Sacred Games' Zoya On Intimate Jail Scene: I Could Feel The Intensity In Nawaz's Eyes

Sacred Games is getting a lot of praise from people all over. The web-series directed by Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane is the most talked about property on social media. We caught up with one of the central characters of the series, Elnaaz Norouzi, who gave us some insight at what went into the making of this epic thriller series. Excerpts from the tête-à-tête:

Phantom Films and Mukesh Chhabra were looking for someone to play Zoya's character for over 3 months. Sometime last November, I gave an audition for the role, and soon enough I got a call saying that both Vikram Sir and Anurag Sir liked me, and they wanted me to do the role. That's when it hit me that I was playing the role. 

Have you read the book? From where all did you draw inspiration for your character?
I didn't have time enough to read the book as I joined them while they were shooting. And the book's thick size didn't help either, and I think two weeks aren't really enough for that. As for the character, I didn't get any inspiration from anyone. As such I just tried to do the role as I think I could do it best.



How was it shooting with Saif Ali Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui?
One thing I remember and I always tell everyone because it was so special for me. My very first day on sets of Sacred Games was my scene with Saif Sir. And I thought that the first scene will be something easy. And when I got to know that my first scene is with him and then there is this long dialogue, and I was literally shaking. I just couldn't imagine that this is the Saif Ali Khan, whom I have always seen onscreen and now I'm working with him. It was really stressful for me to be working with him. But I remember, when I landed on the sets and met Saif and how he made me comfortable and gave me the cues for the dialogue, it was too good. He was sitting there and making sure that I do everything right. He made me super comfortable.

As for Nawazuddin sir, my scene with him was in the prison. It was a special scene because we both were totally different in characters at that moment. He was all beaten up and I was just a young girl. Just one look at his eyes, and I felt the amount of intensity he was putting into the role. Just looking at him made me feel that I want to be acting like him one day. The scene went really well.

Both of them are so good to newcomers. They are genuinely humble and down to earth, I was simply in awe.

Were you starstruck?
At that moment when I was shooting these scenes with them, I was shaking up. I just thought to myself that I shouldn't forget my lines, that all.



How was it working with Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane as directors?
They were not intimidating at all. I just feel both the directors are so different from each other. Vikram Sir is this quiet person who tell you what the scene is and then leaves it onto you to improvise. Anurag Kashyap on the other hand is very talkative on sets, and he makes you feel so comfortable, it's amazing. He even jokes a lot of sets. Then when we are going to finally do the take, he explains you thoroughly and then lets you do as you want to.

Social media forums have said that your character was really small, and could have been developed more. What do you have to say to that?
I think it's the impact that one character has on the whole is what matters. And even people got to see less of me in season 1, I am still alive, and season 2 is happening.



So what happens to your character in season 2?
(Laughs) I ain't going to tell you anything. (Laughs) To be honest, I myself don't know anything as they are still writing the episodes and they will start shooting sometime end of September.

What apart from Sacred Games do you have on your plate?
I can't give you a lot, but there will be a film. Then there is season 2 for Sacred Games.

Do you think actors are moving towards web-series these days because of the enormous amount of censoring on films? Do you think web-series' have bolder content?
I honestly don't think a lot about boldness and other stuff. What I like about web series is that you can make it more closer to the real life. However, I feel that both of them are two completely different mediums and they are allowed to co-exist. I would love to do web-series, films or even TV series. It's all about what you do and how you do it, not about how bold you can get.

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