Actor Soha Ali Khan, who returns to the screen with Chhorii 2 after a seven-year gap, said she felt herself moving away from films after becoming a parent and recently felt the urge to get back to who she was.
For movies like Rang De Basanti, Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster,Tum Mile, and Ahista Ahista, Soha greeted daughter Inaaya Naumi Kemmu with husband Kunal Kemmu in 2017. She last appeared in Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster 3 (2018).
Truth be told, when I became a mother—because I'm an obsessive person—I obsessed about my child. I forgot not only movies but my family, friends, husband and everyone. Now she's grown up, she doesn't need me anymore. So, I need to find something. I need my identity," Soha said.
So, now I go back and say, 'Please, can I do some work again because nobody wants me anymore at home'. You can't lose yourself. I'm one of those people who lost themselves and now I have to find myself again. I love what I'm doing. So, I took a little break, but I'm back," she added.
When Chhorii 2 director Vishal Furia and producer Vikram Malhotra approached her to play the villain, the 46-year-old actor said yes immediately.
"The actor in me was like, 'I want to play an antagonist and I love horror'. I think that it is one of the most compelling forms of cinema. If it's done well, it can absorb you; it can move you from your seat and stay with you for days and months," she said.
Chhorii, released in 2021, was a horror film about a pregnant woman, Sakshi, targeted by evil spirits. The sequel, now streaming on Prime Video, continues Sakshi’s story with returning characters and new scares.
As thrilled as she is, Soha was worried about how she looked as an antagonist. "My biggest concern, being a girl, was how am I going to look as a bit monstrous woman. I don't want it to appear poorly done or tacky. But I trust my team. We've seen the film and it's looking phenomenal. It surpassed my expectations," she declared.
