Exclusive: The Trial 2's Pamela Singh Bhutoria on being typecast: 'I would get many offers to be sexy, gorgeous onscreen'

Pamela Singh Bhutoria exclusive interview

Actress Pamela Singh Bhutoria, who was recently seen in Kajol’s The Trial Season 2, has expanded her career in Bengali cinema, Bollywood, and OTT platforms.

In an exclusive interview with Moneycontrol, Pamela opened up about working with Kajol in The Trial Season 2 and Vidya Balan in Kahaani.

Pamela also offers a distinct viewpoint on creativity, professional dynamics, and the evolving narratives for women in cinema.

Excerpts from Pamela Singh Bhutori’s interview with Moneycontrol

Ques: How different is your experience working in Bengali films compared to Bollywood?

Pamela Singh Bhutoria: I would definitely say one thing about the Bollywood film industry is that it's extremely professional, and it's a big industry. The margins are really high. So, obviously, the way things get done here, doesn't happen in the same way in Calcutta, probably in terms of production and the budget.

But when it comes to creativity, Bollywood has been ruled by Bengalis. So, art and creativity, there is no doubt among Bengalis. So, it's great working there. There are innovative scripts, directors, and it's a great industry to work with.

Ques: You have worked in Bengali films, Bollywood and OTT platforms as well. How different is your experience working on different platforms?

Pamela: When it comes to acting, there is no such difference because you are on these platforms, and the camera medium is kind of similar. Unless you are acting on stage, that's completely different. I think with television and films, the only difference is the approach and the grandeur.

The grandeur which cinema has, maybe television doesn't have it so much. Other than that, it's all the same, to be very honest.

Ques: You were recently seen in The Trial Season 2, alongside Kajol. Can you tell us about your role and experience on the set?

Pamela: I will first speak about the experience which I had with Kajol on the set of The Trial, Season 2. They say the captain of the ship has to be the person who's in charge, has to be great. And in my case, the director of Trial, Season 2, Umesh Bisht, he is one of the nicest, kindest human beings and most accommodating. He's truly very human in his approach in every aspect.

So, that kind of set the tone for the entire set. Everyone was warm, kind, nice, and accommodating.

And Kajol, being Kajol. We've grown up watching her. I was really expecting a lot. I was nervous because they always say never meet your heroes. But I was completely mesmerised when I met my heroine. She's beautiful, kind. You know, she's the one who cracks the joke. She's the one who laughs the loudest. She's extremely welcoming. She's very secure as an actor, as a person. She makes everybody on set feel comfortable and, you know, welcome. So, amazing experience. Beautiful experience.

Ques: What has been the most challenging role in your career so far?

Pamela: In terms of acting, I think my most challenging role has been Ghuspaith. It's a short film which I did with Miguel. And it had Amit Sadh and Dibyendu Bhattacharya in it. So, it was really hard shooting because we were shooting in Wada, extreme corners of Maharashtra and it was very challenging. There was a budget tight. There were no vanity vans parked for us.

They were very basic and the shoot circumstances, we wanted to capture the real circumstances. It was very difficult. But it was one of the most fun experiences because you're closest to reality. You are playing a character, and you get inspiration because you are in that circumstance. It's not like you're getting out of an '80s vanity and going on set and being that character.

I was playing a refugee pregnant woman who's crossing borders. And it was difficult. And it was difficult to shoot it. So, it was a hard character. And I truly cherish it.

Ques: Did Kahaani change your perspective on filmmaking or influence your choices in future projects?

Pamela: I have been very fortunate with the work which has come my way. Especially in movies and I've always got to work with great actors and great artists. Everybody knew Kahaani and working with Vidya Balan, and we had many good actors from Kolkata as well.

We had Parambrata [Chatterjee], we had Saswata [Chatterjee]. So, it was a terrific experience. And also, the director, Sujoy [Ghosh], the way he made the film, it was an experience in itself. It was not like just doing any other work because he put it in his heart and, sweat in it. And so did Vidya [Balan].

It was a great experience. And again I think the bigger the actor gets, the more famous, their behaviour, their bandwidth to accommodate everybody becomes a lot more. So, it was again a beautiful experience to work with Vidya Balan.

Ques: As someone who has straddled both regional and national platforms, have you faced stereotypes or typecasting?

Pamela: My career has been pretty versatile. I have done a lot of art. I have played that. My career has been pretty versatile. I host events, I do a lot of other things also. In terms of typecasting. Back in Chalchitra, I would really get a lot of offers just to be the sexy, gorgeous, beautiful woman. Because I used to model at one point. So, Calcutta people, I think, couldn't get over the fact that she was a model.

They would just invariably cast me or want to cast me for characters where I'm this sexy siren. Which I don't mind, which I enjoy. But being an actor, the perks you get to enjoy many other characters. You get to play a lot of other people, which you are not in real life.

So, yeah, that's more challenging and exciting for me when I get to play someone who's not me and who doesn't live my life, who lives a different life.

Ques: Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster 3 had a strong ensemble cast. How did you navigate your role within such a star-studded setup?

Pamela: I had a wonderful director. Tigmanshu Dhulia is a world-class director. And, again, in Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster, my co-actor and most scenes I had were with Jimmy Shergill. So, again, an extremely humble, brilliant actor. So, I've been pretty lucky. My co-actors have always been amazing people and good, talented actors. So, he would rehearse each and every line. So, Jimmy sir would rehearse every scene before you wanted to do it. That helps me.

Tigmanshu Dhulia is a school in himself. I got scolded, but he made me do the scene. It was a huge help.

Ques: Are there any genres or characters you would like to try in the future?

Pamela: I have so much to try. I have not done so much. I would really like a thriller where I play a negative character, I would really want to play a serial killer or a corrupt being. I want to do something like that.

Something absolutely negative, non-glam, brutal. Something like that.

Ques: What’s your take on the evolving role of women in Indian cinema? Have you observed any positive or negative changes in the way female characters are portrayed in the current era?

Pamela: The role of women in films or the role of women in life is remarkable, right? It is not... It can't be compared. A woman's role is everything.

Without a woman, there is no world. So, of course, Hindi cinema and cinema all over the world a patriarchal society. It has been seen that women have not been given characters which are important or which make an impact.

But that is changing and actually, that kind of got into a dip in between. Earlier, if you see Smita Patil, Shabana Azmi, they did characters which were strong, powerful women, independent, Ratna Pathak Shah. I can go on saying names. But of course, it's a patriarchal society, and we are kind of coming out of it. Now, women are saying no to such characters.

Ques: How do you feel about AI being used for voiceovers or dubbing in films? Does it excite you or concern you for the future actors?

Pamela: I'm scared, to be very honest. I'm very scared of artificial intelligence. It is scary. It is definitely scary. People are losing jobs. People think that they can write a script on ChatGPT. Though it is scary at the same time, the human mind can't be replaced with anything.

But what is more scary is, you can now do those, catfish business, basically, where you can change faces, and you can do so much. That is very scary.

Ques: Is there anything exciting on your slate that you can tell us about, either in progress or upcoming?

Pamela: I have worked on a project, and I'm waiting for that project to be released. I'm really excited about that project.

That project got a huge standing ovation at the Berlin Film Festival.  So, that is one project I'm really, Jishu Sengupta again, who is also in The Trial. That is one project I'm really looking forward to, waiting for it to be released. And my part in it is really exciting.