Even after Surveen Chawla wrapped up Rana Naidu’s first season over two years ago, she couldn’t shed her character of Naina Naidu. That’s why returning to the set for the series’ second season felt like homecoming to her. “While you’re doing a part, there is a residual to it, and you know there will be a second season. So, subconsciously, you don’t leave the character. I didn’t ever leave Naina. I knew her arc was incomplete. So, I left it open-ended,” says Chawla, who is joined by Venkatesh Daggubati, Rana Daggubati, and Arjun Rampal in the Netflix series.
Lately, a discourse around the industry’s stance on new mothers has emerged in the wake of the Deepika Padukone and Sandeep Reddy Vanga fallout. The two, who were to collaborate on Spirit, had a disagreement when Padukone reportedly wanted an eight-hour shift, among several demands, as she was a new mother. When we ask Chawla, who welcomed parenthood in 2019, about her experience in the industry, she says, “I speak only for myself. I did a Netflix show soon after I became a mom, and I had all the support. I know there is a lot at stake. Beyond a point, I’m sure I cannot be accommodated for. But at that time, I got a lot of flexibility from my makers and the platform. If somebody really wants to cast you, they will accommodate [your needs]. And if it doesn’t fit your demands, then you have to be okay with it. You need to prioritise [your needs]. You have to be pragmatic and not expect the world to bow down at your feet.”