Saba Azad, who stars in the upcoming thriller, ‘Bandar’, believes acting goes beyond lived and shared life experiences. She emphasized that empathy is the foundation of a performance. She added that the ability to connect with a character, despite the moral complexities can be important.Speaking about her role as Khushi in the film, she told IANS, “Acting isn’t about having lived the same experiences as the characters we play, it’s being able to empathise with them no matter how morally ambiguous a situation they find themselves in. I did my best to empathise with Khushi.” The film required her to step into a morally complex space, one that demanded sensitivity rather than judgment.
TIFF 2025 premiere of ‘Bandar’ and Anurag Kashyap’s impact
‘Bandar’ premiered in the Special Presentations section at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 6, 2025. It drew strong reactions from audiences. Saba Azad said that Anurag Kashyap’s storytelling has always connected with viewers, and this film is no exception. She said that Anurag Kashyap’s films stay with the audiences long after one leaves the cinema. Saba says that ‘Bandar’ also will give the audiences the same impact and will definitely stir up a conversation and bring up contradictory emotions in different individuals. Saba says, “You may like it, you may hate it but you won’t be able to ignore it.”
Bobby Deol and others in the cast
Alongside Saba, the film also features Bobby Deol, Sanya Malhotra, and Sapna Pabbi. Talking to Mid Day, Anurag Kashyap revealed why Bobby Deol was chosen to play the protagonist in the movie. The director said, “The story is of a has-been. Bobby understands what failure means. He has lived through that and come back stronger. That’s why I knew he was perfect for this role.” Meanwhile, Saba Azad also shared her experience of working with the ‘Animal’ actor. She said that Bobby is a generous actor who is so vulnerable in the movie. Saba feels ‘wonderful’ to work with Bobby Deol in ‘Bandar’.
