By Ashok K Sharma
Mumbai, 10 Nov: In Mumbai’s film world, even after the release of the Rs 4,000-crore Ramayana, the survival at the box office of the Rs 50-crore action-comedy spy film ‘Udta Teer’ is becoming a subject of discussion.
Released on 23 October 2026, the film is a joint presentation of Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions and Sikhya Entertainment. Written and directed by Aakash Kaushik, it marks his debut as a feature film director. Ayushmann Khurrana and Sara Ali Khan play the lead roles, supported by Gulshan Grover, Ram Kapoor and Raghuvir Yadav.
Amid this established cast, Kavya Kumar was given the role of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He got only five scenes and one dialogue, but he turned that brief opportunity into the talked-about moment of the film. Kumar plays a Prime Minister who has the prestige of office but little real authority before military generals. He conveyed helplessness through expressions, pauses and restrained body language.
Then comes his one line, which exposes the political irony in a single stroke: “Pakistan mein Sharif ki koi qadr nahi hai!” Here, ‘Sharif’ is not merely a surname. The double meaning of the word makes the satire sharper. One sentence, perfect timing and a faint shadow of helplessness on the face, and the joke lands.
In Bollywood, an actor’s importance is often measured by screen time. Kumar has reminded the industry that screen time and screen presence are two entirely different things. His acting does not rely on exaggerated gestures. The situations themselves become absurd, and his controlled response makes the satire even sharper. This is a skill that comes from years of theatre experience. According to Kumar, his brief performance has been mentioned in more than 60 YouTube reviews.
The irony of his life is that he spent most of his professional career bringing film stars to audiences. He had a long association with Doordarshan’s programme Chitrahar. He also directed Baatein Filmon Ki, a programme on the history of Indian cinema. He has worked in commercials for CEAT Tyres and Lay’s Chips, and as co-producer of the film Irani Chai.
Acting was his first love. After graduation, he entered theatre and worked with M.K. Raina, Pankaj Kapur and Ranjit Kapoor. Theatre taught him when to speak, when to remain silent, and when to say everything with just the eyes. Then came a job in Doordarshan. Its rules made independent acting difficult. He gave priority to responsibilities, but did not let the actor inside him die. He waited for four decades.
This cannot be called a comeback, because he never got a full chance to try his potential earlier. This is the beginning of a dream postponed for four decades. At an age when most people choose a comfortable routine after retirement, Kumar has embraced shooting schedules. Udata Teer gave him a small role, but its importance is large.
(Ashok K Sharma is a multiple national awardee author & journo.)
