Aahana Kumra and Amol Parashar on their new show and how travel defines them

March 09, 2018 03:07 pm | Updated March 12, 2018 08:09 am IST

Two solo travellers meet in a foreign country. Sparks fly. But is it going to end the same way that most on-screen stories do? That’s where you might be surprised, say Aahana Kumra and Amol Parashar, the stars of It Happened in Hong Kong , the latest Viu Original which released its first episode online yesterday.

Matters of the heart

For Parashar, it was an opportunity to explore the “interesting dilemmas that our generation is facing when it comes to relationships”. He explains, “It’s easy to get caught up in a whirlwind of emotions when one is travelling and in a new place. When it comes to dealing with what it actually means, we are unable to reconcile to the fact that we are living life without labels.”

Kumra says, “They start out with their own plans, but along the way, things change. They are two people in their 30s, and come with their own emotional baggage. Yet, they find solace in confiding in a stranger.” She says the sheer number of possibilities that came with a story like this was very appealing to her.

That, and the fact that it gave her the opportunity to play an easygoing and fun role, which is quite different from the characters she has played earlier. “I wanted to be part of Lipstick Under my Burkha simply because I found the story interesting. With this project, I had the freedom that comes with the online space,” she says, adding that she never chooses roles that restrict her work. “It would be easy to do so: all a typical heroine has to do in Bollywood is look pretty. But there are plenty of women who are defying this norm. They redefine characters and are not afraid to look unconventional,” she explains.

Off camera

Over the past year, Kumra has travelled extensively alone, which she says has given her a “global perspective”. Parashar, however, admits that he has not done a solo trip yet. “We still managed to make it relatable,” he laughs.

It might have something to do with the fact that he was involved in the scriptwriting. “The idea was that we would lend our own personalities to our characters. I’ve written a couple of scripts and screenplays before, so I tried my hand at it with director Lakshya Raj Anand. Since I also know Aahana and am familiar with the way she talks, we were able to make it sound more organic and natural,” he says.

As for the future, both actors are busy with various projects. While Parashar has shot for a feature film titled Aap Ke Kamre Mein Koi Rehta, he is most excited about his Discovery Channel project. “It’s called Gabroo, and is about a Punjabi rapper, and how he goes from nothing to something and then loses it all again. It will be available on Netflix later this year,” he says.

Kumra, on the other hand, is busy travelling the world. She was at a UN Women’s panel discussion in Tokyo last week and was part of the Twitter India and Youth Ki Awaaz event, called #PositionOfStrength, a movement to be more inclusive,and push the conversation on making spaces safer for women. “I get to meet so many women from different countries and walks of life. It’s a great way to expand my horizons. And if an interesting project comes my way, I’ll definitely take it,” she concludes.

With a weekly release every Friday, the series will run for four weeks on viu.com and the Viu App.

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