Powerful stories push audiences to question their own assumptions: Rasika Dugal

Kolkata has a very strong presence in my childhood memories,” said Rasika Dugal, who was recently in the city. When we asked her about what she thinks makes a story worth telling, the Delhi Crime actress said: “The strength of a good story is that it can make people question their own assumptions and relationships.” During a chat with us, the Manto actress spoke about her journey as an artiste, the thought behind the layered characters she gravitates toward, and the evolving storytelling landscape that increasingly allows flawed, multidimensional women to take centre stage.

‘Kolkata pushes you to be creative’
For Rasika, Kolkata remains a city layered with nostalgia and creative energy. “Kolkata is always full of surprises,” she says, recalling how visits to the city were once a reward during her childhood. Those early trips left a lasting impression. “I was fascinated by how every kind of transport existed there – trams, cabs, rickshaws – all together.” Even today, Kolkata sparks a creative impulse in her. “The city makes you feel like creating something,” Rasika reflects. She adds that, like any other city in the country, Kolkata too is expanding in surprising ways. “A part of you wants it to remain the way it was, but change is a part of life.” However, certain places will always remain timeless for her – Park Street, she notes, “is still one of my favourite streets in the country.”

‘Always been amazed by the intelligence with which women navigate life’
“For a long time, it felt like I was getting only morally upright characters, which didn’t feel entirely true,” said the actress who was in town for the fourth edition of Times Power Icons East 2026. In reality, she says, women are far more layered. “I’ve always been fascinated by the mischief, intelligence, and clever ways women navigate their circumstances.” Those hidden nuances, she believes, make for the most compelling stories.

‘For Beena, it was about survival’
Among Rasika’s many performances, her portrayal of Beena Tripathi in Mirzapur remains one of the most debated. For her, however, Beena’s motivations are clear. “It was about
survival for Beena,” she says, recalling one of her favourite lines from the show: “Tum bhi survive karoge aur hum bhi.” In a hostile, patriarchal world, Beena constantly protects herself. What makes the character compelling, she adds, is how that instinct gradually evolves from survival into ambition and a quiet pursuit of power.


‘There’s no single way of being a woman’
Rasika says storytelling helps show that women, like everyone else, have many sides. “There’s no single way of being a woman,” she notes, adding that choices around clothing or lifestyle shouldn’t be seen as transgression. Overcoming centuries of conditioning isn’t easy, she says, but powerful stories can prompt audiences to question their own assumptions and
relationships.


On playing women from different worlds
Looking back at three of her most notable characters, Rasika says the roles came to her around the same time but were “completely different.” Safia Manto in Manto, she explains, is the devoted, supportive partner audiences might expect, yet director Nandita Das ensured she received dignity and attention often denied to caregivers, who are frequently women. ‘Choosing projects often comes down to instinct and the ones you collaborate with. When Manto came to me, with Nandita directing and Nawazuddin (Siddiqui) starring, I said yes instantly – especially as I was an avid reader of Manto’s work, and was learning Urdu at the time.” Neeti Singh in Delhi Crime, she says, felt closer to her own personality – an idealistic officer who believes her work can make a difference and strives to do things the right way. In contrast, Beena from Mirzapur exists in a far harsher world. Though the roles arrived within a similar period, their emotional landscapes were vastly different. That contrast, she says, is exactly what made portraying them so exciting and creatively fulfilling.


Growing up, coming to the city was like a treat for us… we’d be told that if we did well in our exams, we would be taken to Kolkata, so it always felt special
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