Kritika Kamra takes a completely different avatar in its latest series, Matka King. Playing a Parsi woman from 1960s South Mumbai, she says the role required a subtle and thoughtful approach. The actress, who recently tied the knot with Gaurav Kapoor, said, “I am not a Mumbai girl. I really had to understand the culture and tradition (of the Parsi community). I wanted the character to have a bit of decency and restraint in the way she conducts herself, in her voice.”Kritika credits her decision to take up the show to its producer, Nagraj Manjule. “When I found out that Nagraj Manjule was making a series, I thought it would be a great opportunity for me to be a part of it.” She further adds that Manjule’s previous work, Fandry, had a deep impact on her. “I’d been a fan of his work even before Sairat; I had seen his film Fandry in Maami. I discovered him when I was educating myself about cinema. At the time, the film really spoke to me; it had a lasting impact on me. Years later, when Sairat came out, it was a gut-wrenching shock, and I knew it was the same director.“His decision to move away from television at the peak of his career remains a matter of curiosity for many. Describing her mindset, she says, “I’m an unsettler. I’m not in a hurry. I don’t think this is going to be my peak, so I should make the most of it and then retire. I don’t have any fear or insecurity of missing out on getting a part.”The actress adds, “From a very young age, I knew that acting is what I want to do for the rest of my life. It’s a marathon – if you try to climb too fast, the higher the risk of falling. You have to wake up every day and commit to it again and again, especially if you really care about the art. That’s why I stepped away from television. It’s been a decade since I left – it gave me freedom and identity, but now what I’m doing is It is close, it just took time to make it. Some of my shows made me popular really quickly. Being famous, making good money and having security is nice, but it wasn’t motivating me. Creatively, it was no longer attractive. I work more for recognition than fame.”Author: Renuka.Vyavahare@timesofindia.com