<p class="title">Newcomer Zoya Hussain had harboured the dream of directing Anurag Kashyap in a film but the project took a backseat as the duo came together for her Bollywood debut, "Mukkabaaz".</p>.<p class="bodytext">Zoya said she had known Anurag for a while and was looking for an opportunity to collaborate with the filmmaker.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I had done theatre, but not modelling. I had written a short play, based on Kamala Das' short story, that I wanted to adapt into a film. I actually wanted him (Anurag) to act in it.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I met Anurag through a friend for this. I had done a film called 'Three and Half Takes'. Anurag saw it and liked it. He wanted to work with me," Zoya told PTI.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The debutante said the play never took off and later they started working on "Mukkabaaz".</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I hope to revisit it. I write as well and at some point, I want to develop my own scripts as well. I will direct it. I will not act in it," she added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But currently, she wants to focus on acting.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Zoya said when Anurag offered the part of a mute girl in the upcoming film to her, she was unsure if the director wanted her to play the part.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I did not know if he was serious (about working with me). He had sent me the script of 'Mukkabaaz' and I loved it. I was secretly hoping I will tell him that I want to do this film. But I was confused if he just wanted me to read and give my feedback on the film or act in it.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"... He did not tell me anything, he just said read it. He called me after two-three days saying why am I not taking it (offer of the film) seriously."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Zoya, who plays a mute woman in the film, said the disability of her character in the movie symbolises the lack of voice that women have in the society.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The actor learnt sign language for the role which was a both "daunting and exciting" task.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I trained in sign language with a lady called Sangeeta Gala, she has done films like 'Black', 'Barfi', 'Khamoshi', etc. I wanted to do play the character with authenticity and integrity and did not want to make it a caricature."</p>.<p class="bodytext">The film addresses the issue of the caste system, which traces the story of a boxer from UP, played by Vineet Kumar Singh, who belongs to the Kshatriya caste and falls in love with a Brahmin woman (Zoya).</p>.<p class="bodytext">After receiving rave reviews at various film festivals, the movie is scheduled to be released on January 12.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Zoya hopes "Mukkabaaz" will also win hearts at home.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Anurag is a great filmmaker who has made the most commercial film - which is a love story. The performances are great in the film. We are confident about the film."</p>
<p class="title">Newcomer Zoya Hussain had harboured the dream of directing Anurag Kashyap in a film but the project took a backseat as the duo came together for her Bollywood debut, "Mukkabaaz".</p>.<p class="bodytext">Zoya said she had known Anurag for a while and was looking for an opportunity to collaborate with the filmmaker.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I had done theatre, but not modelling. I had written a short play, based on Kamala Das' short story, that I wanted to adapt into a film. I actually wanted him (Anurag) to act in it.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I met Anurag through a friend for this. I had done a film called 'Three and Half Takes'. Anurag saw it and liked it. He wanted to work with me," Zoya told PTI.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The debutante said the play never took off and later they started working on "Mukkabaaz".</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I hope to revisit it. I write as well and at some point, I want to develop my own scripts as well. I will direct it. I will not act in it," she added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But currently, she wants to focus on acting.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Zoya said when Anurag offered the part of a mute girl in the upcoming film to her, she was unsure if the director wanted her to play the part.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I did not know if he was serious (about working with me). He had sent me the script of 'Mukkabaaz' and I loved it. I was secretly hoping I will tell him that I want to do this film. But I was confused if he just wanted me to read and give my feedback on the film or act in it.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"... He did not tell me anything, he just said read it. He called me after two-three days saying why am I not taking it (offer of the film) seriously."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Zoya, who plays a mute woman in the film, said the disability of her character in the movie symbolises the lack of voice that women have in the society.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The actor learnt sign language for the role which was a both "daunting and exciting" task.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I trained in sign language with a lady called Sangeeta Gala, she has done films like 'Black', 'Barfi', 'Khamoshi', etc. I wanted to do play the character with authenticity and integrity and did not want to make it a caricature."</p>.<p class="bodytext">The film addresses the issue of the caste system, which traces the story of a boxer from UP, played by Vineet Kumar Singh, who belongs to the Kshatriya caste and falls in love with a Brahmin woman (Zoya).</p>.<p class="bodytext">After receiving rave reviews at various film festivals, the movie is scheduled to be released on January 12.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Zoya hopes "Mukkabaaz" will also win hearts at home.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Anurag is a great filmmaker who has made the most commercial film - which is a love story. The performances are great in the film. We are confident about the film."</p>