RASIKA DUGAL ON THE ‘CHANGING LANDSCAPE’
Theatre, television, web series, cinema — Rasika Dugal is doing it all. The actor, who plays a pivotal role in actor Nandita Das’ latest directorial venture, Manto, says that nuanced performers are getting more attention in the industry.
The fact that she is on all platforms was never a strategy, says Rasika. “I think I was generally excited about the performances. I’m like, ‘Oh my God, what a lovely role, let’s do it.’ A lot of decisions were made because there was excitement about the work. I’ve been fortunate because the landscape has changed,” says the actor, who finds that this new landscape works better for her.
“There is more value for performance today. [Makers] are casting for people who can deliver a good performance; the standard of performance in our country has changed and improved; and platforms have opened for people like us. Therefore, we have our own little popularity,” the actor adds. After roles in films like Anwar (2007), No Smoking (2007), Hijack (2008), Rasika landed a lead role in Kshay (2011), followed by a plum part in Anup Singh’s Qissa (2013), which got her noticed. She has also done a part in the play The Vagina Monologues, apart from featuring in the web series Humorously Yours, and TV shows like Devlok with Devdutt Pattanaik and P.O.W. — Bandi Yuddh Ke.
The “changing landscape”, she says, has led to actors like her getting cast by bigger production houses, to which “we wouldn’t have had access earlier”. Rasika says that she never doubted her skill as an actor. But after all these years, one thing that she has learnt is that to open up opportunities for oneself, “you have to put yourself out there”. She says, “Talking about your work all the time and to open up... you have to do all that. I’ve begun to find my fun in that as well.”