Konkona Sen Sharma, one of the most versatile and acclaimed actors in Indian cinema, is back with a new role that challenges her to explore the dark side of human nature. In Netflix’s original series ‘Killer Soup’, Konkona plays Swati Shetty, a woman who kills her husband and replaces him with her lover, in a bizarre case of identity theft.
The series, which is directed by Abhishek Chaubey and co-stars Manoj Bajpayee, is based on a true story that happened in Telangana in 2017, where a woman and her lover murdered her husband and tried to pass him off as the deceased. The plot was exposed when the impostor’s eating habits raised suspicion among the relatives and neighbours.
Konkona, who has played a range of characters in films such as Page 3, Life In a Metro, 15 Park Avenue, Mr and Mrs Iyer, Wake Up Sid, Lipstick Under My Burkha, and Ek Thi Daayan, says that ‘Killer Soup’ was a unique opportunity for her to play a negative role with a comic twist. “It is a psycho-dark comedy, which is a rare genre in Indian cinema. It has elements of crime, thriller, humour, and tragedy. It is not easy to categorise it, but it is very engaging and entertaining,” she says.
She adds that working with Chaubey and Bajpayee, who she considers a “living legend”, was a great experience. “Abhishek is a brilliant director, who has a clear vision and a knack for storytelling. He has created a world that is realistic, yet absurd and surreal. Manoj is an amazing actor, who can transform into any character with ease. He is very supportive and collaborative as a co-star. We had a lot of fun shooting the series in Kerala, where we also enjoyed the local cuisine and culture,” she says.
Konkona, who is also a filmmaker, says that she prefers directing over acting, as it gives her more creative freedom and satisfaction. “As a director, I can create the world that I want to show, and convey the message that I want to share. I can work with talented people who can help me realise my vision. It is a very thrilling and rewarding process,” she says.
She made her directorial debut in 2006 with a Bengali short film, Naamkoron, and followed it up with a critically acclaimed feature film, A Death in the Gunj, in 2016. She also directed a segment in the anthology film, Lust Stories 2, titled Mirror, which explored the theme of self-love.
Konkona says that she is open to acting and directing in any language and genre, as long as the script is good and the role is challenging. She says that she is grateful for the opportunities that OTT platforms have given her, as they allow her to reach a wider audience and experiment with different kinds of stories. “OTT has changed the game for actors and filmmakers. It has given us more freedom, diversity, and exposure. I am happy that my films and shows have been appreciated by people across the world, and I hope to continue doing meaningful and enjoyable work,” she says.
‘Killer Soup’ is streaming on Netflix from January 29, 2024.
