'In Bollywood, you are always insecure'

Beginner's tale

Among the many ways beginners in the film industry take to “gain recognition”, Rasika Dugal played small roles in movies like Anwar (2007), No Smoking (2007) and Tahaan (2008).

Having graduated from the Films and Television Institute of India, Pune, she kept herself open to the pros and cons of the industry and making choices “strategically
incorrect” at times.

“A lot of people questioned me about doing these small roles in movies. But I knew that this is the only way to showcase my talent, learn and create a network in the industry,” the 31-year-old tells Metrolife.

She says that this helped her learn how to best enact a particular scene.
Alongside, she has been an active member of ‘The Vagina Monologues’, a theatre production based in Mumbai.

“One of the most challenging aspects for a beginner in Bollywood is that you are
always insecure.

And learning to deal with this insecurity is the only way to survive here, especially during times when there is no work. Luckily, being engaged in theatre, I always had work to do and rehearsals to attend,” says Dugal.

She got her first lead role in Kshay (2012), an independent black and white film directed by Karan Gour. The film which premiered at the Chicago International Film Festival, revolves around the story of a woman’s obsession with the sculpture of Goddess Lakshmi.

With Kshay, the actress not only bagged critical appreciation, but also bagged recognition as a “performer in the cinema circle”.

“Even if I didn’t get paid for the role, the script and the characters in the movie were so inspiring, that I couldn’t say no to it. So, doing small roles in movies and taking up Kshay might be considered strategically incorrect by many, but this sort of decision making has served me well,” explains Dugal.

Her success metre rose after Kshay, when she got her second lead role in Anup Singh directed Qissa in 2014. Working with veterans like Irrfan Khan and Singh, she says that it has been a learning experience for her.
 
Apart from this, she will now feature in The Viral Fever’s soon to be launched web series Humorously Yours.

Ask her what’s next in Bollywood and she excitingly says, “I am waiting to work with Nawazuddin Siddiqui in Nandita Das’ Manto. I am playing the role of Manto’s (Siddiqui) wife and I’m also learning Urdu for the role.”