Love Per Square Foot Actress Angira Dhar On Her Debut Film, Dream House And Her Upcoming Projects!

Angira Dhar is slowly but steadily making her way into Bollywood. The Mumbai girl, who had started off as an off camera crew member on Channel V, has already made her Bollywood debut. She had made us all her fans with YFilms’ web-series, Bang Baaja Baarat opposite Ali Fazal , and now, she has mesmerized us once again with her debut film, Love Per Square Foot that released on Netflix on Valentine’s Day.

We had a chance of catching up with the vivacious Angira post the release of her film. She opened up about her journey from off camera to on-camera, on the response to Love Per Square Foot and also her upcoming projects.

Hi Angira, first of all, congratulations on your debut film. Love Per Square Foot got a Netflix release instead of a theatrical release. So how did you feel about that?

See, we were looking at a theatrical release in the beginning.  But when I found out that it was a Netflix release, I was very very happy. I could just imagine the reach this film will have. That was insane because as imagined I was getting so many messages and responses from places like Brazil and Turkey. Like someone is messaging me from Patna and someone from Russia. So it is as beautiful as that!

Love Per Square Foot has the backdrop of Mumbai and how taking a flat there can be very difficult. Do you think the audiences would relate to it everywhere?

Uh, I think because we are living in a fast-paced and continuously growing world, where the population isn’t pretty much under control, I believe that every major city in every country would be facing similar issues that a Mumbaikar faces. I feel that this problem is pretty global. We just took the issue of Mumbai but we knew that this story would be somewhat relatable to maybe somewhere in Paris. I know this is true because of the kind of responses we are getting from faraway countries, as I said.

The fact is there is not just a crunch and problem in the physical state but also in the mental state! We strive to find our own space, even more so when we become independent.

You had worked for Channel V before, behind the camera of course. How was this transition from being an off-camera person to an on-camera person was like?

When I was off-camera, I never imagined that I would someday be working in front of the camera but of course, while I was growing up I was looking at the screen and seeing all the heroines perform. You know, Sridevi had always been one of my favourite superstars. I have seen her and so many women create magic on-screen. And would always imagine how it would be to be where they are. I am just grateful that I have a film right now and it has helped me reach so many people through my craft.

 I was a producer with Channel V and was only involved in production work behind camera. The transition was touchwood, quite smooth and organic for me. I was getting a lot of offers from the directors I had met with during my stint as an off-camera person. I hadn’t imagined myself as an actress at that point in time.

One day I was sitting in a café and Shanoo Sharma, who is the casting director of YRF spotted me and asked if I was an actress. That’s when my life changed. She took me under her wing and almost mentored me. And that’s how everything started.

How did Love Per Square Foot happen from there?

Anand Tiwari, the director of Bang Baaja Baarat also directed this film. We worked together and at that time I had no idea about this script. But much later, I got a call from Honey Trehan, who’s the casting director of our film. I went through a 3-hour long audition and it was quite intense.

Were there any preparations for the role.

Yeah, there were a lot of preparations as Karina D’Souza, my character is quite different from Angira Dhar in personality. But we share similar morals. I believe whatever was written for Karina D’Souza in the script. I really related to it. But to be Karina was a whole different process. I used to do my rounds in Badra, go to the smaller gallies and church and feel it! It was a long, but beautiful process because I could see myself become Karina.

You also got to work with many veteran actors in this film…

I did, and I am so thankful and grateful for that. I got to work with all the really experienced theatre professionals. They have so much knowledge to impart. There is so much to learn from them, for example, their judgment on a certain character or how a certain scene should be done. I would just observe them and feel happy that I am getting to learn from them just when I am starting off!

You have gone through a lot of good changes in the past few years and I think the future would also be bright for you. So what are the future projects where we will see you?

Uh, so I am right now reading some interesting scripts and meeting a few people. There would be quite a few good things happening which unfortunately I can’t talk about right now. I am so looking forward to a few things and this is a really great time to be in the industry!

So up next we will have quick rapid fire

*Sigh*

You feel nervous with rapid fires?

I don’t know. Rapid fire never remains a rapid fire.

Ok, let’s start. Ali Fazal or Vicky Kaushal , the better co-star?

Oh no no. I can’t actually make a comparison. It’s impossible because they are two different human beings and actors. It’s unfair.

Production or acting?

Acting

550 sq feet in Mumbai or 2000 sq. feet in Shimla?

2000 sq feet in Shimla. Post-retirement for sure.

But an actor never retires…

Uhm yeah, I would be working and I hope to make my own film one day because I have a production background. Maybe sometime in the future.

Current crush in Bollywood.

*thinking* I don’t know… I have many crushes, I like many people. I like Ranveer Singh and Ranbir Kapoor …

The namesakes…

Yes. I think they are everyone’s crushes, isn’t it?

How would you imagine your dream house to be?

