In addition to her successful acting career, Tisca Chopra has gained substantial acclaim as a writer-director. She has co-authored two short films and directed another, showcasing her versatility in the entertainment industry. The Bollywood star recently reflected on her decision to become a creator and take control of her narrative.
Turning Point in 2016
Tisca Chopra’s journey as a creator began in 2016 after a disheartening experience with a director. During an interview with Galatta Plus, she recounted, “There was a particular director who strung me along for a bit of time. We started doing prep, costumes, lines, and everything. About four days before the shoot, he said they were going with someone younger. Then, he tried to fob it off by saying it’s the call of the producers. But I could see that it was just… I didn’t want to hear that anymore.”
Embracing Her Inner Voice
This incident was a catalyst for Chopra, prompting her to listen to her inner voice and recognize her creative potential. She explained, “By that time, I also got a sense of the fact that there were things going on in my head that I had been ignoring for some time. I’ve had the benefit of working with wonderful directors and learning from them by watching their process and imbibing that. If youth and beauty are the only two things that are attractive in a particular market… my insides rebelled against that.”
Creating ‘Chutney’
The decision to become a creator led Tisca Chopra to bankroll and narrate the short film Chutney. She shared, “I had been doing this piece called Chutney at Prithvi Theatre, Mumbai. It was based on Bhisham Sahni’s story. It too had morphed into something else by that time in my head. So, I narrated that to a few, very close people and we came up with the story and wrote it.”
Challenging Norms with Unique Characters
Chopra emphasized the uniqueness of her protagonist in Chutney, saying, “The protagonist was neither good-looking nor young. Nor did she have any other privileges. She was not well-spoken and didn’t have a male heir or a child. And yet, she controls the narrative in that story.” This approach highlights her commitment to portraying diverse and realistic characters.
Tisca Chopra continues to shine in her acting career as well. She was last seen in director Homi Adajania’s mystery thriller film Murder Mubarak, where she shared the screen with notable actors like Pankaj Tripathi, Sara Ali Khan, Vijay Varma, Karisma Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia, and Sanjay Kapoor.