Karisma Kapoor Takes on a Gritty Role in Zee5's 'Brown'

Karisma Kapoor as Rita Brown

The upcoming series on Zee5, Brown, stars Karisma Kapoor in the role of Rita Brown, a police officer from Kolkata tasked with solving a challenging case. Although Rita is intelligent, she carries a sense of weariness and does not fit the typical mold of a law enforcement officer, yet she manages to get the job done. Director Abhinay Deo discussed his decision to cast Karisma, emphasizing his desire for her to portray an unconventional cop. He even taught her how to smoke and roll a cigarette for the character, despite her not being a smoker. This gritty thriller is set to debut on June 5.

Director's Vision for Karisma Kapoor

In a conversation with a media outlet, Abhinay revealed that convincing Karisma to accept the role required some effort. He had a clear vision of how he wanted the character to appear and behave—without makeup and looking almost exhausted. He stated, "The character is intense, someone who smokes and drinks frequently. I wanted to avoid the typical cop portrayal, aiming for someone unexpected. Karisma was the ideal choice, as she has primarily played bubbly roles, with a few exceptions like Fiza. I wanted to challenge her image, and it was a clear decision for me to cast her."

When discussing what attracted Karisma to the role, Abhinay noted that she had never portrayed a character like Rita Brown before. He mentioned that the role was significant and required her to learn how to smoke, which was a new experience for her. "Rita is such a compelling character that the appeal was in the unique aspects of the role. I wanted her to learn how to roll a cigarette, which I taught her," he added.

Guidance on Set

Abhinay kept his instructions for Karisma straightforward, advising her not to look like a typical cop. He explained, "You should appear as if you might collapse at any moment, but when it’s time to act, you should be as capable as any man. Let’s eliminate the notion of gender roles in this profession and make it your own." He emphasized that their discussions focused more on what she should avoid doing rather than what she should do. "We spent considerable time discussing how she would react differently to various situations. She is an exceptional actress, and I aimed to guide her on the nuances of the character rather than dictate her performance. This approach significantly shaped the character," he concluded. The Hindi series is adapted from Abheek Barua's novel, City of Death, and also stars Jisshu Sengupta, Surya Sharma, Soni Razdan, Helen Khan, Shaan, Meghna Malik, Ajinkya Deo, and Paresh Pahuja.