Action is always on the edge, says actor Kirti Kulhari

Whenever a new role comes her way, there is only one thing that actor Kirti Kulhari trusts — her instinct. She feels things seldom go wrong if one has the ear to listen to the faint whisper of the gut.For someone who made her acting debut with ‘Khichdi: The Movie’ in 2010, and was later seen in films like ‘Shaitan’, ‘Pink’, ‘Uri: The Surgical Strike’, OTT outings like ‘Four More Shots Please!’, ‘Criminal Justice’, and ‘Human’, and now the independent movie ‘Full Plate’, written and directed by Tannishtha Chatterjee, a diverse representation of characters is extremely important.“I do not want to be boxed. I do not want to be predictable. I do not want to play safe. What is the point if the audience or directors can second-guess my character’s reaction? And not just for others — it is important that I shock myself with each role. I guess that is what keeps an actor essentially alive,” stresses Kulhari.The actor, whose latest film ‘Full Plate’ was recently screened at the Dharamshala International Film Festival (DIFF) and won the Visionary Director Award at the 2025 Busan International Film Festival, insists that working on the film reminded her of her theatre days, as the director, Tannishtha Chatterjee work-shopped extensively and believed in rehearsals before takes. The film explores the personal, professional, and marital challenges of Kulhari’s character as she uses her culinary skills for a new job, leading to tensions with her husband and family.The movie also addresses multiple issues, including patriarchy, prejudice, and changing roles within the household.Adding that independent films with directors willing to go the extra mile offer a wider canvas to actors who like to experiment, Kulhari states, “Considering these films are never just about the box office, there is always this commitment towards excellence in each department, thus pushing you to challenge yourself consistently and offer newer perspectives to the characters. As an actor, I look for stories and teams that offer this potential — you can grow only outside the comfort zone. There is little point in doing work that will give you just temporary fame and money — but then that is a personal view,” she adds.As the conversation veers towards her process, she makes it clear that it is not ‘method’ that she follows. Believing in taking a deep dive into the character’s soul and then quickly coming to the surface once the director shouts ‘cut’, Kulhari, citing examples of ‘Criminal Justice’ and ‘Full Plate’, smiles, “I admit that there is always a fear of the darkness coming back to me, latching on to me … the reason why I like to quickly get inside and then divorce the character between takes.”The key, she adds, is to read and discuss the scenes with the director multiple times in order to reach the subtext, as it is between the dialogues where the performance finds a place, and where the real magic lies.All for intimate festivals like DIFF being organised in Tier-2 cities, the actor feels that it is important not to underestimate the audiences in these cities. “Why restrict good cinema only to the metros? Besides giving an opportunity to filmmakers and actors to interact with the audience, it is also a great platform to listen to emerging voices.”The actor feels that over the years, there has been a constant blurring of lines between mainstream and independent cinema. “Considering the very diverse set of audiences during a festival, it is not hard to admit that it is we who have projected our discrimination onto the audience. It is high time we take a step back and let the audience expose themselves to art without strict silos,” she opines.Kulhari feels that four years of doing theatre before she entered films have shaped her as an actor who can think for herself, and offer more than what directors expect her to deliver as theatre as a medium prepares you for everything — physically, mentally and spiritually. “The long rehearsal days, continuous shows, and direct interactions with audiences ensure that you emerge well-rounded. Not to mention, the knowledge of departments other than acting,” she states.Hoping that there is a greater support system and a more vibrant ecosystem to sustain independent cinema in the country, the actor feels that considering the fact that over the years, the country has produced some remarkable films which have won top honours at prestigious film festivals across the globe, there should be no doubt in anyone’s mind about the potential of young Indian directors.“Everybody needs to come together in support — the government, distributors, and audiences. A few small steps can open floodgates of opportunity — adequate finance, an intact distribution system and screenings at multiplexes, etc.”As the fourth season of ‘Four More Shots Please!’ gets set to release in January, Kulhari, who has just finished another film and is looking forward to the release of one in the middle of next year, concludes, “Let’s hope in the coming years, I can work with filmmakers who do not hold back and are committed to telling stories from the soil in their unique cinematic language.”— The writer is a freelance contributor

Action is always on the edge, says actor Kirti Kulhari

For Kulhari, independent cinema promises the perfect recipe for shattering stereotypes and lending new dimensions to characters

Sukant Deepak

Action is always on the edge, says actor Kirti Kulhari

For Kulhari, independent cinema promises the perfect recipe for shattering stereotypes and lending new dimensions to characters

Sukant Deepak

Unlock Premium Insights in This Article