Amika Shail: It’s time to take a break from TV to reinvent myself as a performer’

Singer-turned-actor Amika Shail who has done shows like Baalveer Returns, Udaan and Divya Drishti feels it’s the right time to take a break from TV and focus on other mediums.

“I don’t like working with boundaries that TV always brings along. You get very little time to prep as many a times scripts are provided the same day. Whereas films and OTT give ample time to understand the premise of the character and sketch it the way you want to,” says the young actor, who has been part of projects like Laxmmi, Mirzapur 2 and Chhatis Aur Maina.

Reasoning her break from TV, Shail adds, “My journey as a singer as well as an actor both took off from television but after all these years, I think it’s time to take a short break from the small screen and reinvent myself as an artiste. This is mainly to take up work that I want to try my hand at this stage of my career. As films and web series gives me a vast canvas and good lot time to perform.”

Talking about her initial days the singer-actor who got a chance to dabble into acting due to singing says, “I came to Mumbai to get into singing and that was what I tried for initially by participating in reality shows. Running around music studios and trying demo singing was what I was doing till I got a playback song for the film Wedding Anniversary (2017) followed by many singles. Then I got to know of a project where they were looking for an actor who can also sing and that made me think that this too can be an option that I greatly needed to strengthen my career.”

Currently, in Uttarakhand, post lockdowns Shail has been on OTT with series like Trapped, Hai Taubba and more. “I had a great time in hills while shooting for my next film with Hriday V Shetty’s Mussoriie Boyz. Our first schedule was in Mussoorie followed by another in Dehradun and trust I thoroughly enjoyed being in the hills. Life there is so very different-no rush and no rat race to prove oneself. I just love the simple life such cities offer. That’s real life, where it’s all about enjoying each and every moment of our being.”