2025 has been a significant year for Kirti Kulhari. She began the year with a stellar performance in Hisaab Barabar, co-starring R Madhavan and Neil Nitin Mukesh. This was followed by Himesh Reshammiya’s mass entertainer, Badass Ravi Kumar. On September 18, her film Full Plate premiered at the Busan International Film Festival. The actress had a busy schedule and yet took out time to attend the event in South Korea along with her director, Tannishtha Chatterjee. In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama from Busan, Kirti Kulhari spoke about Full Plate, her unique prep experience and a lot more.
EXCLUSIVE: Kirti Kulhari on Full Plate’s Busan honour and her unique prep experience: “Tannishtha Chatterjee made me roam around Versova in a burkha”; shares her struggle of handling non-veg food: “I can’t touch raw meat…I was like ‘Oh my God, why do I have to do this!’”
Congrats on the Busan honour for Full Plate! How does it feel and how is it going in Busan?
Thank you so much for the wishes. Yes, it does feel very exciting and validating because the film means a lot to all of us. It’s been a tough journey and to see it being validated at a prestigious film festival like Busan obviously means a lot. I am heading back (to Mumbai) right now as I have a shoot in Kerala. I have literally managed to find these two days in between; 1 ½ days to be precise. It was very hectic and exhausting. But I am glad I managed to attend the world premiere, the Red Carpet and Marie Claire Asia Star Award. I am glad I could be here for this big moment for myself and for the team.
In the film, you play a cook. Do you like cooking in real life? How did you prep for the role?
I know how to cook, contrary to what Tannishtha thought of me (smiles). It’s so funny that while she was making a film on cooking and asked me for my dates and all, she forgot to ask me whether I cook at all! She remembered it during the workshop. She sent me a message saying, ‘Listen, try chopping vegetables and other food items with your hands, not on the chopping board’. I was like, ‘Duh, I already know that’! She underestimated my cooking skills. But I obviously knew how to cook. It was quite exciting actually, because I hate cooking with a capital C (laughs). So, for me to play this ‘I just love cooking’ kind of character was exciting. I was amazed by my own skills.
So, prepping for the cooking part was easy. But I had some issues while I was touching non-veg food because I don’t cook non-veg food. I can’t touch raw meat. Those were the moments when I was like, ‘Oh my God, why do I have to do this?’! But I think it was nice to get over that. The only time I started touching non-veg with bare hands was for my two boys (dogs), Hope and Spirit.
I was so glad that we did a lot of workshops. Tans loves workshops and she’s very good at it too. We did like 8-10 days of workshops. She made me wear a burkha and made me roam around Versova jetty and Versova village. She took me to the house where we were going to shoot. I went there with the kids who played my children. We roamed around and got a little feel of the house. I kept telling Tannishtha, ‘This part (of prep) is not required’. But she was quite insistent and I relented since she felt that the experience was going to help me. And I guess it did help.
How is Tannishtha Chatterjee as a director?
She is absolutely wonderful. She’s so sharp and nuanced. She understands so many things cinematically and creatively that to be in the hands of someone who is not just experienced but someone who is so clear and in tune with the characters was very refreshing. As an actor, I can do what I can do but you always wish that you find a director who takes you even deeper and further in your craft and portrayal of a character. That’s what she did. She has an eye that I have in terms of performances and characters. It was so wonderful to align with someone like that.
Any idea when Full Plate will be released?
We are figuring it out.
Recently, Sabar Bonda director Rohan Kanawade remarked how independent films struggle to release in cinemas. Tannishtha’s Roam Rome Mein was an interesting film, but never saw the light of day, not even on OTT. Your views on this trend and do you feel concerned before singing such independent films?
Independent films are called independent because they have their own set of struggles and challenges. I think that’s why they just become independent, so that they start with the ‘We gotta do it on our own’ mindset. I haven’t seen Roam Rome Mein, but from what I have heard, it was an interesting film. It’s really sad that it didn’t get released.
And yes, I do feel concerned about signing independent films in the sense that the film industry is such a tricky field. Even with everything in place, sometimes, the films have a different eventual result. Sometimes, they get lost. Sometimes, they don’t get released. Considering these films are anyway outside the regular way of doing things, it’s even tougher for them. Nevertheless, I love doing them for sure because I am in a position where I can balance my commercial work and also do something interesting once in a while. I would like to continue this trend. With time, I have become more careful about choosing the people who are associated with it too. In your head and in that moment, you have made the right choice in terms of the people associated and in terms of directors. Then, things just go South. So, at some point, you just need to do your thing and be as wise as you can. Then, just surrender to the fate of the film and your fate through the film.
Speaking of OTT, many are dying to watch Badass Ravi Kumar on digital. Any latest update on the same?
I honestly have no idea about the plans for the digital release. But I am happy to know that people are waiting to watch it.
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