Actress Kirti Kulhari’s film Full Plate has finally come home. After a prestigious international debut at the Busan International Film Festival, followed by opening the Indian Film Festival of Sydney, the Tannishtha Chatterjee directorial is now premiering at the Dharmshala International Film Festival.
In the film, Kirti plays a homemaker who begins cooking in other people’s homes after her husband’s accident, a role that allowed her to step into a world rarely offered to her on screen. Drawn to the project by Tannishtha’s belief in her and their shared creative understanding, Kirti found the story deeply reflective and intimate.
In conversation with Filmfare, she speaks about working with the director, learning to navigate the industry in her own terms, and returning to Four More Shots Please season 4.
What drew you to Full Plate?I have acted with Tannishtha before, so we have known each other for a while. I was a part of something that she was helming as a director, but Covid happened, and things changed. I am a great fan of her in terms of acting, in terms of nuances and in terms of the kind of work she has done. I have always looked up to that. She is good at detailing her characters. She came to me with the role of a cook for this film, and that meant a lot because people generally don’t come to me with such roles. They think I look a certain way and come from a certain stratum. But Tannistha from the word go believed that I could do this. I was the only person she approached.
What feels different about being led by a woman’s vision?
Women tend to get each other a little more in terms of their inherent life, the conditioning, and the way they view society. There is something very intimate about opening to another woman, especially to a director. Sharing information becomes easier. The fact that Tannishtha and I have worked together before and know each other helps. It is an intimate space, and that helps you as an actor.
Were there any aspects of your character’s journey that you found mirrored in your own life?
The idea of finding your own voice in the midst of noise all around you and conflicts is something that is universal. Most of us can connect with that at the core level. Apart from that, I don’t because it is a very different representation. It is a world that I haven’t grown up in. I have been on the other side. But along the journey, I do remember that just being on the other side and the kind of interactions and relationships we have with our maid and cooks, it was quite contemplative and reflective in nature. It made me understand and empathise with the other side a lot more.
Tannishtha shared her battle with stage-4 cancer. Having worked so closely with her, what struck you most about her strength and spirit?
I have been on this journey with her for the last two years. This news came at the beginning of the year and last year, when we were getting into the film, she had just lost her dad. But she did not lose her focus even once. She was so present, involved and invested in spite of having gone through something like that. That made my respect grow for her, and I wanted to be by her side and support her even more.
Were there instances in your career that ended up teaching you lessons about choice or presence in the industry?
If you are someone who’s a little aware and who wishes to learn and grow in life, you will always look back at instances and your situations in life, and you will remember what they have taught you. I am a person driven by heart. My work feels like home to me. I used to have that kind of attitude when I started, and I realised over the years that not everybody considers it the same way. A lot of people just consider it work. And today, I have managed to achieve a balance where I am still together as a part of the team, and I treat everyone with respect and equality. But I have learnt how to spot people who do not behave the same way. I then don’t use my heart there; I operate from the space they are operating from.
I remember there were times initially when I would be doing good work, but one thing would not lead to another. I was pretty bad at PR. I never believed in PR. I eventually came to a point where I made peace with it. I still do not do a lot of PR, and I am okay with that. In terms of networking and being out there, I don’t think I’ve ever been comfortable with that or done much of it. And sometimes, through the journey, you wonder, ‘others are doing it, should you be doing it?’ But I came to a point where I became okay with the way I could do things. I’m glad that things have worked out in spite of my being a certain way.
What’s the most surprising compliment you’ve received for your craft?
There are a lot of compliments where people tell you about the depth and nuances of your acting, and I always have that look of surprise that they understood it. One of the compliments I have received is that I look beautiful crying on screen, and I take it as a real compliment because not everybody looks good crying. Crying on screen has to be genuine, and it is nice if you look pretty while doing that.
Four More Shots Please has a huge fan base. How do you feel about returning for Season 4, and how do you think the fans will react after watching it?
Four More Shots Please has become something really huge. And every time I seem to forget that fact, I get reminded by the fans and people around. I’m very thrilled about season four, which will be out soon. I felt that there should be something fresh I should receive as an actor. After three seasons of playing a certain character, you can get bored. The fourth season has been the best season for me. I went into it like the way I went into season one- very fresh and absolutely invested and involved. It’s a season where people will just have a blast watching it in terms of the freshness, the fun, the joy. And the girls have learned from their mistakes and have had time to contemplate, look back at their lives and yet the drama and the fun continue. It’s a bigger and better season for sure. We have more beautiful locations and great styling as well.
What’s next?
Apart from Four More Shots Please season 4 and Full Plate, I have completed a dark comedy film as well. There is a lot of interesting work on my side.
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