Every role teaches you something about yourself: Nimrat Kaur

For Nimrat Kaur, the journey to recognition has been gradual, hard-won, and defined by perseverance. The actress, celebrated for The Lunchbox, Airlift, and her recurring role in Homeland, has spent over two decades honing her craft—first on stage, then on screen. Today, she navigates Bollywood, American television, and streaming projects with the quiet confidence that has become her hallmark.

After completing her studies at Shri Ram College of Commerce, Kaur moved to Mumbai and began her career as a print model. She soon gravitated toward theatre, appearing in plays such as Baghdad Wedding, All About Women, and Red Sparrow, under directors like Sunil Shanbag and Manav Kaul.

Her early on-screen work included music videos for Kumar Sanu and Shreya Ghoshal, and various TV advertisements. Her Hindi film debut came with Anurag Kashyap’s Peddlers (2012), which screened at Cannes. But it was The Lunchbox (2014) that became her breakthrough. Her portrayal of ‘Ila’, a lonely wife who strikes up a unique friendship through letters delivered by mistake, won critical acclaim.

Delhi memories and early life

“My early life shaped a lot of who I am today,” Kaur reflects, recalling her formative years in the capital region. “I was born in Pilani, Rajasthan, but after my father, Major Bhupender Singh, was abducted and killed in 1994, our family moved to Noida. Growing up there, attending Delhi Public School and later Shri Ram College of Commerce for my B.Com., I learned resilience in ways I hadn’t imagined. Delhi became home in every sense—its streets, its schools, its rhythm—they all left a lasting mark on me.”

“Struggles are unending, and they will exist lifelong,” Kaur adds. “When I started, there was no surety that the reason for which I came to Mumbai would fructify. Will I be able to earn some money through acting? These were the initial questions… I did a lot of ad films, and then Lunchbox came my way. I also did theatre for 4–5 years. At different points, I had to struggle with different things.”

Also read: SC permits sale, bursting of green crackers in Delhi-NCR on Diwali

Breaking into global screens

Kaur’s talent soon caught international attention. She portrayed ISI agent ‘Tasneem Qureishi’ in Homeland (2015) and returned for its final season in 2020. She co-starred with Akshay Kumar in Airlift (2016) and went on to explore both American and Indian streaming series, including Wayward Pines (2016), Dasvi (2022), School of Lies (2023), and Foundation (2023).

On the OTT revolution, she observes, “Well, I think the more the merrier… With OTT, the options are so much more. You can choose from all kinds of films and shows, and I think it’s a great time to be alive.” About independent cinema, she adds, “It’s a beautiful time for any kind of cinema, any kind of work, big budget, small budget, anything.”

Fashion, festivities, and personal style

Away from the camera, Kaur enjoys fashion, especially during festivals like Diwali. “Everything traditional, everything festive, sparkly, glittery… Nothing is too much. Diwali is that one time where you can get away with practically anything,” she says.

Her approach is practical yet stylish. “Depending on how long I’ll be standing, I choose my footwear. Confident style has to be chosen smartly… Sometimes you just have to go with what you are going to wear and how much time you’ll be in it.”

Her go-to fashion hack? “When in doubt, put on a beautiful, crisp white shirt, a beautiful pair of jeans that look good on you, and some nice sunglasses. You can’t go wrong with that.”

While many actors diversify into business ventures, Kaur has remained focused on her craft. “I wouldn’t call myself a hustler… principally from that perspective,” she says. Travel, however, remains a personal passion. “I love travelling a lot. I pursue it diligently; it’s like food for my soul. I treat it as a vertical requirement for my well-being, as important as acting.”

The challenge of Kull

Her latest project, the web series Kull, has tested her emotional and creative limits. Playing Rani Indrani Raisinggh, Kaur dives into a role layered with subtlety, strategy, and quiet fierceness. “I had a lot of internal dialogue before I decided to take on this part,” she admits. “It’s the kind of role that demands everything from you emotionally and creatively.”

On what drew her to Indrani, she explains, “There’s something about Indrani’s journey that hits you unexpectedly. It was love at first read. I could instantly imagine watching her as a viewer and being drawn in.”

She also identifies with the character’s sibling dynamics. “Being the eldest sibling myself, I relate to that instinctive need to protect, to guide—even if it means keeping some truths hidden. That fierce love and quiet responsibility—it’s deeply human.”

On Indrani’s transformation, she says, “From where she begins to where she ends, Indrani evolves subtly but profoundly. It’s a transformation I hadn’t explored before.” The palace location added to the immersion: “This was the first time I stayed at the shoot location itself. The palace corridors, the silence, the grandeur—it all added to the mood of the series. Wearing chiffon sarees and pearls while walking those halls… it truly transported me into her world.”

“Ekta has always been a risk-taker. She trusted me once with something unconventional, and now again with Indrani. It feels like a homecoming,” she adds, reflecting on her collaboration with producer Ekta Kapoor.

A journey marked by authenticity

In a career spanning Bollywood, international television, and OTT platforms, Nimrat Kaur exemplifies resilience, craft, and authenticity. Whether portraying a devoted wife, a determined officer, a political figure, or a fierce royal, she delivers a quiet intensity that lingers long after the screen goes dark.