RASIKA DUGAL

ARTICULATE AND ASTUTE, SHE'S A POWERHOUSE OF TALENT WHO'S CHANGED THE WAY WOMEN ARE PORTRAYED ON CELLULOID. IN A TÊTE-À-TÊTE THAT DELVES INTO HER PERSONA, WE FIND IN RASIKA DUGAL AN ENDEARING SENSE OF HUMOUR AND HUMILITY, A COMPULSIVE ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND SO MUCH MORE INCLUDING WHY SHE WEARS THE TAG OF AN 'OTT ARTISTE' WITH PRIDE

It speaks volumes about an actor and her presence when they can draw the eye despite sharing the screen with firebrand co-stars such as Pankaj Tripathi, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Shefali Shah and Ali Fazal. Rasika Dugal manages the feat with an ease and elegance that sets her apart from her contemporaries and an innate versatility that surprised even her as much as the next person.

She’s broken stereotypes, challenged societal beliefs with her portrayal of strong-headed women and displayed an ingenuity in her craft that’s long been missing, barring a few. Be it as the shrewd and unapologetic Beena Tripathi in Mirzapur, which made her a household name countrywide, as a protective mother in Hamid, police officer Neeti Singh in Delhi Crime, or as a supportive wife in Manto, Rasika’s top-notch, nuanced performance in every project has made her bankable star, one we could dare say has changed the content game with her diverse choice of scripts.

However, much of the roles she’s essayed are supporting characters, albeit powerful ones that helped drive the story. But Rasika has no regrets. If given the option between playing a lead in a film or movie with a subpar script, versus a supporting character in an ensemble cast when the writing is outstanding, she says she’d pick the latter any day.

“There’s nothing an actor can do if the writing doesn’t support it, if the director hasn’t envisioned it, if the cinematographer hasn’t visualised it, if the editor hasn’t found the rhythm to it, if the co-actor hasn’t experienced it with you... The list can go on!” she explains. “Filmmaking is a highly collaborative exercise and a deeply personal journey at the same time.”