What guarantees you a role in a film? While craft is obvious, the new surprising criteria which has come into being is one’s Instagram presence, something which actor Zoya Hussain says she has been at the receiving end of. Known for her breakout performance in Anurag Kashyap’s Mukkabaaz and the Disney+ Hotstar series Grahan, Zoya says she has been “dropped” from projects because of having less followers on the app.
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Zoya Hussain, who has also appeared in music videos of Prateek Kuhad’s Cold Mess, When Chai Met Toast and the Prime Video series Big Girls Don’t Cry, is currently seen in Manoj Bajpayee starrer Bhaiyya Ji. It is her first theatrical release since her 2017 debut and the actor says it feels exhilarating as, unlike star kids, she wasn’t handed anything on a platter and didn’t have “marketing or PR push” backing her.
In an interview with Indianexpress.com, Zoya Hussain talks about her Bollywood journey, which has tested her patience, made her reflect, broken her from within but also has given her the will to march on. “Craft has very little to do with most things, unfortunately, that’s how it rolls,” the actor says as she opens up about her career.
Edited excerpt:
Zoya Hussain.
You have been in the industry for seven years now, what is your criteria to say yes to a project?
After Mukkabaaz, all my released were during the pandemic. Bhaiyya Ji was my first theatrical release after that. That has been the case for most actors, who debuted around the same time, have pretty much gone through the same thing. At least the outsiders, who are not launched with a huge platform, who are not marketed, and PR pushed. I have gone for auditions, met people, people have reached out to me. I try and make the best out of the choice that I have.
Is there something you would say no to today?
Yes, for example, if there is a huge commercial movie with three-four actresses just dancing around in their outfits, if there is nothing much to do in the character apart from being the eye candy to the male actors, I don’t think I would do that. Right now, to be viewed as a credible actor is a good thing. I hope I don’t get slotted in the ‘Oh she won’t do commercial films, she will only do smaller films’ narrative. But I have not been stereotyped, because I don’t think I have been out there much.
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Many actors talk about the external pressure they face today, from being active on Instagram to being constantly seen… Have you been told the same?
Yes, everything you mentioned. But I have zero Instagram game, I don’t even pretend to have. I would much rather have a chat and meet people, rather than texting. I sometimes look at the Instagram of others and wonder, ‘Whoa! This makes sense’ and I enjoy seeing their profile. I neither have the bandwidth nor the intention.
Has your Instagram come in the way of casting? Because many actors have mentioned how casting calls are now depending on the follower count of a celebrity.
I don’t know if it is Instagram specifically, but I have been dropped from projects in the past for either having less followers or not being well known. That is definitely something that I have faced.
How does one pick themselves up from something like that, where craft is not the reason for casting?
That is the industry. Craft has very little to do with most things, unfortunately. It is not that you don’t get noticed, it just takes a lot of time. It is very difficult to keep yourself motivated then. If someone is not casting you because you have very little (Instagram) followers, what can you do about it? Nothing. You might, ‘Ok, I will work on my Instagram game instead of trying to be a better actor.’ It is disheartening. I don’t understand it. You want your film to be good or…. I just don’t understand these trends. I hope it changes.
You have earned acclaim in all your outings– but does the praise lead to good opportunities coming your way quickly?
No. I work my a** off. Whether it is a music video or totally outrageous like Bhaiyya Ji, I want to be approachable, relatable. I am a normal person, trying to make her way in the industry…. The waiting period is definitely testing. Mumbai is an expensive city; you have to survive and not just survive but also have a healthy life outside of your work… For the outsiders, the struggle is to be consistent, persistent, keeop the joy within, not become bitter.
What is the biggest challenge today for you then?
To put myself out there. I don’t know how to do it on social media, I am trying to figure it out. I am trying to make people know I exist. These things are external, you figure it out eventually, but you lose so much time figuring it.
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