Swinging into the big act

She talks about acting or theatre like it’s science; a complicated subject to master. But it isn’t the lights or the script that makes her want to be onscreen, it’s just her undying passion for the arts. And with her remarkable portrayal of a 14-year-old in Haramkhor, Shweta Tripathi has arrived in the movie business.

Shweta isn’t just an actress, but also a theatre artiste, assistant director, fashion designer and photographer. Yes, she can do all of that effortlessly.
They say everything happens at the right time, and “now” is the time for this petite actress to shine on celluloid. Here, she opens up about how she went on to play the part of a tomboyish kid in Kya Mast Hai Life, to bagging a role opposite critically acclaimed actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui!

The daughter of an IAS officer, this Delhiite assures us that there has been no filmi association in her family. So how did she fall in love with acting then?
“My parents were culturally inclined and we used to go watch plays and I guess I may have picked it up from there. I always knew I had to be on stage,” she recalls.

For as long as she can remember, Shweta wanted to be an actress, be it on stage or in front of the camera. However, she never gave it a serious thought and went on to pursue designing at NIFT, Delhi. And it was only during her final year that she consciously decided to get into an acting school.

Shweta shares, “I had initially thought I would speak to my dad about my ambitions and he would decline. But he was very supportive and asked me to get into National School of Drama. So, I decided to attend workshops instead of getting a degree.”

And with workshops, Shweta began to understand the techniques. “Acting was therapeutic for me, it made me extremely happy,” adding to which she sums up her love for the craft, “You can be so many different people, understand human psychology and have a character which would be an extension of your own reality. This constant process of evolving as a person is what pushes me to be an actor till today.”

Shweta recalls how she worked her way up the ladder. From doing photo shoots, styling, advertisement projects, modelling and even working on scripts, she has been there and done it all.
Speaking about her production house, allmytea, which has done close to three plays, she says, “Theatre was a project which helped me learn what happens backstage. It made me understand simple things about acting — where to stand and where one makes the maximum impact and more. We are a group of avid theatre lovers who’ve come together and want to make a mark.”

Of course, acting is something she likes but Shweta is extremely choosy about her work, for which she receives a lot of flak. “As an actor, I think I have a responsibility — I do not want to be working in something that I am not excited or proud of.” She further stresses that she would never endorse fairness cream brands or anything that is against her principles. “I want to do roles which will turn a bolt in your head, not just random acting.”

Even Haramkhor, she says, is a moving subject of how a student falls in love with her teacher played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui, “It is a conventional subject,” and she reveals that she had nightmares after the shoot. Anurag Kashyap has complimented her performance as she excitedly says, “These are the kind of directors I want to work with, and when they praise me I am thrilled beyond words.”

Shweta is currently working on her next film with Neeraj Gheywan, titled Masaan. “After watching my performance in Haramkhor, Neeraj wrote this story for me and that is such a huge compliment,” says the girl, who is also a surfer and a scuba diver. Yes, water is her second love, but that can wait, as for now she is busy handling the camera with panache!