Mumbai: After building an impressive career as a theatre performer and voice artiste, Shagufta Abrar has taken a significant step forward with her on-screen appearance in the crime drama Raakh. Known for lending her voice to international productions and Indian films while earning recognition on stage, the performer says every phase of her journey has naturally prepared her for the next.
From journalism and radio to dubbing, theatre and now acting, Abrar believes each experience has contributed to her growth as both an artiste and an individual.
A Meaningful Screen Debut
Although her role in Raakh is brief, Abrar says it carries emotional depth.
She shares a scene with Sonali Bendre, portraying a fellow teacher supporting a colleague who is coping with unimaginable personal loss. Rather than focusing on the size of the role, Abrar says she was drawn to the emotional weight of the story and the opportunity to be part of a meaningful project.
For the actor, Raakh represents an important milestone in a career that has steadily evolved across multiple creative disciplines.
Theatre Made the Transition Easier
Abrar credits theatre for making her transition to screen acting feel natural.
She explained that the film’s rehearsal process closely resembled stage productions, allowing actors to prepare scenes thoroughly before filming. That familiar environment helped her perform with greater confidence.
She also appreciated the filmmakers’ commitment to realism, revealing that her appearance was intentionally altered to suit the character rather than emphasizing glamour.
Seeing herself transformed on screen, she says, reinforced how authenticity can strengthen storytelling.
From Newsroom to Recording Studio
Long before entering films, Abrar worked as a journalist in Mumbai.
Her career changed unexpectedly when someone noticed the quality of her voice and encouraged her to explore voice-over work. What began as occasional assignments gradually developed into a full-time profession.
She later became a radio presenter with All India Radio’s FM Rainbow before discovering the world of dubbing.
A small opportunity in Raazi inspired her to take dubbing seriously, leading her to join theatre workshops that ultimately opened the door to screen acting.
Looking back, she describes each career move as a natural progression rather than a carefully planned roadmap.
A Memorable Meeting With Rajinikanth
Among the highlights of her voice-over career, Abrar fondly recalls working on Coolie, where she had the opportunity to meet superstar Rajinikanth.
She says what left the greatest impression was not his fame but his humility.
According to Abrar, the veteran actor greeted everyone warmly and treated every member of the team with equal respect, an experience she considers one of the most inspiring moments of her professional journey.
Why Theatre Remains Her First Love
Despite expanding into films and dubbing, theatre continues to occupy a special place in Abrar’s life.
She describes the stage as a space where anxiety disappears and complete focus takes over. Immersing herself in a character gives her a sense of calm that she rarely experiences elsewhere.
For Abrar, theatre is not only an artistic platform but also a deeply personal form of emotional healing and self-discovery.
Can AI Replace Voice Artists?
As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly capable of replicating voices, Abrar remains optimistic about the future of human performers.
She believes technology may eventually imitate vocal patterns and even certain emotional cues, but genuine human emotion is rooted in lived experience, instinct and personal truth.
In her view, those qualities cannot be authentically recreated by machines.
Rather than fearing technological change, she sees emotional authenticity as the defining strength of human performance.
Looking Ahead
Abrar says she does not view her achievements as the final destination but as the beginning of a longer artistic journey.
Whether performing on stage, recording in a dubbing studio or appearing before the camera, she remains committed to exploring new creative challenges without limiting herself to a single medium.
With Raakh marking her latest milestone, Shagufta Abrar continues to build a career defined by versatility, authenticity and a passion for storytelling—qualities that have earned her recognition across theatre, voice performance and now cinema.
