show or in this case, film. But it's stuck with somebody. That was a debut which I will never ever forget. With Masoom, I've got so much scope to play around with this character - so much to showcase, execute and it was so challenging to play Sana Kapoor. It was so much fun, so this is like a bigger showreel.

Masoom is an example of content over stars. Do you see the trend changing?

Yeah, definitely. OTT has so many different platforms and each of them are churning content one after another. It is giving a lot of scope, chances and opportunities to actors - whether people who are just new and maybe they nailed their audition and got it or it could be someone who has been trying for a really long time and they got what they wanted with OTT. It's been able to do that for a lot of people in our industry and it's a great space because there's so much reach. Everybody has a subscription to say at least two channels. It's a good space and time for actors.

Your father Deepak Tijori had the full potential to become a star and he is quite recognized as an actor. If things were different, it would be him instead of SRK. Do you tend to imagine how life would have been if that were the case?

No, not at all. I feel like the love that dad has got over the years for each of his characters, he's still remembered. When people talk about Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander, they think of Shekhar Malhotra. That's a really great space to have. Even Sadak, Aashiqui. When these songs play, people come and tell me 'Yeh toh Tijori saab ka gaana chal raha hai.' That happens till today. That's great. Obviously, I haven't imagined what it would be like but I think I'm pretty good. I've had a good run.

Masoom is the name of a very iconic movie. Was there some reference to that in the show?

No, they are poles apart. The word is very smartly used. I have a lot of people who have put bets on who is 'masoom' out of them.

We see you go to dark spaces on the show. Did it take you to dark spaces in real life too?

Yeah, there were a few scenes which were difficult for me to handle at certain points. I try to make it as real as I can. I need the audience to believe what the girl is thinking and going through. I needed to go back to be able to execute that and make it convincing for the viewers. It was challenging.

The one scene which was extremely challenging for me is the cremation sequence. I at one point felt like that is my actual mother and I really, really broke down. After Mihir Desai said cut, I went to one corner and started crying inconsolably. I had to tell myself that whatever is happening isn't real and that is not my mother. It's just a cloth under the sticks of wood. I had to tell myself all that and I could snap out of it because of Mihir. He would come up to me and laugh at me. At that time, he said 'Just look at yourself.' That's how and when I would instantly detach.

Have you seen the Irish series Blood that the show is inspired from?

I didn't watch that series yet. As an actor, when you watch something that someone has done and you have to play that same person, then you get influenced. There's some sort of influence that comes on to you. Even if I were to be doing a scene that I have seen her do in the original show, I might think about that scene and do it exactly like that or else for the sake of it, I'd say that I would do it differently. That influence comes and I didn't want that. Also, the setup of both the shows are very different. That is an Irish show and this is a small-town in Punjab. I wanted to create this character from the scratch. She's not living like the girl in Blood. She's living a different life in a different space and atmosphere and so, I wanted to create Sana from scratch. I didn't want that influence. Blood has been a brilliant series and I'm actually itching to watch it. I really want to see how different or similar it is. It's been adapted extremely differently on a script level, is what I know of. I'll find out.

What attracted you towards acting over say, fashion designing or anything else?

Fashion designing was never on my list because I'm not creative in the way that the field requires. My mom creates clothes and designs. I don't have the aptitude to do that. So, it was not in my list of things to do for sure.

I was in between psychology and acting and realized that I wanted to act when I worked on IIFA as an intern. That was the first seed which was planted in my hand.

I would handle their cars and see how warm these actors are. My first thought was 'wow they are so warm and this is so glamorous and exciting' but I realized the work that goes into it on Dishoom. The awards show needed a different skill whereas when it comes to working as an actor and shooting a film, that's a completely different set of skills they would require. It happened on the sets of Dishoom and I couldn't be more sure. I was so confident because I wanted to do it, create different work and play different people. That level of excitement is what pushed me towards acting.

Not many know but you assisted in directing Dishoom and Bhoot. Did that open up opportunities for you in a way?

Oh, 100%. Dishoom was where I decided I wanted to be an actor. I used to watch these actors and hover around them. I used to stand there and see what kind of direction Rohit Dhawan would give the actors. Then I would go back to the monitor to see how the actor does it. I understood so much of the technicals of filmmaking.

When it came to Bhoot, I remember that the first clapper on Dishoom became the AD on Bhoot. He asked me to join the film and I agreed instantly because Vicky Kaushal, Dharma film and my favourite genre - horror. I learnt so much from Vicky. He's brilliant at his job. I picked up a lot from watching him. That is where I understood what it takes to be an actor. He was doing multiple things at the same time and was still there present and available to shoot and give it his best shot. I learnt that determination, willpower and motivation from him.

These two projects have really helped me. I understood a lot of things that go on behind the camera and that shapes me as a person and actor on set. So, I understand what's happening and am not just confused as an actor. That helps me respect a lot of the departments.

Even though you have your career going, there comes a phase where actors have it tough. Even someone like Salman Khan said at the IIFA that there was a low phase in his life and he was struggling financially. Do you think you are ready to handle the situation?

When I signed up for this, I knew this already. It does take a toll on you. I shot Bob Biswas at 24 and it released at 26 for me. So, during the gap I was only auditioning and there were no calls coming to me for months at a stretch. I faced just 10% of what someone does when they're at a really high point in their career. It was a struggle but helped me understand that it would happen at some point and you have to be ready to keep going irrespective of what goes on. So, I'm going to try and be open to handling something like that. It comes with the job so I was ready to go for it when I signed up for this.

Having a father who is also in the industry, does that help you have an edge in the sense that you have easier access to celebs?

The benefits are more within the family. I have friends whose parents are no so supportive if they want to become an actor. It's not a stable profession. It keeps changing and shifting around. It may not be a stable 9-5 job. So, the benefit is that everyone supports me, they understand and don't question why I want to do something. That's something which is really important to me because if you don't have a support system at home, it's not going to be easy. To add to that is very difficult for someone to deal with. Work-wise, I had a very normal and common journey. I gave auditions for literally everything. I have sold cream, hair serum, shampoo, deo. It's an experience for me. You are scared because there are 15-20 people who are competing for the ad. It's scary but helps you grow as an actor. That was my journey and it has helped me where I'm on my way to. It's something I cherish.

Your upcoming projects?

I'm reading scripts and giving auditions but nothing has been finalized yet. I'm in talks for a couple of things but it's too soon to say I have bagged another project.