My director, my teacher

Pragati Srivastava. Pics/Instagram

Had someone told Pragati Srivastava a year ago that she would be making her Hindi film debut with a Prakash Jha movie, she would've laughed at the thought's incredulity. In fact, when she was chosen as the female lead of Janaadesh, she didn't even know Jha was at the helm. "What drew me first was the script, before I even knew it was a Prakash Jha sir film. Coming from the South industry, I had done strong roles, but this one had a political edge and a moral ambiguity that felt different," she recalled.

Prakash Jha

The excitement only grew when she learnt Jha was directing the political drama, led by Rahul Bose and Ishwak Singh. Observing the director at work became an education in itself. "As a newcomer, you absorb everything - how a scene is discussed, actors are directed, and decisions are made on set. I'm fortunate that my first experience in Hindi cinema has been with someone who is so invested in the story he is telling," she said.