Breaking out of the stereotypes added to the experience of Ajeeb Daastaans, says Nushrratt Bharuccha

The anthology film Ajeeb Daastaans (2021) sees Nushrratt Bharuccha play a house help, Meenal, in director Raj Mehta's segment, Khilauna.

The actress felt her experience filming with actor Abhishek Banerjee and child artiste Inayat Verma was memorable. Though short, she enjoyed the process and the camaraderie on the sets, making it one of her most cherished experiences.

Moreover, she was playing a role that is completely different from those she had previously enacted. The short explores Meenal’s struggles to maintain a decent life for herself and her young sister.

Speaking about the shoot, Bharuccha said, “We shot the film just for eight days but being extremely honest, I have not had so much fun shooting any other film that I’ve worked on. Raj is a genius but is also hilarious, funny and too cool. He is a really passionate filmmaker, and he truly enjoys the process of directing a film and being on a set.

“While shooting for a film, there are always those great shots you get or you try to get, but it’s also about enjoying the process - and that’s where this experience stands out for me," she continued.

“Adding to the fun was Inayat, my partner in crime. I loved every bit of her company and we have had a great camaraderie in real life too. We are still in touch to date and catch up often. I really hope to work with Raj, and of course Inayat again in the near future. Also, this is very different from my earlier roles, so breaking out of the stereotypes added to the experience,” she said.

Mehta’s Khilauna, written by Sumit Saxena, looks at the games people play and how they get played in the process. According to the makers, the short film “highlights the intense survival and manipulation instincts of humans as well as the impact that surroundings have on impressionable young minds”.

The anthology produced by Dharmatic Entertainment also comprises shorts directed by Shashank Khaitan, Neeraj Ghaywan, and Kayoze Irani. Ajeeb Daastaans is due to be released on 16 April on Netflix and features a cast that includes Fatima Sana Shaikh, Jaideep Ahlawat, Konkona Sen Sharma, Aditi Rao Hydari, Shefali Shah, Manav Kaul and Tota Roy Chowdhury.