Working abroad is a blessing, but tricky too: Nimrat Kaur

Mumbai: Actress Nimrat Kaur, who has featured in international shows like "Homeland" and "Wayward Pines", says working abroad has its pros and cons -- but she has no complaints.

The actress, currently basking in the glory of the success of her web series "The Test Case", says she has not been fortunate with projects getting over quickly and that is the reason why her list of Bollywood films is short.

In an interview to IANS before walking the Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) Spring-Summer 2018 ramp for designer Pooja Shroff, Nimrat said: "I think what happens with me or what's tricky with me is that I have the opportunity to work abroad... This is both a blessing or it can be a little tricky sometimes because when you go abroad, you give away more than half of your year here, and to then come back and get into the scheme of things takes time.

"That's the only thing that I struggle with sometimes. I have given equal time abroad and here, so what has happened is that the projects that I have taken here, have taken a little bit longer to culminate into their final product.

"That's the only thing I need to balance. But I think it's a good problem too and it is not something that I ever complain about. It does become tricky but it's not something unwanted ever. I have not been fortunate with projects getting over very quickly."

Nimrat is known for movies like "The Lunchbox" and "Airlift". 

She recalled how "Airlift" took almost a year to film and finish, and "The Test Case" also took almost a year with gaps in between the shooting.

"But those are phases we always have as actors. Sometimes we end up doing five to six projects and none of them work, so those are also the perils we deal with. Everything comes with its own ups and downs," said Nimrat.

On-screen she has played strong characters. But is she open to do the cliched "running around trees" role in future?

"I have always been open to do conventional roles. It's just about the opportunity we are given. I never thought I will be given an opportunity to play an out-and-out action-oriented part in 'The Test Case'. It's just about how people view you and what you are given at what point of time."

In "The Test Case", the actress plays an army officer named Shikha Sharma. She is happy with the response.

"When I heard about web series, I really found it very attractive as a proposition because it is very rare where you get to be part of a narrative that has the liberty to be told over a period of four-and-a-half to five hours. So it is actually a very attractive and a very pampering opportunity for any actor.

"When I was told that I will be headlining the show (playing the protagonist) and you are getting a chance to tell a story of a girl who has been into such extraordinary circumstances, I got excited. Also playing an army officer in the web series was a real honour for me," said Nimrat, whose late father was an Indian Army officer.

On how her character in the show relates to every woman, she said: "I feel that every woman has a brain of her own. You don't necessarily need to have a tough exterior and be in a uniform or wield weapons in order to express your strength.

"It's the opportunities that women are denied and the circumstances around them that make them weaker or unable to live in an equal society. I think all of us are strong... My character is not a super human being. She is regular girl with extraordinary dreams. She is go-getter, and any woman anywhere can relate to her," said Nimrat.

On walking the ramp for Pooja Shroff, Nimrat appreciated the designer's delicate, feminine, modern-meets-old style.

(Nivedita is in Mumbai at the invitation of the LFW organisers. She can be contacted at nivedita.s@ians.in)