It would have lots of greenery, lots of plants. It will be those houses that either overlooks a mountain range or a beautiful lake. I am more of a mountain person, so this house in Shimla that you are talking about can be my favourite! *Laughs*

Angira Dhar is slowly but steadily making her way into Bollywood. The Mumbai girl, who had started off as an off camera crew member on Channel V, has already made her Bollywood debut. She had made us all her fans with YFilms’ web-series, Bang Baaja Baarat opposite Ali Fazal, and now, she has mesmerized us once again with her debut film, Love Per Square Foot that released on Netflix on Valentine’s Day.

We had a chance of catching up with the vivacious Angira post the release of her film. She opened up about her journey from off camera to on-camera, on the response on Love Per Square Foot and also her upcoming projects.

Hi Angira, first of all, congratulations for your debut film. Love Per Square Foot got a Netflix release instead of a theatrical release. So how did you feel about that?

See, we were looking at a theatrical release in the beginning.  But when I found out that it was a Netflix release, I was very very happy. I could just imagine the reach this film will have. That was insane because as imagined I was getting so many messages and responses from places like Brazil and Turkey. Like someone is messaging me from Patna and someone from Russia. So it is as beautiful as that!

Love Per Sqaure Foot has the backdrop of Mumbai and how taking a flat there can be very difficult. Do you think the audiences would relate to it everywhere?

Uh, I think because we are living in a fast paced and continuously growing world, where the population isn’t pretty much under control, I believe that every major city in every country would be facing similar issues that a Mumbaikaar faces. I feel that this problem is pretty global. We just took the issue of Mumbai but we knew that this story would be somewhat relatable to maybe somewhere in Paris. I know this is true because of the kind of responses we are getting from faraway countries, as I said.

The fact is there is not just a crunch and problem in physical state but also in the mental state! We strive to find our own space, even more so when we become independent.

You had worked for Channel V before, behind the camera of course. How was this transition from being an off camera person to an on-camera person was like?

When I was off-camera, I never imagined that I would someday working in front of the camera but of course, while I was growing up I was looking at the screen and seeing all the heroines perform. You know, Sridevi had always been one of my favourite superstar. I have seen her and so many women create magic on-screen. And would always imagine how it would be to be where they are. I am just grateful that I have a film right now and it has helped me reach so many people through my craft.

 I was a producer with Channel V and was only involved in production work behind camera. The transition was touchwood, quite smooth and organic for me. I was getting a lot of offers from the directors I had met with during my stint as an off camera person. I hadn’t imagined myself as an actress at that point of time.

One day I was sitting in a café and Shanoo Sharma, who is the casting director of YRF spotted me and asked if if I was an actress. That’s when my life changed. She took my under her wing and almost mentored me. And that’s how everything started.

How did Love Per Sqaure Foot happen from there?

Anand Tiwari, the director of Bang Baaja Baarat also directed this film. We worked together and at that time I had no idea about this script. But much later, I got a call from Honey Trehan, who’s the casting director of our film. I went through a 3 hour long audition and it was quite intense.

Were there any preparations for the role.

Yeah, there were a lot of preparations as Karina D’Souza, my character is quite different from Angira Dhar in personality. But we share similar morals. I believe whatever was written for Karina D’Souza in the script. I really related to it. But to be Karina was a whole different process. I used to do my rounds in Badra, go to the smaller gallies and church and feel it! It was a long, but beautiful process because I could see myself become Karina.

You also got to work with many veteran actors in this film…

I did, and I am so thankful and grateful for that. I got to work with all the really experienced theatre professionals. They have so much knowledge to impart. There is so much to learn from them, for example their judgement on a certain character or how a certain scene should be done. I would just observe them and feel happy that I am getting to learn from them just when I am starting off!

You have gone through a lot of good changes in the past few years and I think the future would also be bright for you. So what are the future projects where we will see you?

Uh, so I am right now reading some interesting scripts and meeting a few people. There would be quite a few good things happening which unfortunately I can’t talk about right now. I am so looking forward to a few things and this is a really great time to be in the industry!

So up next we will have quick rapid fire

*Sigh*

You feel nervous with rapid fires?

I don’t know. Rapid fire never remains a rapid fire.

Ok let’s start. Ali Fazal or Vicky Kaushal, the better co-star?

Oh no no. I can’t actually make a comparison. It’s impossible because they are two different human beings and actors. It’s unfair.

Production or acting?

Acting

550 sq feet in Mumbai or 2000 sq. feet in Shimla?

2000 sq feet in Shimla. Post retirement for sure.

But an actor never retires…

Uhm yeah, I would be working and I hope to make my own film one day because I have a production background. Maybe sometime in the future.

Current crush in Bollywood.

*thinking* I don’t know… I have many crushes, I like many people. I like Ranveer Singh and Ranbir Kapoor…

The namesakes…

Yes. I think they are everyone’s crushes, isn’t it?

How would you imagine your dream house to be?

It would have lots of greenery, lots of plants. It will be those houses that either overlooks a mountain range or a beautiful lake. I am more of a mountain person, so this house in Shimla that you are talking about can be my favourite! *Laughs*