Naila Grrewal recently received rave reviews for her work in Maamla Legal Hai, which premiered on Netflix on March 1. The series features her as Ananya Shroff, a Havard graduate who tries to carve a niche for herself in the legal world.
Speaking exclusively to The Daily Guardian, Naila said that her work in Taapsee Pannu’s Thappad helped her do justice to Maamla Legal Hai.
“My journey as an actor began with Tamasha but back then I was just warming up to the idea of being on camera. Thappad, in hindsight, helped me work a lot while shooting Maamla Legal Hai. This character, like the one in that film, required a great deal of realism and depth,” she said.
Naila also visited courts and interacted with lawyers to get into the skin of her character. Additionally, she observed people in her age group to perfect her body language.
“The idea was to make the character fit the space in question. She needed to come across as someone who blended with the universe of the show. I visited the Bombay High Court to observe lawyers. I also observed young women to see how they talk, sit, and behave,” added Naila.
Maamla Legal Hai emerged as a surprise hit on OTT with critics lauding the performances and the quirky narrative. Naila’s work, in particular, was one of the highlights.
“I have been receiving messages from all over the world, right from Canada to The Netherlands. People are identifying with the character. And, it could so easily have been the other way around. I am excited and humbled that people could relate to her,” added Naila.
Naila began her career with Ranbir Kapoor’s Tamasha, which hit screens in 2015. She later appeared in Bareilly Ki Barfi, Bhangra Pa Le, and Thappad. However, Maamla Legal proved to be a game-changer for her. The series saw her work alongside established names such as Ravi Kishan, Tanvi Azmi, and Yashpal Sharma.
Directed by Rahul Pandey, it is set in Patparganj, and centres on a few eccentric district court staffers, as they try to deliver justice. The series has already been renewed for a second season.
Naila will next be seen in Ishq Vishk Rebound, a reboot of Shahid Kapoor’s Ishq Vishk (2003). Its cast includes Rohit Saraf, Pashmina Roshan, and Jibraan Khan. The film is slated to hit screens this June.