Bold And Bewitching

Rajshri Deshpande was unfazed by the ruthless trolls that came her way following the streaming of Sacred Games, an adaptation of Vikram Chandra’s book, on Netflix

- Priyanka Bhadani

WHEN THE FIRST Netflix original from India, Sacred Games, was streamed, it led to a lot of talking points—of India’s capability to produce a world class series; of the series letting each character breathe a life of its own; the crisp writing and deft direction. Criticisms for the show included use of female characters as “enablers” for men, and, the skin show (which Varun Grover, one of the scriptwriters, has taken in his stride and has promised to address in future). Rajshri Deshpande, as Subhadra, ticks both the boxes. She is an enabler in the journey of Ganesh Gaitonde (Nawazuddin Siddiqui); and, has also shed her inhibitions in an intimate scene. Her topless photos have been discussed on various WhatsApp groups and even porn sites, but her role also got her the long-pending appreciation.

She first features as a domestic help in the Gaitonde home. Her presence is barely noticeable until she becomes an indispensable part of Gaitonde’s life—first his saviour, then wife, and eventually, life coach.

Deshpande comes from a lower middle class family in Aurangabad. Her father could only dream small for his three girls—graduation and marriage. But, by the time the youngest, Rajshri, grew up, she had other plans. Marriage would happen, but she wanted to study first and live her dream. Deshpande taught dance, and later, worked in an advertising firm to support her education at the Symbiosis Law College. “But, when you start earning at a young age, money becomes very important,” she says. “Things start revolving around money. It happened with me, too. I missed out on exploring life, reading books and travelling.”