What is Bhumi Pednekar’s Dream Role?

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Bhumi Pednekar has by now shown that she can pull off any role with charisma. After wowing media and audiences alike with her acting skills in varied projects, Bhumi reveals that she would now really want to play a freedom fighter on the big screen.

“Playing a freedom fighter on screen would be my dream role! I’m fascinated by such remarkable personalities and it would be an honor for me to play someone like that on screen. I actually want to do that and I hope that the universe is listening to this. I would also like to be a part of a fantasy project. There are so many different types of projects that I would love to explore and experience as an actor,” says Bhumi.

Bhumi, who will be seen in Anubhav Sinha’s Bheed, Badhaai Do with Rajkumar Rao, Ajay Bahl’s Ladykiller, Shashank Khaitan’s Govinda Aala Re and Akshay Kumar’s and Aanand L. Rai’s Raksha Bandhan in 2022, says that she is drawn to play powerful characters on screen.

“I think the one common thread in all my films or the work I have done is that I am trying to break stereotypes. I have done that right from my debut film Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015), and I do see myself playing ambitious, vocal, beautiful, gutsy women on screen because I relate to them deeply. I’m thrilled that I’m an artiste today and that I’m living my dream every single day and creatively expressing myself freely,” adds Bhumi.

For those who came in late, the oversize heroine of Dum Laga Ke Haisha, was actually working with Yash Raj Films’ casting director Shanoo Sharma for three years before her break. Among the stars whose auditions she took are Vaani Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor and Ranveer Singh. Accepting a stupendous challenge, the already plump girl put on weight to 85 kilos (!) to play an obese Haridwar hausfrau! Bhumi had two loves: food and acting, and she got to do both!

With complete discipline, however she promptly lost weight later. And it was back to “normal” roles, albeit with substance, in Toilet—Ek Prem Katha and Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, both released in mid- to late-2017. 

Saand Ki Aankh, Bala, Sonchiriya and even Durgamati: The Myth, released on OTT, besides Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan are among the films that followed with meat for her as an actor and also as subjects. Bhumi has ensured the right mix in her films, and not necessarily just the central role.

So those looking at our freedom fighters’ biopics now know where they could find their actor. After all, talent and dedication are first priorities, and Bhumi has both in plenty. Physical resemblance has always been, anyway, strictly optional.