As the screen-daughter of Amitabh Bachchan, film and TV actress Aahana Kumra made an impact in the finite TV series ‘Yudh’ ( Sony TV). The articulate Aahana who derives her thrills driving a Bullet motorcycle on the streets of Mumbai, mentored by theatre-stalwart Naseeruddin Shah, now has the veteran actor’s wife Ratna Pathak-Shah, as her effervescent co-star in this controversial, banned-until-recently ‘all-ladies-cast’ movie ‘Lipstick Under My Burkha’, being released by the dynamic Ekta Kapoor.
Enthuses Aahana, “My role is that of a young, fiery ‘beautician’ who works in a small-town parlour. No, my character ‘Leela’ does not wear a ‘burkha’, its metaphorical as she is trying to escape from her ‘stifled’ life and shed her inhibitions. We've been discreetly doing so many ‘taboo’ things behind closed doors, but nobody talks openly about it. As the ban came on the film, we realized that, as women we don't have the same rights that men do. It's very important for women to own their sexuality and be out there ‘cos they deserve it" stormed Kumra, who felt that the ‘physically demanding’ role which has bold, sensuous,intimate scenes was destined for her.
“Originally when director Alankrita approached me, I was busy shooting for ‘Yudh’ and due to dates clashing, I had to reluctantly turn it down. Many months later she again contacted me for ‘Lipstick..’. To my utter disbelief, as they had not yet started and I bagged my coveted role,” laughed Aahana who got her ‘kickstart’ when she got to drive a ‘two-wheeler’ in the movie.