Natasha Bharadwaj confesses that she took workshops with her mother’s help to get into the skin of Dr Diya. By Khushbu Kirti
The newly released OTT Mumbai Diaries 26/11 is up and running on Amazon Prime TV and has garnered a lot of praise in its bank. Soaring high on all ratings, the web series brings on the screen a portrayal of the terrorist attacks that occurred on the fateful night of November 26, 2008, in Mumbai. The show, however, highlights a unique angle — the point of view of the medical fraternity that treated the victims of the attacks, under mammoth pressure and amidst back-breaking circumstances. One of the resident doctors, Diya Parekh, is played by the model-turned-actress Natasha Bharadwaj.
In an exclusive heart-to-heart with Bharadwaj, she opened up about her experience playing Dr Diya. Below are certain excerpts from the interview:
On talking with Shreya Dhanwanthary, we gathered that the series, Mumbai Diaries 26/11, explores an angle that hasn’t been discussed before - what went through the frontline workers that calamitous night.
On that note, tell us a bit about your character.
This is the first time we’ve had a medical drama as a show and how the doctors are under constant pressure, and how they work round the clock, is what we had to witness and understand, even live the experience, in a way. No matter what is happening in their personal lives, they put themselves out there and treat as many patients as possible, saving each and every breath. This was extremely important for us to know.
Talking about my character, I play Dr Diya Parekh and she is this girl who comes from a sense of privilege. Her Dada ji owns the hospital but she is someone who wants to create a mark and is good at her job, too. But at the same time, she is suffering from anxiety and depression and how these problems kick in at a time when you just don’t want them to and how she needs to cope with every situation is the focus. This is her time to shine and to prove her mettle. That is when Dr Diya puts everything aside, focusses at the humongous task at hand and really pulls through.
I read somewhere that your mother is a doctor. Did that help you engulf the essence of the role?
Yes, my mother is a doctor and she has always been my inspiration. She has really helped me groom into the character. I was blessed to have her beside me, who could talk me through this because her experiences were something that I actually fed off. She has treated so many patients and there are innumerable stories that are unbelievably inspiring and heart wrenching. I cannot define the takeaway really but this has helped me tremendously in creating Dr Diya, undoubtedly. I remember I used to visit the hospital with her, as a kid. She would go to operate and I used to sit around in her cabin. I enjoyed looking at the slides placed under the microscope and for the longest time that I can remember, I’ve always been in a hospital environment. However, this show needed something completely different. It’s a government hospital. There are entirely different kinds of obstacles that occur at a government hospital and when everything breaks loose, how these hospitals really get affected was what we needed to portray in the show.
Acting is something inspired from reality... how much and what kind of research did you do? How did you prepare for the finer detasils which were reflected on screen while playing a resident doctor?
Getting into the skin of the character was extremely (elongates on the word, emphasising on it) important. Mr Nikhil Advani, our director, and the co-director, Mr Nikhil Gonsalves, both had such a clear vision of what they wanted and the way they wanted it. Before our medical workshop started for the web series, I began my own workshops. I discussed with my mother her experiences, and the manner doctors function in reality. I tried to soak the medical jargon. Thereafter, I went for a first-aid workshop at the American Heart Association and I also went to one of my mother’s colleague’s government hospitals. I was there for a couple of days to witness what trauma is like, what emergencies looked like and that helped me step into the shoes of the character. At the same time, I had to learn and unlearn a lot. I believe this is what aided me in preparing for the finer details which were reflected on screen while playing Dr Diya.
From modelling, dancing, karate, to films, you have had a successful career as a dancer and model. How did the shift to Bollywood take place? How are the two lives different for you? And, which one do you like more?
I’m extremely grateful for everything that I’ve had the opportunity to do. I don’t think there has been any kind of shift. I’ve aspired to become an actor since the very beginning. I am glad and thankful that, at the moment, I received the opportunity to work with such brilliant people who create lovely cinema that touches people’s hearts. One thing has led to the other so I’m just happy for all the good experiences and bad, but everything that took place has made me who I am today and I am nothing but grateful for it all.
