In conversation with German Born Indian Actress Suzanne Bernert.
A German-born Indian actress, who was determined to make it big in the entertainment world and so she did! Welcome, Suzanne Bernert, the talented beauty who has spellbound audiences with her vital roles in television, films and has now taken the web space by storm. Let's get into a quick chat with her to know about her journey, her life as an actor and more.
• Born in Germany and making waves in the Hindi film and television industry, how has been the journey so far?
Suzanne: The journey here in India was like life is - ups and downs. Times when you think what next? Like now in the crucial times of coronavirus. It is very confusing to see other actors at work, and at the same time, I have refused to shoot right now. Too many shows started working with all the precautions just to shut down a few days later because of the rising cases.
My husband (Akhil Mishra) also has refused work as we both feel it is too early and now it is also showing up that there are long term after-effects of coronavirus like heart and lung problems even in previously fit people.
• What has motivated you to become an actress or triggered the feeling to make it in the entertainment world?
Suzanne: I always wanted to be an actor. Guess I came with the acting bug into this world. I am the daughter of a now-retired customs officer, I was born towards North of Germany, but due to my father's posting, we settled near the border to Austria. It is a gorgeous place but with no scope for acting. My mother used to drive me for years too far away ballet lessons, and school plays; I guess that motivated or triggered the feeling to become an artist.
• Have you taken inspiration from any prominent characters or renowned actors that have helped push your passion for acting and performing? If yes, who or what has been your inspiration?
Suzanne: My inspiration at that time was Klaus Maria Brandauer (Out of Africa, Mephisto, James Bond Movie, for example). I saw his performances and was like "that is what I want to do!" Interestingly, later in life, I had the opportunity to meet and tell him as well. My reward was a big hug that I cherish to this day.
Just watched "Out Of Africa" again after ages and it still spells the same magic (am a Meryl Streep fan as well).
My first acting teacher was Heidelotte Diehl, an eminent theatre personality and someone who positively inspired me and to this day has shaped me as an actress. My teacher once told that like Julia Roberts and Kate Winslet, I like to feel my characters from the inside, as opposed to the actors who need a lot of external inspiration. Everyone has their method and needs to find it.
• Actors generally take something back valuable from the different roles they play, what is that one thing for you and also the most extraordinary thing which you have received as an actor?
Suzanne: Every character teaches you something, so there are many things an actor can take back from a particular role; but as in life, I would like to say that the one constant in my life as an actress here is the love of the audience. That is the most valuable thing that I receive from my audiences. India has given me so many opportunities and appreciation. It is not a given for a foreign artist to be so accepted, and I am grateful for it.
• You have explored not just Hindi and English cinema, but also ventured into Bengali and Marathi cinema, how easy or difficult was to portray roles in different languages?
Suzanne: Acting in a different language is a step up in difficulty as one needs the lines, the right emotions, timing and technicality. Any actor will tell you that in itself is a job, and doing it in another language becomes a more significant responsibility.
See, even English is not my mother tongue, but I learnt that in school and improved over the years. Let's say I do a Marathi movie and the team talks to me in Hindi and a few others in English, so I have several different things flying around besides maybe shooting in heat, in a heavy costume, doing a stunt?!? It is a challenge as I have a vision, and so does the director of how the scene should shape up. One feels a lot of responsibility.
• Did you ever miss out on roles which you showed great interest in?
Suzanne: Yes, I have missed out on characters and just last year I was replaced after a one day shoot. These things happen, and I try to move on asap. Otherwise, it just gives unnecessary heartache. 'What is for you will be for you' is my Mantra. Even stars like Vidya Balan and Taapsee have faced rejection and have been replaced; it's part and parcel of being an actor.
• Knowing that you have worked in television as well as films, what difference do you see in the work environment of both?
Suzanne: TV is time-sensitive; you get your script for the day while you are sitting for hair and makeup. There is always time pressure. Sometimes we might feel we want to reshoot a scene, but that cannot happen. TV can also be very addictive. It is the closeness one feels with the team while shooting, the "Let's do this together" attitude. It can get very intense, and when you hit 28-30 days in a month and 12-16 hours a day, then it becomes your world.
Movies have the luxury of more time, more prep work, just everything more. It does not make it necessarily better, but yes; a movie feels less hectic and more indulgent.
I would say a Web series is a mix between a movie and TV, to some extent time-sensitive but more prep time.
• How have you chosen roles, or is it everything only about the medium?
Suzanne: From the start of my career in India, I have chosen characters, not the medium. In 2005 the idea was if you do TV you cannot do movies and vice versa. This has mostly disappeared, and one gets more freedom to choose. In 2006 I shot for two films and two TV Shows, so that was definitely a busy time and I also loved the roles that I got. I also got the opportunity to play a lot of variety of roles over the years. Still, there is room for more foreign artists based here to get strong characters as well as the PR and visibility because even if you play a lead character, it is not a given you will get the PR.
• You even debuted in the web series space this year, tell us about the experience.
Suzanne: For the web series - "State of Siege 26/11", it was my first time to work with a foreign director and DOP (American), and it was an experience to know how the Indian and the American team tried to find a rhythm and even got an excellent one. Everybody and every aspect of the making of the series blended in well on the set with the US foreign Actors in the middle understanding the Indian and American ways.
About the character, a German actress played a Jewish woman in Mumbai with an American Director and DOP. It was very challenging and different work for me. I had to work on the Jewish accent and took help from YouTube Videos and had lines in Hebrew. Even to get the look right, it took a couple of look tests. We shot at night, and I never was on a set with weapons. The shooting was a bit scary, and they took a lot of precautions and measures for the safety of all the actors. But if a gun is pointed at you, then the reaction comes very naturally. So my co-actress and I always had that fast pulse on the set.
As I lived in Mumbai while the 26/11 attack happened and we, Akhil and I just had been to Trident two days before the Attack, it was like a flashback to the time, sitting in front of the TV and trying to understand what happened, trying to come to terms and calming my family in Germany. Seeing the loss of so many innocent lives, the loss that still is being felt every year on 26/11. This series shows the victims side as well, which I found very important. What happened in Chabad House in 2008 was never shown prior, and that was the main reason for me to do the show.
• Your husband Akhil Mishra is also a renowned actor, what have you guys learnt from each other as actors or performers?
Suzanne: The camaraderie that we share in our personal or professional lives is something that goes beyond words, but I would say that Akhil and I are like co-directors for each other, being there to improve upon ourselves and our craft as an actor.
• Lastly, due to the pandemic, unfortunately, many artists have been without work, is there anything that you would want to tell them, to all the newcomers or the ones who want to make it big in the industry?
Suzanne: Maybe now is not the time amidst a pandemic to start a career in the entertainment industry but who am I to tell. It was predicted that my first TV Show will be my last and see where I am now...!