Sandeepa Dhar reveals how Aatish Kapadia inspired her to explore comedy and helped her bring Kiran to life in Netflix’s Chumbak.
Actress Sandeepa Dhar has opened up about her experience working on Netflix’s Chumbak. She credited writer-director Aatish Kapadia for encouraging her to explore comedy. Moreover, she revealed how his guidance helped her shape the character of Kiran.
The Netflix series features quirky characters, amusing situations and witty storytelling. However, Kiran stands out as the sensible person amid the chaos. Her natural reactions bring balance to the show’s humour.
Recently, Dhar shared how she joined the project. She also explained why playing a grounded character in a comedy series was more challenging than expected.
An Unexpected Call Introduced Sandeepa to Chumbak
Sandeepa Dhar’s journey with Chumbak began on an ordinary Thursday. She received a call about a Netflix comedy project involving JD and Aatish Kapadia.
Initially, the actress was surprised by the offer. After all, she had never explored comedy in a major way before. However, the script quickly caught her attention.
“I was like, ‘Me? Comedy?'” she recalled. “I found it interesting because I had never really done comedy before. Then I read the scene they sent me, and it was hilarious.”
As a result, Dhar became interested in the project. Still, one important meeting would ultimately convince her to join the series.
Aatish Kapadia’s Narration Won Her Over
Meeting Aatish Kapadia became a turning point for Sandeepa. During their interaction, the filmmaker narrated the story with remarkable energy.
Interestingly, Kapadia performed every character himself. His expressions and dialogue delivery made the narration feel like a live performance.
“The deciding factor was meeting Aatish Kapadia,” Dhar explained. “He narrated the show to me and played all the characters himself while narrating the scenes. It was almost like watching a play.”
She also praised his acting skills. “He is such a brilliant actor apart from being a director. I immediately felt that I had to be part of the show.”
Consequently, Dhar decided to take on the role. Kapadia’s storytelling helped her understand the show’s humour and creative vision.
Playing Kiran Came With Unique Challenges
Although Sandeepa was excited about Chumbak, playing Kiran was not easy. Unlike the show’s eccentric characters, Kiran remains relatively calm and sensible.
Therefore, Dhar had to create humour through subtle expressions. Instead of delivering exaggerated punchlines, she relied on natural reactions.
“Kiran is probably the only character who is relatively sane,” Dhar said. “She reacts to situations in the way most viewers would be like, ‘What the hell is happening?'”
She further explained that reactions play an important role in comedy. However, making those reactions believable requires careful control.
Why Sandeepa Dhar Avoided Overacting
For Dhar, the biggest challenge was finding the right balance. She wanted Kiran’s reactions to feel funny without becoming excessive.
Moreover, exaggerated expressions could have weakened the character’s natural appeal. Therefore, she discussed her concerns with Kapadia.
“At the same time, you cannot overdo the reactions because then they can become gimmicky,” she explained.
“I discussed that with Aatish because there is a reason he has written Kiran as the sane person in this madhouse.”
These discussions helped Dhar understand the character better. As a result, she focused on keeping Kiran’s reactions simple and authentic.
Kiran Brings Balance to Chumbak’s Comedy
In Chumbak, several characters create confusion through their unusual behaviour. However, Kiran reacts much like an ordinary person would.
Her expressions of surprise and disbelief make the situations more relatable. At the same time, they add another layer of humour.
Furthermore, Kiran allows viewers to experience the chaos through a familiar perspective. Her sensible personality contrasts with the show’s unpredictable characters.
This contrast is central to her role. Sometimes, a simple look of confusion can be funnier than a lengthy comic dialogue.
Chumbak Helps Sandeepa Explore a New Genre
For Sandeepa Dhar, Chumbak offered an opportunity to explore a different side of acting. Comedy required her to focus on timing, expressions and restraint.
Unlike dramatic performances, her role depended on small reactions. Therefore, she had to approach each scene with a different mindset.
Additionally, working with Kapadia helped her understand the importance of character-driven humour. His guidance encouraged her to trust the script and avoid unnecessary exaggeration.
The experience also highlighted her willingness to take on unfamiliar roles. Through Kiran, Dhar explored a performance style that challenged her existing skills.
Aatish Kapadia’s Guidance Made a Difference
Sandeepa’s comments highlight the importance of creative collaboration. From the first narration to discussions about Kiran’s reactions, Kapadia played a key role in her experience.
Moreover, his understanding of comedy helped her recognise the character’s purpose. Rather than making Kiran another eccentric personality, he created a grounded presence within the story.
Dhar’s approach reflects that creative decision. By keeping her performance natural, she allows the surrounding situations to generate humour.
As a result, Kiran becomes an important part of the show’s comic storytelling.
Sandeepa Dhar Reflects on Her Comedy Journey
As Chumbak continues to entertain viewers on Netflix, Sandeepa Dhar’s experience offers an interesting look at the making of the series.
What began as an unexpected phone call became an opportunity to explore comedy. More importantly, her collaboration with Aatish Kapadia helped her understand the value of subtle performances.
Ultimately, Dhar’s portrayal of Kiran shows that comedy does not always need exaggerated expressions or loud dialogue. Sometimes, the most natural reaction creates the biggest laugh.
Have you watched Netflix’s Chumbak? Share your thoughts on Sandeepa Dhar’s performance as Kiran in the comments!
About the author
Neha Nikharge is Assistant Editor at Awesome TV and a writer for AWSM Times. Neha covers Bollywood, OTT releases, celebrity interviews and pop culture for South Asian audiences in the US and around the world, and has written more than 4,500 stories for Awesome TV. Story tips and corrections: hello@awesometv.com.
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