We’ve seen her recently as the quiet, docile wife of Manto in Manto but her character as Beena Tripathi in Mirzapur is sure to take you by surprise! For Rasika Dugal playing gangster Kaleen Bhaiya aka Pankaj Tripathi’s sex hungry wife has been one of the most challenging roles she says.
In a conversation with Hot Friday Talks, Rasika tells us that her character as Beena is very different from the roles she has played so far and she is excited about it. “She is fierce, intense, aware of her sexuality and beautifully flawed,” adds Rasika.
Mirzapur which is a gangster drama based in the hinterlands is about the journey of two brothers lured by the idea of power and it’s replete with guns, drugs, violence, sex, cuss words, lawlessness etc. Rasika plays the character of Beena Tripathi, wife to gangster Kaleen Bhaiya aka Pankaj Tripathi. Rasika’s character has many layers and she has some of the boldest scenes in the web series.It is difficult to believe that the charming, sweet and gentle Rasika is Beena Tripathi! But she has played her part of a complex housewife with shades of grey like a pro.
Image Credit: Movie – Mirzapur
Speaking about the changing face of the Indian women on screen, Rasika says, she is happy to see how the image of Indian women is changing on-screen but at the same time, she also feels that it is an attempt to try to create a new stereotype.She says, “It is at times going to an extent where women start resembling men.Women have a complex, beautiful, mysterious, and a very interesting human mind to explore.Our uniqueness should be celebrated.”
On why she chose to play the very bold Been Tripathi, Rasika said, “I loved the character of Beena because I know for a fact in small towns women are constantly negotiating to find their little freedom, no matter how traditional a wife they may be. I knew this would be a challenge to play this woman with desires stuck in a haveli and that’s what interested me.”
She’s completely secure and confident as an actor. When asked if she ever felt intimidated to be acting with such an ensemble cast that includes actors like Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Divyendu Sharma, Shweta Tripathi, etc. Whether she felt nervous that she would be overshadowed somehow, she said, “I get nervous when I am acting with a bad actor but I am not nervous when I am acting with such good actors.”
Image Credit: Pinterest
She has been playing small yet captivating and diverse roles. She says that she feels lucky to have played such varied roles. “It is exciting to see yourself in varied roles,” she says.Having said that, Rasika also does not take up anything and everything that comes her way but she prefers to do something that is substantial, even though it may not be a lead role but she says, “It has to be meaty, something that stands out.”
And stand out she definitely has, with her brilliant acting skills in each role she has done till date. Here’s wishing her more success and more meaty roles!
