Rasika Dugal: Storytelling has changed for the better, women are not cardboard cutouts anymore

Rasika Dugal has wrapped up Mirzapur: The Film, the big-screen adaptation of the popular series that made Beena Tripathi a household name. Returning to the world of Mirzapur felt both familiar and meaningful for the actor.She says, “It was so much fun to shoot a film based on the series. It’s the first time something like this has happened in India. Mirzapur feels like a homecoming. I was thrilled to reunite with the Tripathis and feel lucky to have the same director, Gurmmeet Singh, writer Puneet Krishna, and DOP Sanjay Kapoor since season one.” Reflecting on how storytelling, especially for women, has evolved over the years, she calls this an exciting phase for female performers. “I’m happy that we live in a time where I’ve had the opportunity to play such diverse roles. Things were not always like this, especially for women, and I hope this continues. Storytelling has changed for the better, and women characters are no longer just cardboard cutouts. Within a year, I’ve played Beena Tripathi in Mirzapur, Neeti Singh in Delhi Crime, and Safia in Manto. Opportunities like this are rare.”She points to the rise of OTT platforms as a key reason behind this shift. “OTT brought about many changes. It made the space more democratic, inviting new players into the game. It’s no longer the same 10 people writing, directing, and acting. There are new directors and writers shaping the landscape.”Known for emotionally intense performances, Rasika is aware that her screen image can influence the roles she is offered. However, she has long expressed a desire to explore comedy and reiterates that wish. “The natural reaction is, ‘Oh, she does intense roles, so let’s go to her with another intense role.’ I would love to do comedy and experiment with that.”She also believes comedic writing for women needs to evolve. “I feel that people don’t write very strong female parts in comedy. I hope that changes. People don’t seem to think that women can be funny or have a sense of humour, which is very strange. How else would we survive this patriarchal world without a sense of humour? Usually, women characters are written as a foil to the funny person, not the ones carrying the humour in a scene. I hope that changes, and I hope I get to be a part of that change,” she concludes.