Actor Rasika Dugal has wrapped shooting for Mirzapur: The Film, the big-screen adaptation of the hit series that turned Beena Tripathi into a household name. Returning to the Mirzapur universe, she says, felt both “familiar and meaningful.”
“It was so much fun to shoot a film based on the series. Mirzapur feels like a homecoming. I was thrilled to reunite with the Tripathis and feel lucky to have the same director, Gurmmeet Singh, writer Puneet Krishna, and DOP Sanjay Kapoor from season one,” she shares.
Storytelling for Women Has Evolved
Rasika reflects on the shifting landscape for female performers in India.
“I’m happy that we live in a time where I’ve had the opportunity to play such diverse roles. Storytelling has changed for the better, and women characters are no longer just cardboard cutouts. Within a year, I’ve played Beena Tripathi in Mirzapur, Neeti Singh in Delhi Crime, and Safia in Manto. Opportunities like this are rare.”
She credits the rise of OTT platforms for these changes, pointing out how the space has become more democratic:
“OTT brought about many changes. It invited new players into the game. It’s no longer the same 10 people writing, directing, and acting. There are fresh voices shaping the landscape.”
Exploring Comedy: Rasika’s Next Frontier
Known for intense, emotionally charged roles, Rasika is keen to experiment with comedy—a space she feels still underwrites strong female characters.
“The natural reaction is, ‘Oh, she does intense roles, so let’s give her another intense role.’ But I would love to do comedy and experiment. People don’t often write strong female parts in comedy. Women are usually the foil, not the ones driving humour in a scene. I hope that changes, and I want to be part of that shift,” she adds.
