Actor Priyanka Setia on 'Khauf': 'When There is Female Energy on Set, It Mellows Things Down'

Actor Priyanka Setia pauses to reflect on the whirlwind few weeks since Prime Video's Khauf dropped last month. The inventive supernatural-horror series debuted to instant acclaim, leaving Setia—who was once a flight attendant with Lufthansa airlines—overwhelmed.

"I have been working across theatre, film, and shows for over a decade, but I was never in acting for the vanity of it. So the success of Khauf feels extremely important," Setia tells The Hollywood Reporter India.

The actor, who trained under Pankaj Kapur and went on to star in over 25 stage productions, has previously featured on shows like Netflix's Sacred Games, Ajay Devgn-starrer Rudra, the legal drama Guilty Minds, and Aranyak, among others.

On Khauf, which has already been dubbed as one of the best Indian originals, Setia plays Rima, a pregnant woman who lives in a Delhi hostel, haunted by violence and men. The show, created and written by Smita Singh and directed by Pankaj Kumar and Surya Balakrishnan, follows a group of women navigating the horrors of living (and surviving) in the city.

"I reached out to Smita as soon as I heard about the project, and that led to a three-hour audition with Casting Bay. It was intense, but I knew I was in for something special. When I read the script, I was blown away; it was jaw-droppingly original," the actor recalls.

Setia is joined by an ensemble of talented women, such as Monika Panwar, Chum Darang, Geetanjali Kulkarni, Shalini Vatsa, Rashmi Zurail Mann and Riya Shukla.

A still from the show.

Setia says Khauf's huge cast and crew were always "in sync" on set and recalls how, despite filming eight "challenging" episodes, everything was smooth. With every actor finding ways to make what they were filming even better, Setia says the sexist gender stereotype that women don't get along on sets was already busted.

"We all understood that we were creatively collaborating on something, and there was never an ego tussle. It was a challenging shoot, but no one, not even the AD team, ever raised their voices. I don't even remember having any friction once! Men always talk about women, and assume that we don't get along, and it is frustrating; they don't know how much camaraderie we have and the love we share for each other."

"From debating on how to do a difficult scene to prepping for it, to discussing something silly about our personal lives, we women talked about everything. Having women on set makes a huge difference. When there is female energy, it mellows things down," she adds.

Priyanka Setia in 'Khauf'

Setia, who also penned last year's musical drama series Khalbali Records, is now fuelled by Khauf's success and hopes the acclaim will open new doors, showcasing her capabilities to industry makers.

"I have been working for quite some time, but I wanted people to see what I am capable of. Khauf has brought my efforts to the forefront. It's a huge win for all of us who poured our hearts into the show," she signs off.