By Honorary Reporter Preeti Rawat from India

Photos = Anwesha Purkayastha

In the smash Korean series "Squid Game," migrant worker from Pakistan Ali Abdul struggles to provide for his family in Korea. The Indian actor Anupam Tripathi has received fame for his portrayal of Ali, but fellow compatriot Anwesha Purkayastha made her acting debut as the character's wife.  

In an email interview conducted in the first week of this month, Purkayastha said, "Anupam, who is also a dear friend, recommended me for this role. Then I had to go through a couple of screen tests before being selected. The last screen test was with the director, and at the time, I had no idea that the show would go on to become this huge."

Anwesha Purkayastha (right) said her friend, Indian actor Anupam Tripathi, recommended her for the role of his character's wife in "Squid Game."

Unlike the character she played and the vulnerability she showed on screen, Purkayastha is extremely cheerful and always wears a smile. She is a Ph.D. student in chemical engineering at Dongguk University in Seoul.

"I came from a non-acting background and had never been in front of a camera. I am an Indian, so Bollywood is something that grows within us. When I received the role, I wasn't worried or excited but rather overwhelmed, thinking that for once, I was going to experience 'every little girl's secret desire,'" she said.

"The best part was that I had to do the lines in Hindi. While preparing for the role, I watched a few Bollywood movies that have relevant characters. The director gave us complete freedom to improvise our dialogue and gestures, and thankfully, it all turned out well." 

Anwesha Purkayastha played the wife of a Pakistani migrant worker in Korea.

Purkayastha also mentioned the show's diverse cast and praised the work culture. On how she would describe working on the set, she said, "'Organized' would be the word. Everything was in place, there were no delays and everyone followed a highly disciplined approach to work."

She added that she was glad that her role required her to act instead of being a trivial sidekick. She not only received praise from her family and friends but also her coworkers, including her supervisor.

"Interestingly, I got followed by a few people on my social media handle. When I replied by thanking them for their kind words, many of them took screenshots of my messages and put them in their Instagram stories. The rest texted me back saying how my reply made their day. I genuinely felt happy knowing that I was noticed, appreciated and loved," she said.

Purkayastha said she is busy with her dissertation but open to more opportunities in acting. "Acting has always been a hobby, and if I get another opportunity, then why not? I loved doing it," she said.

She also answered questions from viewers, which are in the screen capture below.

kalhong617@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.