Nitya Mathur recently impressed fans with her portrayal of Nikita in the web series Sisterhood, which centres on the bond between a group of friends. The Nayana Shyam-directed show has clicked with the younger audience with its simple yet relatable plot and effective presentation. In an exclusive interview with The Daily Guardian, Nitya opened up about working on Sisterhood and revealed that the process behind preparing for her role. She also praised Nayana for being “one of the sweetest and kindest people” she has worked with.
Edited excerpts from the interview:
What made you take up Sisterhood?
It was the script. A few auditions later, I realised that there was something special in the script. It was funny yet very nuanced at the same time. I related to the fact that the show is about sisterhood. I have a sisterhood in real life as well. The fact that the character is driven by her friends makes it a special one for me.
Are there any similarities between you and the character?
There are very few similarities. Nikita has a rebellious streak and is impulsive. If she feels a certain way, you will see it in her face. She can’t hold back. I am not like that. This made it exciting for me to be cast as Nikita. It also gave me the chance to push my boundaries. That said, I could relate to the love that she has for her friends.
How did you prepare for your role?
We had a few days of workshops. It was important to have real-life chemistry as that is what translates on the screen. So the main thing was to know the girls and build that comfort with them. For Nikita, I focused on figuring out what is different between us. Then I tried to tweak my mannerisms to suit her. The character has Golden Retriever energy as she has a lot of love for everything she does.
How was the experience of working with Nayana?
Nayana is one of the sweetest and kindest people I have known. She leads with love. There was a camaraderie on the set. Everyone dil se kaam karte the. She really gave us space. Her biggest achievement was to spread love on the set, which translated on the big screen.
In the OTT space, actors need to constantly reinvent themselves to deal with competition. How do you plan to do this?
I primarily have control over my craft alone. The idea is to focus on it and do the best acting. We are in an environment where craft is a highlight. There are challenges but I think focusing on what is in my hand will benefit me more than focusing on something that is not in my control.
