Prachi Desai made her Bollywood debut with the film ‘Rock On!!’ opposite Farhan Akhtar in 2008, which she followed up with films like ‘Bol Bachchan’, ‘Life Partner’, ‘Teri Meri Kahaani’, ‘I, Me Aur Main’, ‘Policegiri’, ‘Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai’, ‘Azhar’, and ‘Rock On 2’. However, her last film outing was in 2017, when she starred in a short film, ‘Carbon’. After a four-year-long hiatus, the actress is all set to make her web debut with a film titled ‘Silence’. In an exclusive conversation with ETimes, Prachi opens up on what made her stay away from the movies, how has film content changed over the years, nepotism, and more. Excerpts:

How has the past year been for you?

2020 has been a mixed bag of everything unexpected. We didn’t realise that slowing down was so important. I think self-love is the biggest thing that I have learnt from last year. 2021 has begun on a good note as it shows us that, as humans, we can be hopeful. No matter what comes our way, if we want, we will get through everything.

The cop drama ‘Silence’ will be your comeback film after a gap of four years. What kept you away from the limelight for so long?

I had started acting quite young and did so much work that there came a point in my life when I needed some reinvention and recreation. I had done many things and was offered pretty similar roles. I was looking at different roles and in the process, I let go of many films; some didn’t work out, and some weren’t made. Yes, there was a gap in my career, but the quest for doing something new is still alive. When I was offered the role of a female inspector, which I really liked, I took it up. The script was a page-turner for me.

Have the kind of roles that come your way changed over the years?

Yes, when I started, things were more fictional. Now, the content is closer to reality. There are a lot of things that we haven’t seen before. Cinema was very different and calculative and fictional earlier. We have women achieving so much in the army and air force, so it’s pretty amazing to tell those stories now. Every couple of years, cinema needs to change; you have to move with time and reinvent. Did we even think that technology would be so advanced today? Nobody knew that we would have OTT, and now we are witnessing such raw and gripping storytelling. ‘Delhi Crime’ is the best example of it, which we wouldn’t have got even a few years ago.

What are your views on social media negativity?

God knows when did social media become a dumping ground for frustration and a medium to put others down and feel better themselves. It makes you wonder about what other people might be going through. I wish them well and hope they get into a better mental space. A normal person wouldn’t choose to do this. I don’t think one should give importance to them as that makes them feel powerful. I don’t think they treat their family members this way.

What is your take on nepotism?

I would say that just like corruption in politics; nepotism exists in Bollywood; there is no denying what is already there and it’s very much there. I’m glad that OTT has come in; there are so many options and varied content to watch out for now.

Theatres have reopened after a year now. Which movies are you planning to watch?

The previous year has been challenging and theatrical releases are offering a lot of hope to people. People are enjoying restaurants, shopping experience again. If they want to go to the theatres, they must follow all the necessary guidelines and be a little careful for those two movie-watching hours. I haven’t decided how soon I will go to the theatre but I will definitely watch ‘Roohi’ to support my friends Rajkummar Rao and Varun Sharma.

What is your take on content censorship on OTT?

It’s a very vast and subjective topic that needs to be dealt with in a humane way. I personally feel I’m comfortable watching and doing stuff that I can be comfortable doing in front of the camera. Everybody has a differing line. We need to realise the impact of the content. Also, at times, I feel that some of the content shown is forced, and those things bother me. All we need is a great cinema with a great message. Why add content just to garner new subscribers. Some of them are putting things that are only required for monetary gain. When it’s affecting your actual craft, it doesn’t make sense to me.

What are the things that you are not comfortable doing on screen?

I am not okay with explicit content, but apart from that, I’m very happy to explore whatever comes my way.

How is your role as a female cop in ‘Silence’ different from other female cops that we have seen in films?

My role as Sanjana is very different. Out of the four cops in ‘Silence’, I am the only female, the rest three are male. My director gave me complete liberty to explore the character, and I was not told to beef up or look a certain way. I wore shades of pink and lavender too; just because you are a cop doesn’t mean you won’t have a feminine side. You may or may not notice, but such nuances in Sanjana’s character make her stand out from the other cops that we have seen on screen.