Back from the breezy hills of Ooty to the buzz of Mumbai, Tamannaah Bhatia says she missed the high-paced energy of the city. The actor, who has spent her two decade career navigating the evolving landscape of Indian showbiz, shares that she is currently in the happiest phase of her life, thanks to the kind of opportunities coming her way. One that she is most looking forward to is the Netflix series, Daring Partners, alongside Diana Penty, Jaaved Jaaferi, and Nakuul Mehta. The series follows two best friends who venture into a partnership for an alcohol start-up while navigating challenges and breaking barriers in a male-dominated industry.
While the streaming date is yet to be confirmed, Bhatia is confident that Daring Partners will première this year. “I have attempted long format before too, but this show has been extremely close to my heart,” she says, adding that the role demanded significant homework. “While it is in the fun and entertaining space, it still has a strong emotional connect. Back in the day, sitcoms had a different charm. I have not seen much of that in the OTT space. The content has either become too serious or too frivolous. This show will potentially [fill that void] where you are entertained as well as moved by something,” says Bhatia.
She adds that the show is about more than just two women setting up a beer brewing business — and she believes many women will relate to it. “There are many different types of strong women, however even that has become typecast. The show will give the audience a very real sneak peek into strong women in a working environment, dealing with life and preconceived notions. It is going to be an authentic presentation of that,” explains the actor, who recently paid homage to iconic women-led dance numbers at the Zee Cine Awards. “I wanted to celebrate the legacy of all the women, who have danced to such powerful numbers before me,” she shares.
As she marks 20 years in the industry, Bhatia feels a renewed sense of purpose. “I’ve been in front of the camera since I was 15. People have seen me grow —from a teenager to a woman in her 30s. Now I feel like I finally get to show them a version of me they’ve never seen before,” she says. “Internationally, artistes say it takes 20 years to be born. I never understood that until now. I feel like a newborn every day.”