Actress Tanya Maniktala, who stars in the new gangster drama Paan Parda Zarda, spoke to about the bold role she’s playing and why she’s rejecting “flowerpot” parts that only look good on screen.
“I’ve never just wanted to be in a film,” she said. “It’s always been about how my character adds to the story. I’m not into the roles where a woman is just a decorative presence.”
Maniktala said Paan Parda Zarda feels different. In many big‑budget projects, women end up on the sidelines. But in this series, she says the female characters are central, powerful and essential to the plot. “The director, Gurmeet Singh, made sure the women drive the story, not just follow it,” she added. “It’s exciting to have space to perform and show women as multifaceted and strong.”
The gritty series dives into illegal opium smuggling in central India and mixes layered characters, tense drama and high‑stakes action. Maniktala joins a star‑packed cast that includes Priyanshu Painyuli, Sushant Singh, Rajesh Tailang and Manu Rishi.
Her career began with the TV show School Days in 2018. A turning point came in 2020 with the BBC‑HBO‑based A Suitable Boy. She’s since appeared in Netflix titles such as Feels Like Ishq, Chutzpah and How to Fall In Love, the Hindi film Mumbaikar with Vijay Sethupathi, and Tooth Pari. In 2024 she played Tulika in the film Kill.
Maniktala hopes her empowered role in Paan Parda Zarda will resonate with viewers as strongly as it does with her. The Mumbai‑based actress continues to push for stories where women are not side characters but lead the dialogue.
Source: ianslive
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