Actor-turned-designer Masaba Gupta debuted in Bollywood with appearance in the song "Khumaari" of *Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh*. The 1920s-inspired song has Masaba playing the role of a cabaret dancer, which has long been a desire of the actress.

A Dream Born out of 'Oo Antava

Masaba's path to this position was inspired by her admiration of Samantha Ruth Prabhu's rendition of the song "Oo Antava" from Pushpa: The Rise. She described how watching Samantha's superb performance left her hoping that one day she would also get an opportunity.

Masaba clarified, "I brought this about when I saw Samantha Ruth Prabhu in 'Oo Antava'." Her desire to dance with a strong message and impact came true in the form of "Khumaari"

The audition was a surprise. Masaba was contacted by casting director Panchami Ghauri one week before her wedding in 2023. Director Karan Tyagi had imagined a cabaret number for the film, which had been earlier devised as a burlesque number. Masaba, who danced, did not hesitate to accept it, imagining it to be the ideal role to exhibit her talent

Rehearsal and Choreography

Before the performance, Masaba practiced for two and a half days with choreographer Vijay Ganguly, the person she had initially trained with at Shiamak Davar's school. She took cues from Catherine Zeta-Jones's performances, and her goal was to give her performance a subdued version of that elegance. Coordination with the design department, including costume designer Sheetal Sharma, who designed for Gangubai Kathiawadi, made for an actual 1920s look to accompany the performance

Impact and Reception

"Khumaari" is compared to a larger tension in the film, compared to a cabaret performance against a critical character confrontation. The performance, even if performed there, is beautiful and adds to the wealth of the story. Her work has been well received, and people have loved her shift from fashion to acting and playing a historical figure with class and honesty.

Though Masaba herself has not disclosed her future intentions for continued acting, success with "Khumaari" opens avenues for continued work that will be within the realm of what she is interested in and at which she excels. The avenues she is able to open and remain committed to her craft will be one component of continuing to act, especially in roles that challenge her as an artist.

Masaba Gupta's performance in "Khumaari" is a reflection of the manifestation and pursuing one's dream. Her career change from being a fashion designer to an actress is an example of an active career and embracing new challenges, and motivating others to pursue their dreams.