I'm fearless as a storyteller: Swati Semwal

Actress Swati Semwal is also a writer and director, and her upcoming short film is a humorous journey of two sisters from a conservative family exploring their fantasy of a sex toy. She says she is fearless as a storyteller.

"Whatever I am today is because of acting, so I give respect to it as a profession and art form, but I am way too passionate about direction," Swati told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

Swati, who has featured as an actress in films like "Bareilly Ki Barfi" and "Fanney Khan", has made multiple short films in the past. She will also venture into feature film making, and says she is very passionate about being behind the camera.

Her short film "Abnormal" tackled the LGBT theme, and "Sameera" -- which won two awards at My Mumbai International Short Film Festival -- is about a unique love story of a Muslim girl. Her upcoming short is "Dildo Laa Rey", which will come on Net Pix Short, the brainchild of First Step Entertainment Capital on Wednesday.

Starring Aanchal Sharma and Priyanka Arya, Swati's "Dildo Laa Rey" addresses women's sexuality and how they should be liberalised and not keep their sexual encounters secret.

Swati says she has directed around 15 short films.

"I have realised that I am a pretty fearless person in terms of direction. One of my films is about an old lady who is in love with her plant, then there is a Muslim woman in love with Shiva, there's this new film about two girls who are in search of a dildo, and then one which is a psychological horror," she said.

While she is trying her hand at different genres as of now, her favourite one is yet to come. She will explore the concept of a travel film with a feature film that she plans to roll soon.

"My aim is to be one of the best storytellers... After Anurag Kashyap sir, nobody brought a change (in Indian cinema) and I feel it is kind of stagnant. I want to be the next person to bring in change in terms of storytelling," said Swati.

As an actress, Swati featured as Kriti Sanon's friend Rama in "Bareilly Ki Barfi", and in "Fanney Khan", she had a role opposite Rajkummar Rao. She walked out of Kangana Ranaut-starrer "Manikarnika - The Queen of Jhansi" as she wasn't convinced about the significance of her part.

"For me as an actor, it can be one scene, but I don't want to be underused. I want to do substantial roles in which there's scope of performance, otherwise I don't feel satisfied. What's the use of acting if I am not able to show my best?

"I am ready to go slow because I know I will act even when I am old," she added.

For her, "Bareilly Ki Barfi" was a reality check.

"I am here (in Mumbai) since the past seven to eight years... I never really struggled, but I realised I was struggling during 'Bareilly...' That time, I realised I need much more to do. Before that film, I was in my own world, I was working in the ad industry, did about 300 ads and thought I am the best, I am the queen.

"But when I signed my first film, it wasn't very pleasant in terms of my personal and mental satisfaction as an actor. I wanted to do much more. That time I realised I have potential, and I can do much more but I didn't have a platform. For the first time, I realised I was such a struggler," Swati recounted.

Her struggle, she says, began when she went on the set.

"I wanted a platform to perform, but I had restrictions. My aim is not to have those restrictions, and to be the central person on the set and perform because there's much more in me to give out as an actor," added the actress, who idolises the versatile Irrfan Khan.