Nitu Chandra Srivastava On Her Inspiration In Hollywood: I Definitely Look Up To Irrfan Khan

Nitu Chandra Srivastava recently made her debut in Hollywood with the film, 바카라�Never Back Down 바카라� Revolt바카라�. Nitu Chandra Srivastava, a Taekwondo champion, appeared in a few high-octane action scenes in the multi-starrer film, which was directed by filmmaker Kellie Madison and produced by Sony Motion Pictures Worldwide.

While 바카라�Never Back Down 바카라� Revolt바카라� was released on November 16, 2021, the film finally premiered on Indian screens on March 19 on &Flix, and it has been trending all over social media ever since. It바카라�s unprecedented to see a film get so much love and affection from audiences on all social media platforms.

Talking of the film, it centres around a lady who is kidnapped by a group running a fight trafficking ring and also stars actors Michael Bisping, Brooke Johnston, Diana Hoyos, and James Faulkner. She must fight her way out by participating in elite underground bouts.

In a short chat with Prateek Sur, Nitu Chandra Srivastava talks about how she got the film, how she trained for it, her idols who바카라�ve been a guiding light in her Hollywood career, and what바카라�s more in store for her from Hollywood. Excerpts from the chat:

You made a Hollywood debut with 바카라�Never Back Down: Revolt바카라�. How did the role come to you?

I was based out of LA, and I went for the premier of 바카라�Bad Boys바카라�- the Will Smith film in Sony studios- colour city LA. I was invited there and met few people. People started noticing me as most of the people were skinny, very fair, blue-eyed, blonde hair and then I was courageous brown skin, black hair, black eyes. I feel, I stood out. While I was in search of good roles, I was introduced to David Zelon at the premiere itself. And then David asked, 바카라�Apart from films what do you do, what is that special thing you love to do?바카라� I said, 바카라�I am a black belt 4th dan in Taekwondo and have represented my country and I am damn good at it바카라�. David laughed and said 바카라�you바카라�re so confident바카라� and I was like 바카라�I am바카라�. David then asked me to meet him for lunch the day-after.

My attitude has always been on the lines of 바카라� 바카라�you must give it a shot바카라�. Without giving it a shot, it will always be a 바카라�NO바카라�. So always give it one shot. I am a confident person, but I do understand the difference between over-confidence and super-confidence. Then, I met David and Audrey. Audrey is the writer of the film. By the end of the meeting, David told Audrey 바카라� 바카라�write and design a character around Nitu and her skills and it must be in the main leads바카라� because I had told David I will not do a small role. Even though I don바카라�t come from any background, I was confident to say a 바카라�NO바카라� to something I didn바카라�t want to do. Audrey then wrote 바카라�Jaya바카라� which I am playing in the movie. That is how I got 바카라�Never Back Down: Revolt바카라�.

You are into martial arts so how different was it in 바카라�Never Back Down바카라� than what you normally do?

Everybody who was a part of the film, trained. But idea is, if you have a base into martial arts and your body has muscle memory to remember, you are pre-conditioned to certain moves. Since I am a black belt 4th Dan Taekwondo player, it was easier for me. The fight master 바카라�Tim Man바카라� used the choreography of Jujutsu, Taekwondo, Karate and Kick boxing 바카라� a mix of all these came easy to be as I am trained in Martial Arts since childhood.

The character of Jaya is totally de-glam and very different from what you바카라�ve done in the past. Do you love doing de-glam characters which are more realistic and hard-hitting?

I have actually built my career from de-glam roles. I started with 바카라�Garam Masala바카라� which was very glam but my next film was 바카라�Traffic Signal바카라� which was totally de-glam, from the streets. 바카라�Oye Lucky Lucky Oye바카라�, 바카라�Apartment바카라�, 바카라�13B바카라� were all de-glam roles. In 바카라�One Two Three바카라�, I played a police inspector which was again de-glam. I have also been doing 바카라�Umrao Jaan바카라� in theatre and I insist on it because that role also on the stage was not very glam. I play a girl who has her journey from 17 years of age to 85. So, it doesn바카라�t really matter to me. Its always how you justify the character basis what is the requirement of the character. So, for me I feel that if I can justify the character given to me then this glam or de-glam doesn바카라�t really matter. All my films that have won national film awards are all de-glam 바카라� 바카라�Oye Lucky Lucky Oye바카라�, 바카라�Traffic Signal바카라�, etc. So, I prefer doing a good job on what is given to me and that is what my satisfaction is.

There are many Indian actors who바카라�re making waves in Hollywood. Is there anyone who inspires you? Someone whom you take inspiration from when you바카라�re thinking about your Hollywood journey ahead?

Not really. Actually, I was looking for a good script, whether it would be in Bollywood, or Hollywood that doesn바카라�t matter. I have also done a Greek film and that script was also very good. I have done South Indian films as well. I have worked in 바카라�Singam 3바카라� with Suriya, I have worked with R Madhavan and quite a few others. All these scripts are very very good. I was looking for work everywhere in the world. Today the world has become very small and it doesn바카라�t really matter where you are based out of. You get work anywhere. You can go and do it.

But yeah, I definitely look up to Irrfan Khan whose presence is being felt in the biggest of the movies. Every role that he has done in international cinema and Hollywood is being talked about. I look up to people who look up to their craft between 바카라�Action바카라� and 바카라�Cut바카라� and Irrfan Khan has always been that person.

How different are the environments on a Bollywood film set and that of a Hollywood film set?

I personally feel that it is a little more managed and everything is properly set in place and the script is followed to the core. Now Bollywood is also following the same thing so it isn바카라�t that different. Now Indian movies are going to London and different parts of the world. It is the same situation, same call time, same make-up and hair systems. I see things have changed drastically here as well and it is very well managed nowadays. India has drastically moved forward in all these areas and everything is well managed. A little change which I feel there was that everyone was at the same level of work, eating food, everything. No matter what the person is doing, whether it is a van guy or a makeup artist, everyone stands in the same queue and eats their food together which makes everyone feel very united, respected, loved and cared for.

What next after 바카라�Never Back Down Revolt바카라� can we see you in Hollywood? Are there things which you바카라�ve already signed?

You will see me in Hindi first, now. Two months back on Zee 5 there was a movie with Randeep (Hooda) and me which has come out called 바카라�Operation Fryday바카라�. That time I was there, but I am here back and doing 2 more Hindi films. I have two more films there but that will start end of this year or next year. In the meanwhile, I will finish two films in Hindi and one in South India as well.