“Director Faisal Saif and I are writing a script together which will surely shock India and requires me to shed all my clothes and go stark naked”

KAVITA RADHESHYAM tells JYOTHI VENKATESH in this intimate, free and fearless interview

What is your role in Kavita Bhabhi?

Kavita Bhabhi is about those morning shows of masala films starring the South Indian sexy siren Silk Smitha which used to released back then in the 80’s and 90’s.

Those films had a typical set of cinema halls like Alfred Cinema, Alexandra Cinema, Ganga Jamuna Cinemas (In Mumbai), Alankar Cinema in the North and so on.

I play the title role of Kavita Bhabhi and she is a phone sex worker. Many of our new generation might not know what Phone Sex is.

I pity them! My role is about a dominating and a sadist woman who takes up phone sex business to run her family.

Is Kavita Bhabhi your first ever web series as an actress?

Yes, Kavita Bhabhi is my first ever web series as an actress, and I am really thankful to my fans and viewers who have made Kavita Bhabhi, a phenomenal success.

Did you have any aspersion when you were offered the role?

I think as an actor, you must be prepared for everything that life throws at you, as long as the job doesn't hurt your values or self respect. If you aren't prepared, stop comparing your works with International arena.

Is it based on any real life lady? In what way is it similar to the fictional Savita Aunty?

I really have no clue what the fictional Savita Aunty is. I have never even heard about her, to be frank.

Kavita Bhabhi is based on a real life sex worker who was arrested in 2001. All the necessary permissions were taken even before we shot this we series.

Was it tough to strike the balance between being bold and at the same time not display vulgarity?

The biggest joke our film industry is living on is that being bold is not vulgar. In reality, every bold scene is vulgar.

I feel that being a little vulgar brings you no harm. The only thing we should remember is to see to it that being vulgar should not be called 'cheap'. We made sure that Kavita Bhabhi is not cheap.

In the MX Player web series Kavita Bhabhi, Divya Dwivedi plays the role of a lesbian. How tough or easy was it for you to share not only the same frame but also the bed with her as an actress?

It was very tough and painful shooting with that actress. I very well remember, we went to her house which is far away from Mumbai, sat on the screenplay and the script, narrated her all her scenes with all the shot takings at least a month before the shoot.

On the shoot day, she was a totally different and a difficult woman! She refused to co-operate and perform the bold scenes, left the shoot mid way and went home.

My director was smart enough that he kept the camera rolling while that actress was throwing tantrums and giving attitude.

We have all the recorded proofs. I now understand why she was jobless in Hindi Cinema for a long time.

In how many films have you acted till date?

Till now, I have done some 12 to 13 films and mostly in South. There are very few Hindi films including Kavita Bhabhi I have done.

Tell me which are your five best films till date?

Choosing best films will be difficult because your work remains always the best for you. Ragini IPS (Kannada), Main Hoon Rajanikanth, Kaasuran (Tamil) (Upcoming), Danger (Hindi) (Upcoming) and Kavita Bhabhi are my five best films for sure.

How was it to play a negative role to Amita Nangia, who plays your mother in law?

I love playing negative roles somehow. But as Amita Nangia is a living legend, I was very nervous.

And on a frank note, Amita Nangia is still the most gorgeous seductress I have ever seen on Indian screen!

To what extent are you ready to shed your clothes for the sake of a role?

So for example if Christopher Nolan comes and gives me the lead, and he asks me to shed clothes in a scene, I will gladly do it! I and director Faisal Saif are writing a script together which will surely shock India!

This script requires me to shed all my clothes and go naked. If we make it, I will surely do! Other than the two answers, No! I will never go complete naked. Without shedding clothes, Kavita Bhabhi is still the No.1 web series of India.

How comfortable was it for you to do a lip to lip kiss with Divya Dwivedi? Would you call it a professional hazard as an actress?

As far as I am concerned, as an ctress, I am ready to kiss anyone lip to lip, whether it is a man or a woman if my characater demands it from me.

Divya Dwivedi is one actress who never co-operated. That is the main reason why we had no other alternative but to change her.

Also, my director felt that she looked too aged on the screen and hence chopped off a few close-up shots of her.

Do you think we should exercise censorship for web series?

This is a real funny question people are discussing nowadays. Censorship on OTT platforms is a dream.

Which are your forthcoming films or web series?

I am producing my own content on OTT platforms. My upcoming web series are Bhookh, Ashuddhi (With Hiten Tejwani), Blue Whale (in which I am not acting), Sex and the Lockdown City, Pshycho etc where I am just a producer.

How was Faisal Saif as a director?

Faisal Saif is tremendous person to work with. He makes sure that he creates a family atmosphere on the sets before we shoot.

After OTT Platforms shot up, I think I and Faisal are making maximum contents. As a maker, I think, he is the next Jag Mundhra of Erotica.

To what extent, is virginity an issue in today's times and age?

It totally depends on an individual's thought process. Time is changing and maturity is at its peak.

Is marriage very necessary for sex today for single girls?

Not alone marriage, but I think a certain commitment is necessary. Without commitment, it will be very tough to surrender to the other person. I might sound orthodox, but this is my view.

To what extent can a condom be trusted today?

I am certainly not a condom using person so I will pass this question. Nothing must have any boundaries.

If you are marooned in an Island for a night, who would you prefer for company?

Any day, I’d opt for the company of either Leonardo Di Caprio or Jennifer Anniston. Period.

Would you say that you have been very underrated by Bollywood as an actress?

No, I will never say this. This 'underrated' and 'overrated' are some new funny terms kids are using nowadays.

Till date, i am working on my own terms. In OTT too, i create my own kind of works. If I feel, I act in them.

Why blame the industry? I am always thankful to my film industry for whatever it has given me.

What is your concept of your Mr Right?

I want my Mr Right to be a masochist-slave to me and homely. I want him to be a caretaker, who is also an entertainer and less smart than me.