All About Versatility: Rasika Dugal

After a decade in the industry with a wide range of roles, big or small, one thing about Rasika Dugal is certain. From a gripping show like Delhi Crime to a light-hearted comedy like Lootcase, the actress knows how to keep her audience-focused, entertained, and quite happy

- Ananya Swaroop

When Rasika Dugal made her debut as a character actor in Anwar, little did we know that she’s going to take over our screens with every subsequent role that came her way? It wasn’t the quickest claim to fame, but project by project, Dugal showed versatility, promise, and talent. Although interviews now have shifted from an in-person conversation to a call, I was excited to chat with Dugal about her career, her choices, and the way forward.

I had started following her work Permanent Roommates onwards, and I honestly can’t point out one show or film that she did where she didn’t shine. Dugal has been a part of projects like Qissa, Manto, Darbaan, A Suitable Boy, Ok Computer, Made In Heaven, to name a few, and has played characters that know how to make their presence felt even in ensemble casts. Whether it was being Safia in Manto, or as Beena Tripathi, the conniving queen bee in Mirzapur, Dugal’s acting prowess made sure her screen time is hers.

Speaking of recurring roles, I ask Dugal about the pressure to come back to the expectations already set when she revives a character. She recently returned as Dr. Meera Kapoor in Out Of Love Season 2, and has previously done a recurring role in Mirzapur as well. “It is a very interesting exercise to have to rework and reimagine the character because when you are playing the same person, there are going to be some changes when you play it again. Of course, there are expectations that the audience has, but normally it does not negatively affect me. It is always a motivation for me,” Dugal says.