Zoya Afroz portrays Priya Khubchandani in the new series Taskaree: The Smuggler's Web. She reveals that the character's internal conflicts drew her to the role more than any surface traits. Priya's journey involves a constant negotiation between conscience, ambition, and survival.
Understanding Priya's World
Zoya explains her approach to the character. She did not want to simply prepare for the role. Instead, she aimed to understand the systems that shape Priya's actions. The actress spent time studying how institutions influence behavior. She learned how people often appear compliant while making quiet choices underneath.
"Priya isn't loud or rebellious," Zoya says. "She is observant, and that's where her power lies." This focus on subtlety defines the character's strength in the narrative.
Working with Neeraj Pandey
Zoya found working under director Neeraj Pandey to be a defining experience. She describes his unique directing style. Pandey does not spoon-feed emotions to his actors. He prioritizes the logic behind a character's choices at specific moments.
This method forces actors to think deeply rather than just emote. Zoya notes that his direction is precise but never rigid. Once the intent of a scene is clear, Pandey trusts the actor completely.
"That trust is rare," Zoya emphasizes. "It pushes you to be honest rather than dramatic." This environment allowed her to deliver a more authentic performance.
Sharing Screen Space with Emraan Hashmi
The series is headlined by Emraan Hashmi. Zoya says sharing screen space with him significantly influenced her own performance. She observed that Hashmi brings an unusual stillness to intense material.
Working with him made her more attentive to silence and nuance. She learned to focus on what is being withheld rather than what is spoken. Zoya describes this as a mature approach to drama, especially within a patriotic-heavy narrative.
"It's about not making it bombastic," she explains. Between takes, Hashmi's grounded and fun personality kept the set relaxed and balanced with easy humor.
Hopes for the Audience
Reflecting on her performance, Zoya hopes audiences grasp the moral complexity of Priya. She wants viewers to sense the quiet cost of compromise. Priya is not a symbol or a statement. She is a person making incremental choices, some brave and some flawed.
Zoya's ultimate goal is for the audience to think about how systems shape individuals. She wants them to see how agency exists even within constraints. Any commendations for a job well done would be a welcome bonus, but the deeper message matters most.
