Amruta Khanvilkar: What matters is not the length of the role but the strength of the character

What began as a brief appearance in Taskaree: The Smuggler’s Web eventually grew into a far more substantial role for Amruta Khanvilkar after an audition altered the makers’ perspective. The actress, who plays Mitali, a fierce, single-mother customs officer in the series, recalls how the part evolved organically. She says, “I was initially signed on only for a six-day role, but Neeraj Pandey sir wanted to explore something more. They asked if I could do action. I told them I am a trained dancer, so physicality comes naturally to me. They auditioned me for an action sequence, and that changed everything. The role became far more significant.”Being part of an ensemble that includes Emraan Hashmi, Sharad Kelkar, Nandish Singh Sandhu, Freddy Daruwala and Anuja Sathe, she says the balance comes naturally when a character is well-defined. She shares, “In Taskaree, every character has a backstory, a personal journey and a professional purpose. Neeraj sir’s shows are designed that way. Everyone has a strong voice, and no one is ornamental. You serve the story, and the impact happens naturally.” This philosophy extends beyond a single project. One of the leading actresses in Marathi cinema, Amruta is aware that the Hindi and OTT ecosystem functions differently, but she does not see this shift as a compromise. Instead, she views it as an expansion of creative possibilities. She says, “I have been fortunate to work in both Marathi and Hindi industries, and today the lines between regional and national cinema are blurring. Actors are collaborating across languages, platforms and cultures.”For her, the scale of a role has never mattered as much as its depth. “What matters to me is not the length of the role but the strength of the character. I want to work with filmmakers who challenge me and allow me to explore new emotional and physical spaces. I do have aspirations, like working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali someday. Even if it were just a single, impactful scene, I would do it without hesitation. That desire comes from wanting to grow as an artiste,” she says.