Akansha Ranjan Kapoor recalls 'sitting at home for 8 months' after her debut with Guilty: ‘It took me a year to recover'
Actor Akansha Ranjan Kapoor made her Bollywood debut with the film Guilty. However, soon after that, the pandemic took over the country. In an interview with Free Press Journal, Akansha recalled how she had no work for eight months after her debut and how her life went 'kaput'. (Also Read: Alia Bhatt has a sweet response to BFF Akansha Ranjan Kapoor's old audition tape from 2014)
Akansha recounted how she sat at home for months due to Covid, and said, "Guilty released on 6 March 2020, and just nine days later, the country went into lockdown. My whole life, which had moulded itself around that one big moment, went kaput. I ended up sitting at home for the next eight months. During those initial days, I was getting calls for meetings, new projects, and even another film with the same production house. But suddenly, everything went silent. It took me a year to recover from that."
She revealed that she has now become more conscious about her choices and wants to do quality work that creates an impact, rather than just being one of 18 actors standing in a frame. She further spoke about the pain of being in front of the camera, and said, 'I'll send a voice note and immediately think, 'I can't stand my own voice.' I obsess over the smallest things, like why my hand was positioned a certain way in a scene. My sister tells me, 'No one will notice,' but I just can't let it go. This is the pain of being in front of the camera. It's the nature of the medium. But I wouldn't have it any other way. I just hope to find a better balance and not be so harsh on myself."
Meanwhile, Akansha is currently seen in the show Gram Chikitsalay, which revolves around the story of a young, idealistic, and brilliant Dr Prabhat, who takes charge of a neglected Primary Health Centre in a North Indian village, hoping to bring about much-needed changes — only to realise it is he who will have to change before anything else. Helmed by Deepak Kumar Mishra, the show also stars Amol Parashar, Vinay Pathak, Garima Vikrant Singh, and others in key roles. It is available to watch on Prime Video.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
The Better Sister Season 2: Has Prime Video renewed the show? Here's what you can expect
The gripping narrative of The Better Sister , which recently concluded its run on Prime Video, has left viewers with more questions than answers—chief among them: Will there be a Season 2? Though the murder at the heart of the plot has been resolved, audiences are still eager to see what lies ahead for the central characters, particularly the complex relationship between sisters Chloe and Nicky. No Official Renewal Yet for The Better Sister Season 2 Despite the buzz, Amazon's Prime Video has not announced a renewal for The Better Sister Season 2. The psychological thriller, adapted from the standalone novel by bestselling author Alafair Burke, was originally billed as a limited series, indicating that it was conceived as a one-season narrative, as mentioned in a report by Decider. Given that the source material does not have a sequel, and considering Prime Video's tendency to cap some of its dramatic titles at a single installment, the likelihood of a continuation appears slim at this stage. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo However, given the streaming platform's growing appetite for returning series and the show's popularity, fans continue to hope for a creative expansion. Season 1 Ends With a Shocking Twist The finale of The Better Sister delivered a dramatic revelation that Nicky (played by Elizabeth Banks) was responsible for the murder of her ex-husband Adam (Corey Stoll). The climactic episode reveals that Nicky acted in self-defense during a heated confrontation, where she stabbed Adam after years of abuse and manipulation. Live Events In a twist of loyalty and cunning, Chloe (portrayed by Jessica Biel) helps cover up her sister's actions by framing Adam's employer, Bill Braddock (Matthew Modine), who was implicated in a human trafficking scheme. Chloe plants the murder weapon in his office and tips off the FBI, thereby redirecting suspicion and ensuring his arrest. Total Episode Count and Premiere Details The debut season of The Better Sister consists of eight tightly paced episodes, each with a runtime of approximately one hour. The series premiered on May 29, with all episodes released simultaneously for binge-watching. The show swiftly gained attention for its layered storytelling, compelling performances, and moral ambiguity, sparking discussions on social media and drawing praise for its exploration of familial loyalty under pressure. Stellar Ensemble Cast Shines in Dark Thriller In addition to Biel, Banks, Modine, and Stoll, the series also features Maxwell Acee Donovan as Ethan, Nicky and Adam's son, Kim Dickens as the investigative Detective Nan Guidry, Gloria Reuben as attorney Michelle Sander, Gabriel Sloyer as Jake Rodriguez, and Bobby Naderi as Detective Matt Bowen, as per a report by Decider. Their collective performances contribute to the show's tense atmosphere, blending personal trauma with legal drama in a narrative that leaves viewers on edge. Streaming Now: All Episodes on Prime Video Though the fate of The Better Sister Season 2 remains unconfirmed, the show continues to draw new viewers. With all episodes now available on Prime Video, those curious about the morally complex decisions of Chloe and Nicky can catch the full story on demand. For now, fans must wait and watch whether Prime Video opts to revisit this world, or leave its chilling conclusion untouched. FAQs Has The Better Sister been renewed for Season 2? No. As of now, Amazon Prime Video has not announced a renewal. The show was originally promoted as a limited series. Is The Better Sister based on a book? Yes. The series is based on the standalone novel by bestselling author Alafair Burke. The book does not have a sequel.
