Kubbra Sait says it's a surreal experience to be part of Apple TV+'s Foundation
Kubbra Sait says she is grateful she received a call from Tess Joseph to audition for the Apple TV+ series Foundation. The actress said it's a surreal experience to be part of the show.
After winning hearts and receiving praise for her portrayal of Kukoo in Netflix's Sacred Games, Kubbra Sait is now making headlines for her Apple TV+ series Foundation. The actress is playing the role of Phara in the series, which is an adaptation of Isaac Asimov's acclaimed book series of the same name. The show premiered on the streaming platform on September 24 with two episodes.
In an exclusive conversation with India Today, Kubbra Sait talked about Foundation and her experience of working on the series.
What is Foundation all about and what are your expectations?
Foundations, as a show, is the incredible vision of Isaac Asimov. The first feedback that I received from people was like 'I'm an Isaac Asimov fan. I have been reading his books. I have read the entire season of Foundation as a kid'. Those who are interested in sci-fi and are drawn to it will be drawn to the show immediately. At the same time, it will interest those who have not read his books, people like me. This show talks about how this philosopher, the magician, this incredible thinker, named Isaac Asimov, almost ascertained what humanity will be like once Earth is over. But the ethos of humanity may or may not change. No matter where we are, no matter who we are. Whether we are in positions of power or we are the ones who are subjected to injustice. Irrespective, we have our own reactions. And this is almost humanity's saga of reconstructing themselves, at putting themselves back, and what if we were all over, how would we rebuild ourselves for the world again? So, in that sense, it's a loaded, heavy, textured, incredibly layered show. So you don't have to be a sci-fi fan to enjoy Foundation as a whole.
Watch the full interview here:
This was Isaac Asimov 50 years ago. But then you put David Goyer, then Josh Friedman, Jared Harris, Lee Pace and Terrence Mann, and you just have magic. For me, this is a surreal experience to be part of, something I would definitely consider a historic moment in entertainment.
Do you think Foundation will open the floodgates for India-specific content on Apple TV?
Well, I hope, and why not? But I think what is even more transformational in this particular show, and the fact that it is on Apple TV+ is that while the rest of the platforms, to some extent, are spoiling you for choices, at Apple TV+ you will find exactly what you are looking for. Like Ted Lasso, that made everyone happy. And then you have Foundation in the same breath, which is weaving a universe of its own. It's taking you out of the ordinary. Kind of throwing you up there into this realm of interstellar stories, creating planets with different languages, creating characters who live on different planets with their own challenges and how humanity, as a whole, deals with the challenges with the help of technology. Foundation is a show for people who are curious, interested in life and want to be inspired and seek knowledge from entertainment to enhance their lives and make them better.
As far as representation goes, I, as a character, could have been from anywhere because it was a global casting. I'm not from Earth. I'm not from India on this show. I'm from a whole different planet. So, for me, it's incredible to know that David Goyer has this passion and he says let us embark on this journey where we find this character who is from South East Asia. And then this whole magic unfolds.
Watch the trailer of Foundation here:
How different was the casting process for Foundation from the rest of the projects that you have done? Was it more like a Hollywood-centric casting process?
I wouldn't know what a Hollywood-centric casting process really is until I walked through the room. What actually made me comfortable with myself is that the show has a lot to do with imagination. Especially when you are filming it. It has got so much post-work in terms of VFX that what you are seeing is not something that you can believe. You can believe it when you watch the show as a whole. I loved how the casting process required them to use their imagination to see how I fit into this part. When I auditioned for it, I went like this, with no scars and no backstory as such. But the beauty was how simple you were. I was asked to remove my earrings and nose pin with no make-up. They wanted to see how I conveyed the character purely through my eyes and through my face. And there was something in there that landed me this part and I don't want to question that part.
Do you think we can build on the sci-fi space with this level of production in India as well?
I think we are already. We are making a commendable movement in that space, so to speak. When Baahubali gets made and is consumed by the rest of the world and is lauded for its VFX, we are all sitting and cheering for it. I think we begin somewhere. If we speak about great beginnings, they are already here. It's all about being patient and seeing it through. Instead of just celebrating what we have, we are constantly unhappy with what we have got. I think that is something which is not good for the mind. I'm just grateful to be a part of this incredible series. I'm grateful that Tess Joseph called me for an audition.
It's about piquing your own curiosity. It's about asking yourself - 'Am I interested in hearing about a different space? Am I interested in knowing about something that I don't know? Drawing parallels between what that life would be like and this life that I live in'. When you watch the show, there are many aha moments where you are like 'Is it a dystopian world? Am I living in the future?'
Foundation debuted globally on Apple TV+ on September 24, 2021, with the first two episodes, followed by one new episode weekly every Friday.
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