Surveen Chawla has been in showbiz since 2005, long before streaming changed the game and strong female parts became the boardroom buzzword. Today, she brings fearlessness to every project, whether it’s the layered emotional terrain of Criminal Justice season 4, the textured world of Rana Naidu, the unpredictable energy of Mandala Murders, or the horror realm of Andhera. “If I don’t feel butterflies when I read it, I don’t do it,” she tells us as we sit down for a chat. “When I read a script, it’s not just about the story on paper, it is about the people involved. Filmmaking is like cooking a great dish. You need the right ingredients, temperature, and timing. The same goes for a good project; it’s about all the little pieces coming together. The writing was strong in Criminal Justice. It has romance, depth, and a strong sense of justice,” says the actor, acknowledging that the show has a legacy — “especially given how rare it is for Indian shows to even make it to a season two — let alone season four.”

Working with Pankaj Tripathi was the bonus for Chawla, who has long been a fan of the actor. “Getting to work so closely with him was surreal. Just being validated by someone you admire is a dream come true.”