EXCLUSIVE: After Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, Tanya Maniktala On Breaking Stereotypes Playing Female Coach Latika In Loot Kaand

Actress Tanya Maniktala has made a lasting impression with her films A Suitable Boy, and Tooth Pari: When Loves Bites and Kill on silver-screen. She began her journey with OTT and how she is once again back with her thrilling show Loot Kaand. The series also stars Gyanendra Tripathi, and Sahil Mehta and is directed by Ruchir Arun. It is streaming on Amazon MX Player from March 20.

In an exclusive conversation with Bollywood Bubble, Tanya talked about her excitement about being a part of a unique concept Loot Kaand; she also talked about her experience working with the cast, breaking the stereotype in playing Latika and challenges during shoot, OTT being a way for newcomers and more. Excerpts:

What made you say ‘yes’ to Loot Kaand? 

I think when you watch it, you’ll realize that, Oh! There’s no way she could have said no to this. It is captivating because when I was reading it, I was hopeful that from the first page, every episode ended with such a cliffhanger. It was an opportunity to explore shades of myself that I have never done before and to put myself in a situation, where I have never been before. So there was definitely a lot at stake for Tanya as well and there was a lot of opportunity and room to learn and to embody. After hearing thenarration, I have always felt like ‘content is king’. This was just a manifestation of it in person for me right now on my hands. So, it completely made for a yes, yes and yes.

You played Latika who is a football coach, we have often seen coaches as male and not many females like SRK in Chak De! India, Akshay Kumar in Gold or Abhishek Bachchan in Ghoomer, do you think this role breaks all the stereotypes? 

Absolutely. I think Latika’s always seen as an underdog and from the get-go she is a football coach, where this kind of profession is sort of opted by men and she is a lone woman standing here, who stands the ground and obviously she’s undermined again in her profession. So from that to now being to planning a heist. She is breaking stereotypes through and through, so there’s so much more to her than what meets the eye. She has so much more to offer. Latika’s character is much more; you will see her breaking the mould and making it fit according to her rather than just trying to make herself fit in the strata of society.

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What has been the most challenging part of playing Latika in Loot Kaand?

 Latika’s character comes from a very complex, motivation and her inspiration. Her intentions are true but her actions aren’t always aligning with them. She makes questionable choices, but all come from the best of intentions. Just understanding that without judging her, I think was one of the more challenging parts of it. Then another most challenging part was the physical part that shoots took on us because we were shooting in Bhor, Maharashtra and it was heated and bright sunlight and were shooting exteriors. It was physically grueling for all of us, but to not let that be affected and come through in the performance was something we all were taking as an utmost important note of. 

There are many robbery-based shows such as 9 Hours, Rafuchakkar or Farzi, what sets Loot Kaand apart?

These characters because are very weird characters and there is no glamorization to them whatsoever. The story of Loot Khan follows, the sibling duo Latika and Palash, who come from very humble beginnings and a very simple family and their motivation is that they want to save their house. And from, such simple and pure intention to now planning a heist and ending up with the wrong people, you will see how this twisted, fate of events takes them on this roller coaster of a ride that is what sets them apart. 

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You began your journey with OTT. How much do you think it has given opportunities to newcomers?  

 I owe my career to OTT, right from Flames to A Suitable Boy to now Loot Kand all of it.  I have only been able to evolve and grow as an actor because of platforms like these. So I’m grateful that we have a platform like Amazon MX Player, which is free and accessible to all because it inspires and motivates actors like me to be able to do more and give our best because we know somebody across the globe might be able to connect with our stories.

How do you see your transition from OTT to silver screens?

I grew up as a cinema buff and as somebody who loved the experience of going to theaters and watching people on the big screen. It has been a dream come true for me and it’s all thanks to where this journey has been, uh, from OTT to now theatrical releases. It has been; it has been full of ups and downs that I would never deny, but it has been a beautiful learning experience, to say the least. 

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Any upcoming projects? 

There is one more show that I have just wrapped up; it’s Paan Parda Zarda, so I’m just looking forward to that now. 

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Manisha Karki

Manisha has established a reputation for insightful and engaging storytelling with over six years of expertise in the industry. With a deep passion for cinema, she brings a unique perspective to her coverage, making it a trusted voice in the entertainment world.