‘Interviews Before Execution’ is very personal to me: Kubbra Sait

Panaji, Oct 19 (FN Agency) Actress Kubbra Sait, who has lent her voice for Interviews Before Execution, an Audible Original, directed by Mantra, has said that the show is a very personal story to her. Speaking exclusively to UNI, she said the story is personal to her as she is someone who is excited to know about human psychology and the human mind. ‘And the fact that this explores that through every episode, made it really intriguing for me. So there is crime, there is drama and suspense in the show. There’s also a lot of human element where people are trying to resolve issues amongst themselves, especially a girl who doesn’t necessarily agree with everything that her genius father has done. But at the same time, this is a saga about trying to find to kind of redeem herself in the eyes of a father. So for me it was a very emotional experience above anything else. And that was my journey with Interview Before Execution.

I also got to do a lot of scenes on my own on this show. Most of the other actors I wasn’t working with were locked in on a larger note, a one way street for me, but I was working Mantra who is such an exceptional mind when it comes to audio production as a whole, that I could not deny a day’s work when I did learn something. So every day was enriching and every day was powerful and beautiful,’ she said. When asked what inspired her to be a part of the show, she said the fact that she was returning to the audio medium after 15 years was an incentive that was good enough. ‘I was looking forward to creating a universe that you can’t but you can imagine an experience. So I had listened to the Audible shows before that were produced in the past, and I just wanted to be a part of this invisible imaginary universe. And when I was playing Zarah Kaul as someone who’s interviewing people on death row, I knew I was in a position and a place where I could practically feel in jail and I was sitting in an audio room in a corner, recording. So in that sense, in one place, my mind was able to travel to so many places, I’m sure the audience will have the same experience through my show on Audible,’ the actress said. On challenges of the role, she said, ‘I think the roles are challenging irrespective. You know, you can’t compare roles too easily or difficult. It’s like, you know, how do you decide, somebody is easy or difficult until you do it. But like any other role that I have done, I felt exhausted, with the emotional highs and emotional lows that Zarah Kal as a character goes through. So you’re able to associate yourself with those emotions, and you feel drained or you feel excited, you feel happy. If you feel you redeem yourself.

I think that’s a good day at work and I experience many such days of having this while shooting for Audible.’ Given the fact that the role was very intense, how did she prepare for it? Kubbra said, ‘I think I would end up sitting with Mantra brainstorming with him and trying to be somebody who doesn’t overthink it, but as I said earlier, he’s a great director to work with, and he has the entire vision of the project in his control. So in that sense it was wonderful to live, learn, and grow and because it’s audio you could make as many mistakes as you want. I think I did this just earlier today, A man who hasn’t made any mistakes hasn’t learned anything. So I think for me, making those mistakes, taught me something new every single time and that brings about a lot of humility in you, you don’t know, but at least there is an attempt to want to learn something new and that was the journey of Zarah Kaul or Rashi through these audible shows.’ On projects she is engaged in, she said, ‘Well, I think one of my biggest projects is on air right now. It’s not just a big project for me but it’s a big project for entertainment and history and entertainment as a whole.

It’s called Foundation, you can stream it, you can watch it. Apart from that, I’m constantly pushing the envelope, whether it is audio shows, or I’m going to be reaching out to Audible for my own book so I can voice my own book and it could be on Audible. So, yeah, I think I’m looking forward to an association that is long lasting that is fruitful, that points me towards growth as a human being and as a performer and that’s where my journey is taking me right.’ Kubbra has played the role of psychologist Zarah Kaul who sets out to answer the question and completes her renowned murdered father’s unfinished book, Interviews Before Execution. She interviews convicted murderers awaiting execution on death row, seeking new insight into the heinous crimes they’ve committed, while also seeking answers to come to terms with her own father’s brutal murder. She is unaware that fate has a surprising discovery waiting for her. A secret, and a confession, compels Zarah to take drastic steps that will change her life forever.