Past sexual harassment incident helped 'Chiraiya' actor relate to role
What's the story
Prasanna Bisht, who plays Pooja in the recent web series Chiraiya, has opened up about how she prepared for her emotionally complex role. The show, which also stars Divya Dutta and Sanjay Mishra, has sparked discussions on sexual harassment, marital rape, consent, and victim blaming. In a recent interview with Mid-Day, Bisht revealed that a personal experience of sexual harassment helped her get into character.
Emotional preparation
'And there was this person who crossed their limits'
Bisht revealed that she had faced harassment during a previous shoot, which helped her understand the emotional depth of her character. She said, "I had invested so much of my emotions and my time in a project that I was emotionally connected to. And there was this person who crossed their limits. When I spoke about it in front of the team, I thought the team would back me up on that. But they started quoting me as a problem."
Role reflection
How her experience helped her get into character
In Chiraiya, Bisht plays Pooja, a newly married woman who becomes a victim of marital rape. She said, "So I think that experience really helped me. I think I was just portraying what I went through. That's how I could relate to the character more." "It's the trauma that we all have seen. It's the experiences that we all have faced as women. And I have seen it happening around me, with me."
Emotional impact
On the emotional scenes in 'Chiraiya'
Bisht also spoke about a particularly emotional scene where her character seeks help from her mother, who refuses to listen. She revealed it stayed with her. "It happened when there's a scene where I go, and I try to speak to my mother and she tells me to go back. She doesn't help me, she doesn't listen to me. So, of course, it was very dark, and it was very heavy."
Societal reflection
Bisht on why such scenes are important
Bisht, who comes from a supportive family, was shocked by the lack of support for daughters in some households. She said, "When I did that scene, then I realized that there are so many parents out there who don't even support their daughters. And that completely shattered me." "I think everything takes time. You just live with it. You don't come out of it. You just live with it, and you just talk about it." Chiraiya is streaming on JioHotstar.