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
Why defeats and arrest warrant for not wearing hijab won't prevent Sara Khadem from smiling
For a chess player in the middle of a tournament, Sara Khadem smiles a lot. Plenty of players will tell you how much joy they get out of playing the sport of 64 squares. But come tournament time, most players enter a zone of brooding grimness which they refuse to exit even when they're not actually playing on the board. Meals are had in hotel rooms. Interview requests are politely rebuffed. Even eye contact with the world is reduced. Sara, on the other hand, comes across as a breath of fresh air, laughing at jokes with her friends during meals, happy to chat away after games. 'I have been happy even in my worst tournaments,' laughs Sara when asked how she manages to be at ease even in the middle of a tournament as prestigious as Norway Chess — which by her own admission, is the 'strongest women's tournament she has participated in'. 'I might smile, but I might be upset about the game also. But in general, I feel like my life isn't dependent on these games because I'm a happy person in general. If I win this tournament, and if you tell me my life would change, I'd say, 'No, no, it won't.' '(Winning or losing) is not the end of the world. I have had good tournaments. I have had bad ones. It all passes,' says the 28-year-old who understands fully well that life holds the capacity to inflict much harsher cuts than your king getting checkmated. Just days after this conversation, Sara, whose full name is Sarasadat Khademalsharieh, took down Lei Tingjie in round 4 at Norway Chess with black pieces. Sara, who is the only international master competing in the Norway Chess tournament, has seen her life upended a few times over the past decade. The Iran-born player made global headlines in December 2022 when she opted not to wear a hijab during the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships. It was a stand she took partly to protest the custodial death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, after she was arrested by the morality police in Tehran. Amini's death led to unprecedented street protests in Iran. Sara's decision to play without the headscarf angered the powers that be and it led to her exile from the country she loved because there was an arrest warrant issued by Iranian authorities against her in January 2023. It was the final nail. Her husband, Ardeshir Ahmadi, who is a filmmaker, TV host and businessman, had spent three months in an Iranian prison in 2015. Sara had also reportedly had her passport confiscated by Iranian authorities for a few months in the past. 'In my chess career I had reached a point that maybe I wasn't sure what I wanted to do,' she admits. 'I was a very motivated player, but at some point I had a travel ban from the Iranian government so I couldn't travel for six months. That was at a point when I was collecting my GM norms, where I was at my peak rating. Then COVID happened, after that I had my baby and we immigrated. These were a lot of changes in my life that made me go very slowly, even backwards! I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue this. But I think tournaments like these give me motivation.' In another country, Sara would have been toasted for her success on the board. She had won the under-12 World Youth Chess Championship just four years after moving her first chess piece. She was also the under-16 World Blitz Chess Champion in 2013, and the under-20 runner-up in classical chess in 2014 when she was 17. 'I was getting support from the people but when you cannot even travel because your own government bans you and they tell you your whole career doesn't matter because we are thinking of something else, then you will reach a point where you don't want to stay,' she says. 'I wouldn't say Iranian chess players were not getting support. Chess is better there than many other countries. Changing the federation was very difficult, because I like to play for Iran, I liked my country, it wasn't about the country.' In one of those moments of frustration, Sara says he told her husband that she will come work with him. 'He was like, 'but what will you do?' I was going to his office, because I couldn't stay home. I had stopped looking at chess. I was thinking, what else can I do with my life? And then COVID happened. But still, taking away your passport is something no one would want,' she adds. Sara is now piecing together her chess career once more after transferring her chess federation from Iran to Spain in July 2023. She laughs as she informs that she has a young boy at home, called Sam, who is angry at her at the moment because she is away playing chess. She says her quest now is to find a balance between chess and her family. 'This is the first long tournament that I'm playing after a long time. I don't want to miss the first years with my son. I know a lot of players care about their careers a lot, but I want to make a balance,' she says with a smile. Amit Kamath is Assistant Editor at The Indian Express and is based in Mumbai. ... Read More
India Today
5 hours ago
- India Today
7 best Indian horror films to watch on OTT
7 best Indian horror films to watch on OTT May 30, 2025 Love horror movies? These 7 Indian films will give you goosebumps and keep you hooked till the end. Here's a list of must-watch horror films you can stream right now on OTT platforms. It is about a man who finds a hidden treasure but it comes with a terrible curse. Full of creepy visuals, it's one of the best horror films India has ever made. Tumbbad - Prime Video Starring Anushka Sharma, 'Pari' is a dark and scary tale with a twist. It has supernatural elements and a strong story. Definitely not for the faint-hearted! Pari - Prime Video A family moves into a new house, but strange things start happening. Is it the house's 'vaastu' or something more evil? This film has Indian beliefs with spooky moments that will stay with you. Vaastu Shastra - ZEE5 Vicky Kaushal plays Prithvi, a shipping officer, who is assigned to investigate the Sea which is supposedly a haunted ship. Bhoot - Disney+ Hotstar A group of friends shares horror stories while sitting in a forest. Each story is different and brings its own scare. Darna Mana Hai - Netflix A fun family outing turns into a nightmare when a mysterious intruder possesses their teenage daughter, forcing her to obey dark and dangerous commands. Shaitaan - Prime Video A powerful black-and-white Malayalam horror film starring Mammootty. 'Bramayugam' is about dark rituals, ancient stories, and fear. Bramayugam - SonyLIV
