Actress Annapurna Soni who is known for her work in 'Cheepatakdumpa', 'Delhi Crime 2', 'Sunflower', 'Rangbaaz' and 'Chhapaak', is currently seen in Netflix’s 'The Railway Men' featuring alongside Babil Khan, Kay Kay Menon and R Madhavan among others. The series is directed by Shiv Rawail and produced by YRF.
Talking about her role in the series, she tells Outlook India, "Shazia, a character inspired by the real-life Sajda Bano, faces the tragic loss of her husband in a gas leak accident at the factory in 1981. Amidst her grief, she finds solace and support in Imaad Riaz played by Babil Khan, a close friend of her late husband. Imaad's presence becomes a beacon of hope for Shazia and her family, fostering a deep emotional connection between them."
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Sharing about how she prepped for the role, Annapurna says, "Stepping into the shoes of Shazia, presented a unique challenge for me. Sajda's experiences, rooted in a time before my birth, were vastly different from my own. To bridge this gap, I delved into the context of that era, immersing myself in news articles, photographs, and videos. While these resources provided valuable insights, truly embodying Shazia's strength and resilience proved elusive."
"Inspiration struck as I watched interviews of renowned actors, their effortless transitions into diverse roles igniting a sense of possibility within me. With this newfound confidence, I stepped onto the set, embracing the transformative power of costume, makeup, and directorial guidance. Gradually, the boundaries between myself and Shazia began to blur," Soni added.
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Describing her working experience with actors like Kay Kay Menon, R. Madhavan and Babil Khan, she mentions, "Working with actors like Kay Kay Menon and Madhavan sir was an incredible learning experience for me. I remember watching Kay Kay Menon's scene on the monitor before shooting my own, and his ease and intensity were so inspiring. It felt like his preparation was just flowing naturally on screen. Madhavan sir, despite being such a big name, was so friendly and relaxed on set. He even sat next to me for a while, and I didn't even recognize him at first. It was quite funny, but it made me realize how humble and down-to-earth they all were. They made me feel so comfortable. And let me tell you, Babil's energy is off the charts! His curiosity and willingness to learn and work are truly amazing. It was a blast talking to him and even more fun doing scenes together. I feel really fortunate to have worked with such great actors."
