You cannot play it safe if you want to grow as an actor: Kashika Kapoor

Following her debut with the family drama LYF: Love Your Father, Bollywood actress Kashika Kapoor is looking to establish a foothold in Telugu cinema. The Aayushmati Geeta Matric Pass actor is hopeful that her upcoming Telugu film Caste, touted to be a horror drama layered with a larger social context, will help her carve a niche for herself. In conversation with Hyderabad Times, she reflects on the shift in her roles, the demands of transformation, and why she is increasingly drawn to stories that push her out of her comfort zone. ‘I’m doing something very different from what I’ve usually done’In Caste, Kashika plays Gayathri, a character that marks a distinct shift from the roles she has previously portrayed. “She’s very versatile, and I’m doing something very different from what I’ve usually done. It’s going to be a mix of seriousness and emotions, where I’m emotional and very vulnerable. I also get possessed at some point in the film,” she says.The process also demanded physical changes. “I had to gain six kilos for the role. I had about a month, and it took me around two and a half weeks to get into the shape they wanted,” she shares, adding, “Later, I had to lose weight again for other films, so it was a constant back and forth. It’s not easy because you’re maintaining different looks for different films at the same time. But I had to transform to do justice to the character.”‘Caste is a story that reflects society as it is’At its core, the film engages with a theme deeply embedded in lived realities. “Caste is basically about our society. It’s taken from the constitution, and that’s why it’s being made. It’s a constitutional understanding of caste, about guaranteeing equality. No person should face discrimination, exclusion, or injustice because of their caste,” she says.What stood out to her was the film’s grounded approach. “The film doesn’t just highlight caste as a concept; it shows how deeply it impacts real lives, choices, and identities even today,” she says, adding, “It doesn’t try to preach. It simply tells a story in a very real and raw way. Nothing is pretentious. It just allows the audience to feel and interpret.” ‘You have to push yourself into unfamiliar spaces to evolve’Kashika describes her participation in the film as a conscious decision to engage with stories that carry social weight. “As an actor, I felt a responsibility to be part of something that sparks conversation and awareness. It may not change everything overnight, but it can shift mindsets, perspectives, and start conversations. That’s where change begins,” she says.Looking ahead, she is clear about the direction she wants to take. “The audience always wants versatility. You need to push yourself out of your comfort zone and get into something extraordinary. You cannot play it safe if you want to grow as an actor,” she says, signing off.