From DD National journalism to television, Bigg Boss 15 and Telugu cinema, Donal Bisht opens up about her career journey and reveals that she auditioned for the role of Surpanakha in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana.
Donal Bisht has taken a career path that has moved from journalism and television to reality shows and regional cinema. In an exclusive conversation with Zee News Digital, the actress reflected on the choices that shaped her journey and revealed that she auditioned for the role of Surpanakha in the much-awaited Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor.
Before becoming a familiar face on television, Donal worked as a journalist and anchor on DD National, including on Chitrahaar. She eventually moved to Mumbai to pursue acting, a decision that led to her first television opportunity with Balaji Telefilms.
Why Donal Left Journalism for Acting
Donal said her decision to leave journalism was driven by a feeling that she had something more to pursue.
Reflecting on the turning point, she described acting as a “calling from within” and said she did not want to reach a point in life where she regretted not taking a chance.
She eventually moved to Mumbai, began auditioning and landed her first television show with Balaji Telefilms.
“I never wanted to regret not trying. I didn’t want to look back and think that I had an opportunity but never took the chance,” Donal told Zee News Digital.
According to the actress, the encouragement she received from people around her also helped her take the leap.
How Ek Deewana Tha Became a Major Turning Point
Donal’s breakthrough came with Sony TV’s Ek Deewana Tha, a project she considers an important milestone in her career.
Interestingly, she was simultaneously being considered for a project from Yash Raj Films. Donal recalled that she had been shortlisted for a role and was preparing for a final look test when she received the opportunity to audition for Ek Deewana Tha.
The two opportunities presented a difficult choice. The Yash Raj project was expected to begin later, while the Sony show was scheduled to start sooner.
Donal said the Yash Raj team was informed about the television offer and subsequently advised her to take the lead role in the Sony show.
She followed that advice and chose Ek Deewana Tha.
Looking back, Donal said she remains happy with the decision, particularly because the film project she had been considered for did not ultimately perform as expected.
Donal Bisht on Her Bigg Boss 15 Experience
Donal was later seen as a contestant on Bigg Boss 15.
She revealed that the makers had approached her several times before she finally agreed to participate. During the 2021 lockdown period, she decided to give the reality show a chance.
Her stint lasted around 18–20 days, after which she was evicted. Despite her relatively short stay, Donal said the experience brought her considerable affection from viewers.
One of her priorities inside the house, she explained, was to remain authentic rather than create a personality specifically for television.
“I was always very clear with the team that I wanted to be myself inside the house. I told them that I couldn’t pretend to be someone else just for the show,” she recalled.
‘Bigg Boss Changed My Life’
Donal said she did not immediately watch her own Bigg Boss journey after leaving the show. When she eventually watched it two or three years later, she said the experience was emotional.
She recalled instances when viewers approached her and described how strongly they had connected with her emotional moments on the show.
One particular encounter stayed with her. At an award function, two security personnel approached her and told her that they had cried when they saw her cry on Bigg Boss.
For Donal, moments such as these demonstrated the emotional connection audiences can develop with reality-show contestants.
She also said that the experience changed the way she viewed people and relationships.
“Bigg Boss has genuinely changed my life. It made me understand myself and the people around me better,” she said.
Donal Bisht Makes Her Telugu Cinema Debut
Donal has now expanded her work into Telugu cinema, making her debut with MRP.
Moving into a new language presented a significant challenge for the actress. She said she had limited exposure to South Indian cinema before taking up the project, with Baahubali among the films she had watched.
After receiving multiple offers, she chose the project because she connected with the way her character was written.
Learning Telugu became one of the most demanding parts of the experience. Donal underwent language training and spent time preparing her dialogues before shooting.
Why Telugu Cinema Was a Different Experience
Donal also highlighted the difference between television production and feature-film shooting.
She explained that television can involve shooting numerous scenes in a single day, whereas films generally allow more time for individual scenes and details.
For her, the slower pace of filmmaking was comparatively relaxing. The bigger challenge was ensuring that her Telugu dialogue delivery was accurate.
Donal said the film’s team was encouraging throughout the process and was pleased with how quickly she adapted to the language.
Donal Bisht’s Ramayana Audition
One of the most interesting revelations from Donal’s latest conversation concerns Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana.
The actress revealed that she auditioned for the role of Surpanakha in the upcoming mythological epic starring Ranbir Kapoor.
The revelation adds another significant project to Donal’s expanding career journey, which has already taken her from journalism and television to reality television and Telugu cinema.
While an audition does not mean an actor has been officially cast, Donal’s disclosure offers a glimpse into the range of roles she has been exploring as she continues to expand beyond television.
With her Telugu debut marking another step forward and her reported audition for Ramayana generating curiosity, Donal Bisht appears to be entering another phase of her acting career.
