Currently working on her Hindi film debut which is based on the story of freedom fighter Neera Arya, actor-turned-director Roopa Iyer appears to have a strong and determined persona. Delving into the tale of Neera involved extensive research, and navigating the process of casting and collaboration with a predominantly male team that may underestimate a female director's instructions posed its own challenges. Roopa's journey with this project has been marked by valuable learning experiences and facing hurdles associated with gender biases.

Regarding the film's theme, Roopa emphasized the inspiring nature of Neera's journey, highlighting her role in the Jhansi regiment of the Indian National Army under Subhas Chandra Bose's leadership. Neera's sacrifice for her country, including the extreme step of killing her husband to protect Netaji, showcases her unwavering dedication. Roopa chose to portray this character due to her compelling narrative, which involves tremendous sacrifice and loyalty to the cause. While the story is fictionalized to a certain extent, it reflects the filmmaker's creative freedom in storytelling.

Reflecting on the casting process, Roopa shared the challenges she faced in assembling the cast, particularly given her background in South Indian cinema. Struggling to elicit responses from potential actors, she sought assistance from a senior journalist in Mumbai to connect with suitable talents. Securing actors for pivotal roles, such as Neera's husband, proved to be particularly daunting in the casting process.He is portraying a villain in the film, and I am pleased to have Priyanshu Chatterjee in this role. After auditioning many actors for Netaji's character, we chose Shreyas Talpade because we felt he resembled Netaji. Suresh Oberoi plays the role of Neera's father. "I had to make this film in Hindi because it is a patriotic story with national relevance. It tells the inspiring tale of a woman who overcame challenges. It's a story that everyone should hear. I decided on Hindi as the language because I have a good command of the language from my studies. Despite occasional hesitation due to lack of daily use, I am confident in my Hindi proficiency.

"It is disheartening to see a lack of professionalism in various departments of the Kannada film industry. Although our films are gaining recognition nationally, many individuals in key roles lack proper training, resulting in inefficiencies on set and increased production costs. The film chamber and department heads must ensure that professionals are adequately trained before being sent to work on set, similar to how a police officer requires training before being deployed. It's common for unqualified individuals to be given roles simply based on connections, leading to wastage of resources and hindering progress. In this modern filmmaking era, costs should be decreasing, but the industry's lack of professionalism is impeding its own development."Employee progress is hindered due to their apathetic approach to work. As the director, my role is to provide support to workers and stakeholders in the film industry. However, it can be a challenging struggle when they do not value or appreciate the opportunities given to them.