Revelling in the magic

Kubbra Sait, the actress who played Cuckoo in Sacred Games, is clean bowled by how her character has clicked with the viewers of the show. While she thought that Sultan would be the biggest milestone of her life, it was actually Sacred Games that cast a magic spell on viewers. Such has been the influence of the first Netflix original series from India that the actress has set her WhatsApp status to ‘Cuckoo Ka Jadoo’. The actress and anchor, who was in Jaipur to shoot for a travel series, talks about the character, Section 377, Rajasthan and more in a conversation with AFTERhrs. 

Feel like royalty

For the travel show, the anchor will be seen talking about ghevar and kachori, the delicacies from the Pink City. The actress has been to the city for quite a few times, “I had shot extensively in Rajasthan for TLC’s Notes from Rajasthan, and as soon as I land here, I end up feeling like a royalty,” quipped the actress who leaves for Udaipur today.

A beautiful dream

Kubbra, who’s as bold as the character she played in Sacred Games, believes that one cannot prepare for a character like this. “It is the people who resonate with the thought. It’s like happiness and sadness -- temporary! It is like climbing a ladder; if you don’t step on the next one, somebody else will. But it’s been a beautiful journey. It is the first time that people recognised the pain of the person behind it,” the actress opened up. “It’s fantastic that people got to know my name along with the character’s name, otherwise something like this takes years! Little things like these matter,” asserted the actress. With every project that she took up -- Sultan, Ready -- Kubbra felt it would be the biggest milestone of her career, “It is because my determination with everything I did was so strong! To me, it (Sacred Games) still seems like a dream, a beautiful dream.” 

Would she like to play a similar character in the future? The actress stressed that she would only do it again, if the same team is behind it. “Very few filmmakers have used sexuality as a subject to make movies; this was done so well. Cuckoo has been no less than an eye opener. We have all seen movies revolving around a girl and a boy, but Cuckoo has opened another paradigm. If Cuckoo ever happens again, then it has to be directed by Anurag Kashyap and written by Varun Grover. I can’t do it without the same team, they have given me so much that I don’t want to break the lucky charm,” she expressed. 

Happiest when busy

The actress shared that she did Sacred Games for herself, so she was never worried about any negative remarks it would draw. “Even the next one that I am doing, Law & Honour, is a short but intense role,” added Kubbra, who has a guest appearance in Gully Boy. “In this film, I play me, as an anchor. I think I am going to keep a balance between the two (acting and anchoring). And I am never going to say no to who I am,” said the actress. “In fact, I am the happiest when busy, if I am busy plucking grapes in a vineyard, I’d be happy,” she added. 

No more fear!

While her character in Sacred Games explores a different dimension to sexuality, soon after, the Section 377 verdict gave way to more discussions on the same lines. “It is a good start. You forget about the changes, it is like you just got pregnant and still have 9 months to go for the baby. It is only the verdict that is out; people who were living in fear about their identity, will finally have the courage of acceptance. People will be embracing who they are and will not have to lie anymore. With the scrapping of section 377, people will have mental freedom,” she added.