Lisa Ray celebrates 25 years of Kasoor, calls it a turning point in her career

Lisa Ray celebrated 25 years of Kasoor, reflecting on how the film empowered her with a strong, emotionally complex role that defied Bollywood norms of the time.

Lisa Ray has marked 25 years of her 2001 film Kasoor, calling it one of the most important projects of her career. The actor said the film stood out for its strong female character and emotional depth at a time when such stories were uncommon in Hindi cinema.

Lisa commemorated the milestone, sharing the music video of “Mohabbat Ho Na Jaye" on Instagram, along with a reflective note on what the film meant to her. “25 years of Kasoor. Let that sink in. When I said yes to this film, it felt like stepping into my power, quietly but decisively. A strong female character. A real arc. Emotional complexity. No big dance numbers. No formula."

She went on to describe Kasoor as a film driven by mood and emotion rather than spectacle, noting how different it was from the mainstream Bollywood template of the 1990s. “It was dark, internal, and led by feeling rather than spectacle. In many ways, Kasoor represented everything Bollywood wasn’t at that moment."

A post shared by Lisa Ray (@lisaraniray)

Recalling the period when the film was made, Lisa shared that she was discouraged from taking on the role, with many insisting that audiences were not ready for strong female-led stories or darker narratives. “In the 90s, after refusing many mainstream offers, I was told - very confidently - this film won’t work. No one wants to watch a strong female character. It’s too dark. Well here we are."

Expressing gratitude to her collaborators, Lisa praised co-actor Aftab Shivdasani for his sincerity and commitment, and thanked director Vikram Bhatt and the Bhatt family for believing in the story’s quiet strength. “Working with @aftabshivdasani was a joy—present, sincere, and deeply committed. Thank you for being such a wonderful co-actor and collaborator. And to the Bhatts and Vikram Bhatt—thank you for trusting the stillness, the silences, and the emotional truth of this story when it wasn’t the obvious choice."