She likes to tell stories and make her actors get into the skin of the character. Ashwiny Iyer, who made an impact with her debut project Nil Battey Sannata, is now all set with her next quirky romantic film Bareilly Ki Barfi, which looks remarkably different from her earlier project.
Though she has proved her mettle, at times she is addressed as Nitesh Tiwari’s wife. The director is least bothered and says that we still belong to a male chauvinistic society.
“I don’t care when people address me Nitesh Tiwari’s wife, and neither does he. We still belong to a male chauvinistic society. Anywhere I go, they still ask me ‘Miss or Mrs?’ Nitesh didn’t want me to change my surname on official documents like the passport, but they do ask for the husband’s name,” Ashwiny said.
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She continued, “All women face these discriminations. And it’s not that India hasn’t evolved. We have come a long way, but there’s still so much that has to change.”
Ashwiny’s movie is based on a French book, titled Ingredients of Love. Nitesh, who adapted the book into the script, has woven a quirky tale set against the backdrop of Bareilly.
Ask Ashwiny how is comedy as a genre and she replies, “Comedy is challenging because I don’t make slapstick comedies that are over the top. That’s a different ball game altogether. My movies are realistic and inspired by life. Keeping it away from slapstick is a task.”
The glamourous Kriti Sanon will be seen in an entirely de-glam avatar. Talking about her, Ashwiny said, “If you are a good actor it doesn’t matter what role you do. We have these tags, but just because she looks trendy you can’t typecast her. I see her as a simple girl with lots of potential.”
The romantic comedy, rooted in the subculture of the north Indian city of Bareilly, features Rajkummar Rao, Ayushmann Khurrana and Kriti. The film will hit the screens on August 18.
