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MUMBAI: Maanvi Gagroo, who was last seen in Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, will be seen next in Four More Shots Please! Season 2. The actress plays Siddhi in the Amazon Prime series, which will begin streaming from April 17. Siddhi's character will undergo a transformation in the new season. However, the actress says that it's all a pretence and Siddhi is still the same.
In an interaction with the media, Maanvi Gagroo revealed what she hates and likes about Siddhi and how the lockdown is working for her.
Here are excerpts from the conversation.
How is the lockdown working for you?
It's working out really well, but I just burnt one omelette. I clearly can't multitask. But, it's going fine. I quite needed this break. I didn't realise it would be such a long break. I am looking at it as a guilt-free time off.
The lockdown also means no physical promotions or city visits. How are you working around it?
The girls and I were discussing this the other day. Of course, you enjoy the dressing-up part of it (the promotions) with different hair and make-up, but it gets very hectic. That way, it's a refreshing change. We are so used to physical promotions, we've never done this before - ghar se promotion. This is leading to some very innovative things that people are doing. People are coming up with fun ways of putting out content. I was speaking to the Amazon people and they have some very good ideas. And, it makes sense. It's a web series and to do promotion on the web is great, I think.
What transformations does Siddhi go through in the second season?
Storywise, we are picking up from where we left off in Season 1. In the first half of the series, you'll feel that Siddhi has become a completely different person, like she is gone to the other end of the spectrum. That is true, but at the core of it, she is still the same. There is still a lot that she needs to figure out in life, a lot of things to deal with and fix. Towards the second half, we see her settling in, not being either of the two extremes and trying to find some sort of balance. So that's her journey through Season 2.
You've shot in Instanbul. How was it?
We shot at two outdoor locations - Istanbul and Udaipur. Istanbul was great fun but we didn't get to enjoy so much because the shooting schedule was very hectic. We didn't get any time post the shoot but Kirti (Kulhari) and I took a trip after that. We had gone to Bodrum (Turkey) and we were chilling there. Bani J and Sayani (Gupta) would have also come but they had commitments back in Bombay. And, we had a great time.
Udaipur was far more fun while shooting because we were there longer and also the property where we were staying was stunning. Our rooms were right next to each others'. We were literally hopping from one room to another. Also, because it had started raining, a lot of times we were sitting and waiting for the shot to happen. So, we got a lot of time to chit-chat in between the shots.
How was it reuniting with the entire cast?
It was great. I think it's always better the second time around. The first season, we didn't know each other. Sayani and I were the only ones who knew each other from before but Bani and Kirti, we were meeting for the first time. We realised that the show was heavily dependent on the chemistry of the four girls. In Season 1, we'd just met so it needed work from our part but Season 2 was much more organic. We knew each other and we'd also spent time between Season 1 and 2. We hung out a lot. So, you know each other and can anticipate each other's reactions. And there was also the comfort level.
What is that one thing you love and hate about Siddhi?
What I love about her is that she is very accepting of people. She loves her friends the way they are and I think that's a great quality about Siddhi. What I hate about her is that she doesn't always know when to put her foot down. Even if there is something she is not okay with, she will not be able to voice it.
What were the challenges in reprising your role in Four More Shots Please?
When I did Tripling Season 2, that was the first time I did a Season 2 of anything. That time I was worried about how I will find Chanchal's voice but with Siddhi, it was the exact opposite. I was ready to play Siddhi again. But in Season 2 of Four More Shots Please!, she needs to look like a completely different person, at least in the beginning. So, I was confused as I was ready to play the Siddhi of Season 1. Then the director, Rangita (Pritish Nandy) and I sat and discussed it, that although she seems different, she is still the same. It's like Siddhi pretending to be this adult, trying to live the life of an adult but nahi ho raha hai usse.
The trailer suggests that Siddhi will have a sexual awakening in the second season. Were you apprehensive about doing the intimate scenes?
Yes. In Season 1, I was very apprehensive because it was new to me but in Season 1, the comfort factor for me was that Siddhi's love life was very sweet. We were hooting for her almost. We wanted her to get laid. It was very love-based sex. But in Season 2, I was really scared, because like you've seen in the trailer, and it's in the first episode itself. I was like 'oh my god'. But, I am always worried about these things and I always manage to get convinced. And, while shooting it, it's very comfortable because it's your people and these guys make it comfortable for the actors.
One advice you would give Siddhi?
I would like to tell Siddhi to not listen to others. Like pay heed to what others are saying but still do your own thing because nobody knows you better than you. And, don't listen to your mom, don't listen to your friends even, don't listen to anybody. Just think about what you want to do and what you want to be and then work towards that. Of course, keep everybody in the loop but do your own thing.
You've worked in films, television and OTT. How is the web different from films and TV?
TV I did long back so can't really comment on that. Between film and web, acting-wise there isn't much of a difference. But, I think the audience of film and web is different. When you are shooting a film, it is for a bigger screen, so you tend to do what works in largeness. Whereas on the web, you are watching it on TV or laptop or your phone. So, it's really close to you. But in terms of budget and productions, they are both the same. The web has kind of an advantage, as you can go into the depths of a character. There's more to dig up in a character as opposed to a film. But it's more or less the same.
Kunal Kamra asked you to be a fulltime stand-up comedian. What's your take?
I am super scared of comedy contrary to what people think. People think I love doing comedy and I am good at it. But, I don't enjoy it at all because I feel like I will spoil it and I am so nervous. Stand-up comedy is harder because you are doing it live and there is no script and you can't improvise. I don't think I can ever do stand-up comedy.
SOURCE – INDIA TODAY
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