Kubbra Sait recently starred in Prakash Jha’s Sankalp, which showcased her fierce side as a cop. The actress stands out as a true advocate for embracing one’s uniqueness and constantly evolving. With a career spanning over 15 years in both Bollywood and the global stage, she has made her mark. In an exclusive chat with Mid-day, she talks about working with Nana Patekar, being judged for her looks, and sheds light on how the industry is evolving.
Kubbra on working with Nana Patekar
Talking about sharing space with veterans like Nana Patekar and filmmaker Prakash Jha, Kubbra says, “When you have a script rooted in a teacher-student dynamic, there’s an inherent sense of submission. Working with stalwarts like them, you can never step out of being a student.”
The Farzi actress also shares how she looked up to actors like Divya Dutta, Sheeba Chadha and Radhika Apte as her mentors. She credits the rise of OTT platforms for expanding opportunities, allowing audiences to embrace complex, layered female characters beyond traditional leads.
Kubbra Sait on being judged for her looks
Opening up about her early struggles in the industry, Kubbra Sait reflected on starting out in second-lead roles and navigating self-doubt, beauty standards, and personal growth. She asserts, “I had no idea what I was coming into, so I was willing to make mistakes. And you should be willing to fail on your own account. I take responsibility for my failures because I want to be the one who rises.”
She adds that she has seen things change for actors while recalling how she was judged for her looks initially. “I was told that my nose is crooked and that my curly hair would not work. There was a time when every ‘beautiful’ girl had straight hair. I used to get my hair straightened and rebonded. Then I stopped wearing my hair curly. Eventually, I started believing that I look beautiful no matter what. I think that’s because I had no one else to support me but my own mind.”
Kubbra Sait on her journey
After spending nearly 15 years in showbiz, Kubbra believes a lot has changed and evolved for the better. “I feel like this industry has done a lot of good. We’re not doing things that we would have done 50 years ago, and that’s exciting for me to see and understand. One thing that has been in conversation a lot in recent times is how we are one cinema.”
Kubbra also points out a crucial shift she hopes to see more of. “In our Bollywood, so to speak, we are largely an artist-driven or star-driven industry. But I think it needs to become a story-driven industry.”
Addressing ongoing industry concerns, she acknowledges that progress is being made, albeit gradually. “Pay parity is something we are still working on. There are big changes happening. Earlier, there was no entourage culture, but now it has become a big thing. What happens is, if we pick up one trend, we tend to amplify it. Even paid PR has become disproportionately significant now. At the end of the day, you have to ask yourself, if your business needs to survive, are you willing to do paid PR? There’s a benefit to everything, but there’s also a downside.”
Kubbra’s upcoming movies
The actress will next be seen in David Dhawan’s Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai. Expressing excitement about the project, she gushed, “I was called by David sir, and I immediately said yes. Even being directed by him for a second is a blessing, and I’m very happy. I got to work with one of the greats of this country, and a legend in comedy and entertainment.” She is also a part of Farzi Season 2.