Yami Gautam and Neha Dhupia, who star in the thriller A Thursday, share happy memories

Sheetal

The film A Thursday, which released this Thursday on Disney+ Hotstar, has many firsts. From delivering the girl-next-door Yami Gautam in a power-packed ‘grey’ character to casting an eight-month pregnant Neha Dhupia in the role of ACP Catherine Alvarez to shooting during Covid, the director, Behzad Khambata sure had his hands full! Above all, he is also the co-writer of the story along with Ashley Lobo. The film also stars Karanvir Sharma, Dimple Kapadia, Maya Sarao and Atul Kulkarni.

Stills from A Thursday

Mom power

As for Neha Dhupia, one wants to know whether the pregnancy came first or the script? Neha says, “Well, the demand was for a female cop. But with cinema we can take liberties. So female cops can be pregnant too! In November, 2020, we started shooting and I wasn’t pregnant and then the second wave happened, so we took a break from shooting. By the time the shoot resumed, I was eight-months pregnant. I thought Behzad would not want to shoot, but they were okay as long I was comfortable.”

Drawing a similarity between her reel and real role, Neha says, “I take call of duty the way it should be. The same is with Catherine. She is brash, honest and takes risks. It is all the more metaphorical as the she is not just pregnant, but also trying to save the children who have been taken hostage. My son has already debuted in Indian cinema before he was born! In a way, a mini-visual mommy’s journal is there for my son, Guriq, to watch when he grows up.”

Inward journey

For Yami, preparing for the role was an internal process, which demanded an inward journey besides the director’s input or research on the script. She says, “It could only be expressed if you first understand it. And then I have the habit of reading the script again and again, marking all the nuances and picturising Naina even before she walked on the sets. I should know how she looks like. I should know this is something very special and empowering that has come my way, and I need to go all out to justify it.”

Ask about her look and she says, “I got a terrific response. I am flooded with messages from people who have already watched the film, and I am not just talking about those in the industry, but journalists. It’s then that you know something has been done right.” Yami bonded with other stars on the sets and it was the first time she met Dimple Kapadia. Yami adds, “I was glad she was part of the film. You don’t want to mess up before a fantastic actor like her. With the children Naina held hostage, I have great memories off camera. They are adorable. I have only happy memories even though we were shooting such an intense film.”