"There's so much to learn from both these strong women Vidya Balan and Shefal Shah - and not just by how incredible actors they are but also as people." Kashish Rizwan

She has been noticed and liked a lot for her character Alia in the Vidya Balan-Shefali Shah starrer Jalsa. Meet the confident and very talented Kashish Rizwan who talks about her film Jalsa, working with stalwarts like Vidya Balan and Shefali Shah, challenges of wearing prosthetic makeup, nepotism and more.

Kashish, you’ve been noticed and liked in Jalsa, how did your journey in the entertainment industry begin?

I am really glad people have been noticing and liking me in the film. I came to Mumbai three years back when I joined an acting school ‘Actor Prepares’. It was a 3 month diploma course. As soon as I graduated from the school, I began auditioning and instantly started getting ads. Also, very soon after the course, I got my first film, which actually people don’t know about. It was an independent feature film and I was playing the protagonist in the film. That film never came out but I got so much to learn from it – it was my first time on a film set, knowing how I function as an actor, what my process for the craft is. I am very grateful for that. So yes, that’s how it all begun.

How did you bag Jalsa?

Last year around March, I actually came across an Instagram post that this casting company (Casting Bay) had put up! They needed an actor who could also dance. I thought I fit all the requirements, so I contacted them and sent my profile. I got a call back for an audition. It all happened very organically. We did a scene work for the audition - I sent them my dance videos and a couple of other things. Alia, the character that I play in the film - if you notice loves to make Tiktok/reel videos which is why the dance was required. The director and the team ended up liking me and called me for a screen-test. Soon after, I got a call back saying I had been locked for the part. I took some time to process that happiness!

You had to go through prosthetic makeup for your character, tell us about this, was it difficult?