Four More Shots Please!: I'll Be Taken More Seriously As An Actor, Bani J On Emmys Nomination

Recently, Amazon Prime’s web series Four More Shots Please! received a nomination in best comedy series category at International Emmy Awards 2020. Actor Bani J, who plays one of the lead roles in the series, is beyond ecstatic about this.

It validates the contribution of everyone on the show: Bani J

“This is unbelievable. We can’t even get over the discussions. Such recognition does validate the contribution of everyone who worked on the show. Hopefully, I’ll be taken more seriously as an actor. So I’m looking forward to what exactly changes around me,” Bani J said. She further added that her current focus is on enjoying the moment. On the success of her former neighbour Arjun Mathur, who bagged the best actor nomination, she said she was like ‘wow this is awesome man!’ “We must celebrate the achievement of our peers,” she said in an interview with Hindustan Times.

Also Read: Why I’m Waiting For Season 2 Of Four More Shots Please!

Bani J, who is a VJ and a host in addition to being an actor, said that she took time before actively working in the field of performance arts. “I needed to be ready as a performer, feel that I’ve the capacity to express this vastness of emotions,” she added. Moreover, she believes that one can’t fake acting in front of the camera, and needs the call for it. She plays the role of Umang Singh, a bisexual person, in the series.

The industry doesn’t understand where to place me: Bani J

Talking about the industry and how it becomes difficult to fit in the narrow mould of an actress, she said that ‘there’s a mindblock’. “The industry doesn’t understand where to place me. Abroad it’s different. They’ve actors who have tattoos and are very fit as well.” She hopes that the industry would be able to write roles for people like her.  She even said, “No discrimination should be made in terms of body shapes and sizes, skin colour etc too.”

Also Read: The Maanvi Gagroo Interview: Four More Shots Please Season 2 Is Here 

Co-actress Kirti Kulhari said in an interview with Hindustan Times that the “Emmy nomination is an icing on the cake.” Kulhari, who plays another lead of Anjana, said, “I do not take this personally or get too over-excited about these things.” However, Sayani Gupta, the third lead of the show, said that the Emmy nomination doesn’t make any difference to your career in India.

In the series Damini played by Sayani Gupta is a headstrong journalist, Kirti Kulhari is the feisty lawyer and single mother, Anjana, Maanvi Gagroo  is the sweet, diminutive Siddhi whose mother insists that her one true purpose in life is to get married and the strong but vulnerable Umang, a bisexual personal trainer is played by VJ Bani. Rangita Pritish Nandy is the creator of the series.

Shikha Chandra is an intern with SheThepeople.TV