Swara Bhasker is a phenomenal performer and an even more admirable activist
Swara Bhasker
Swara Bhasker has learned to deftly navigate the muck on her road to success, despite facing rape threats and questions about her commitment to the country. Recently, she was the target of lavish forms of internet abuse because of her mixed marriage.
Swara, though, could not be less concerned. “Social media was supposed to be a meeting place for those separated by distance, time, and geography. It was a lovely potential, and it still is. However, we as a culture have utilised technology to engage in anonymous bullying and harassment, sinking to our lowest selves and indulging our basest instincts. There is only one way to deal with bullies, in my opinion, and that is to name them and shame them. That’s my method for dealing with negative comments online.
Swara believes that social media’s initial goal has been corrupted beyond redemption. The mainstream media is the most untrustworthy and irresponsible source of inciting violence and disorder in modern society. When they are called out and made to take responsibility for their bullying and bigotry, they respond with more bullying and trolling. This, however, is the counterattack against hatred from reasonable people. As citizens and taxpayers, we have a responsibility to bring the media and the government to account.
In Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Guzaarish, Swara made her film debut in a brief cameo as a newsreader. There were no hints about what might happen there. Such raw, genuine acting may be seen in films like Tanu Weds Manu, Nil Battey Sannata, and—most notably—Anaarkali of Arrah.
Whether Manu likes it or not, Swara Bhasker was the actual Tanu and worth one’s time, money, and attention. Swara’s portrayals of the most nuanced emotions are so natural and straightforward that she could run her own acting academy.
Swara’s performance in the weirdly titled Nil Battey Sannata is engrossing throughout, and she manages to convey her character’s sense of melancholy and despair without descending into maudlin. Swara gives a stellar performance as Chanda, a domestic worker who hopes against hope that her spoiled brat of a daughter, Apeksha (Riya Shukla), will achieve more success than the caste system will allow. She captures even the subtlest of Chanda’s emotions on television.
