"I'll feel chuffed. I'll feel honoured."
Anya Chalotra has swapped live-action for motion capture as she makes her video game debut in Unknown 9: Awakening.
She plays Haroona, who has supernatural, dimension-hopping powers on a mission to stop a secretive group from changing the course of history.
Set in 20th-century India, Unknown 9: Awakening is one of the very few games released by a large publisher to feature a South Asian protagonist.
Anya is best known for her role as Yennefer of Vengerberg in Netflix’s The Witcher.
It is expected to return in 2025, with Liam Hemsworth taking over from Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia.
Anya admitted that the switch from live-action to motion capture was intimidating.
Referring to the recording space, she said:
“You step into ‘the volume’, as they call it.
“You’ve got a camera on your head and I was like, ‘How am I gonna bring my process to this world?”
But as she got used to it, she was surprised by its similarities to more traditional acting work.
She explained: “We had a director who was directing us like any other scene.
“And we do take after take after take to try and get the best one.
“So it wasn’t as different as I thought it might be.”
In her acting work, Anya always tries to bring her dual heritage and like Haroona, she’s experienced “coming from two different worlds”.
Anya said: “Two strong worlds.
“Taken to the mandir [Hindi place of worship] one day and then Sunday school the next.
“I think that’s why acting’s helped so much – but I’m still figuring it out and think I will be for a long time.”
Anya Chalotra explained that immersing herself in complex female roles is all-consuming and it can be difficult to leave her characters behind when she leaves the set.
She admitted: “I’m still in the process of doing that to be honest.
“I do struggle because every day you’re in the mindset for so long and although I’m not a method actor, it does alter you.
“And it weirdly forms new ideas of yourself because you’re practising a habit or thought constantly as this character.”
But a few methods to change that include having a shower to “cleanse” herself of a character and lots of exercise.
Released on October 18, 2024, Unknown 9: Awakening is the beginning of an attempt to launch a new franchise, with other tie-ins planned.
The gaming industry is struggling to find new audiences but having a South Asian lead character could be a way to change that.
Anya Chalotra expressed: “That’s so exciting for me because I know I’ll go home and see the girls in my family pick up this game and be excited by what they’re seeing and who they’re playing as.
“I’ll feel chuffed. I’ll feel honoured.”
But she also hopes people from other backgrounds will enjoy the game.
Anya added: “To be part of something which is going to be seen and played by, hopefully, thousands of people, that’s all I want.
“For people to know how brilliant this world is – India and the culture.
“It’s a blessing to be a part of.”
Watch the Trailer for Unknown 9: Awakening
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