Veteran actor Karisma Kapoor, who is making her comeback with the upcoming neo-noir thriller Brown, faced immense pressure to perform and avoid the “glamorous comeback” cliché, according to the show’s writer, Mayukh Ghosh. The actor even learned to smoke for her role as a world-weary cop.
In an interview with PTI, Ghosh discussed the responsibility of bringing Kapoor back to the screen in a stark departure from her glamorous 90s image.
Pressure of the ‘Glamorous Comeback’
Ghosh revealed that Kapoor was under immense pressure because this was her first project in a new space and there was already immense chatter around her “comeback.”
“There was a lot of pressure on her. After doing a lot of films, she [Karisma] came back. She didn’t want to make a ‘glamorous comeback’ because it’s a character who is stripped of everything,” Ghosh said . He added that they worked to ensure that her comeback did not appear clichéd or over-polished.
Learning to Smoke for Rita Brown
In the ZEE5 series, Kapoor plays a grumpy, alcoholic cop named Rita Brown, set against the gritty backdrop of Kolkata. The role demanded a level of rawness the actress had rarely tapped into before.
“She didn’t know how to smoke, so she learned how to smoke for the part. I remember when we were shooting, Abhinay (director Abhinay Deo) would say ‘Lo Karisma, ab foonko’, and she would smoke,” Ghosh recounted.
He explained that Kapoor’s character is strong and capable but lacks the glamour usually associated with her.
Character’s Unique Depth
Ghosh highlighted that the series focuses on the character’s internal struggle, making it a unique experience for the audience. He noted that Kapoor’s Rita Brown has an interesting equation with the male lead, played by Soni Razdan.
The Story Behind Brown
Brown is based on the acclaimed Bengali novel Nil Kalo Kheyali, written by noted author and former DGP of West Bengal, Sujit Dhara. The story revolves around a fiercely intuitive Anglo-Indian cop, Rita Brown (Karisma), and a raw, headstrong intelligence officer (Soni Razdan) as they pursue a serial killer.
The show is directed by Abhinay Deo and also stars Jisshu Sengupta, Surya Sharma, and others.
It’s a wrap and what’s next
After completing the shoot, the cast and crew celebrated a wrap-up party. Pictures of Karisma, Soni Razdan, Abhinay Deo, and Mayukh Ghosh enjoying the event have surfaced online.
Brown is all set to stream on ZEE5 from June 5, 2026 . With Kapoor stepping into a never-seen-before gritty avatar, the series is poised to be a major talking point for OTT content this season.
