Priya Bapat on working with Nawazuddin Siddiqui in Costao: He is extremely professional, surprised me by going beyond the script, Exclusive!

Priya Bapat on working with Nawazuddin Siddiqui in Costao: He is extremely professional, surprised me by going beyond the script

Priya Bapat, a celebrated name in Marathi cinema and now a rising force in the digital OTT space, is set to star alongside Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the much-anticipated film Costao, releasing May 1 on Zee5. In an exclusive conversation with Moneycontrol.com, Priya opened up about her experience working with the acclaimed actor, her thoughts on playing layered characters, and how she’s navigating her ever-evolving journey in the entertainment industry.

Reflecting on how Costao came to her and what drew her to the project, Priya was clear: “Firstly, because I was getting to play a character opposite Nawazuddin Siddiqui. I mean, obviously, why would you think twice before saying yes to a project where you get an opportunity to work with an actor like him. That was primarily the reason.” But it wasn’t just Nawaz’s presence that sealed the deal for her. “Then I read the story. I had a meeting with our director Sejal ma'am. I really liked how it's a story of his Coasto's struggles, his honesty, his journey. But it's also very important to see how one man's decisions affect all aspects of his life, and family being the most important.”

Priya plays Maria, the wife of Costao, Nawazuddin’s character, and she’s far from a background figure. “It was very important for me to see what Maria contributes in the story, what her stand is, how she is portrayed and what kind of a woman she is. I really like to play characters which have their own journey. They take stands and they speak for themselves. That’s what Maria is. She has her values, she has her expectations, and she is not just your hero's wife. She's someone who is an integral part of his life. I loved the way she’s been portrayed.”

Speaking of her experience on set, Priya was full of praise for Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s process and generosity as an actor. “I primarily had scenes only with Nawaz sir and just one scene with Dagan sir. Nawaz sir is extremely professional. He is also very fun and very supportive. He would do rehearsals, we’d do dialogue rehearsals, then technical ones for markings, and then go for takes. But even in those takes, he surprised me a lot of times by going beyond the script.”

That unpredictability, she recalled, kept her on her toes. “He would just start saying lines or reacting even after the script lines are over. That always kept me on the edge because he is reacting as a character.” She appreciated his deep commitment to naturalism. “Every actor has their own process. What I observed of Nawaz's process is to be absolutely natural. When he’s on screen, it’s just pure honesty. So you start believing that Costao is like that. Creating that honesty on screen is his forte.”

Priya herself is known for her versatility, never shying away from experimenting with roles. “In fact, I die for it. I want to do projects which will not put me in a box,” she said. “When I play Tara in Wistford, she’s very different and vocal. But when I play someone like Maria, she’s different—it's also a period film, set in the 90s, not 2024. That was also one of the important reasons for doing this film.”

OTT has clearly played a pivotal role in shaping Priya’s pan-India recognition. “I want to be hopeful. I want many more opportunities. It’s slow, but it’s steady. I think every choice you make about a character and a project puts you in a certain position. I am very consciously choosing characters which let people know that I’m a versatile actor. It’s very important to have this fact clear—that you are here to play different characters and not get typecast.”

She walked us through some of her past work to illustrate that range: “Tara was very modern. Spiral was a Bihari rural character. Rajavanna is very today’s character, very urban. Maria is a Konkani girl from the 90s. It’s a nice mix to have as an actor because then you can be seen in many ways.”

One particularly memorable moment with Nawazuddin left a lasting impression on Priya. “It was just the second day of our shoot. We had a restaurant scene, and when you watch the film, you’ll probably know which one. Nawaz sir took it beyond the script—he was just saying things and reacting even after the lines were over. I was caught off guard. But I kept going because I’ve done theatre, and in theatre, things happen spontaneously. You still have to stay in character and react in the moment.” It was a moment that reminded her of the joy of live performance: “I really like those improvisations. Nawaz sir brings out the honesty of the character even beyond the script through such moments.”

Despite her growing success, Priya remains grounded and open-ended about her future. “I haven’t thought anything. There is no roadmap. I don’t think you can ever have one in this industry. Every project defines you differently. If it works, it creates more opportunities. If it doesn’t, you don’t get opportunities. That’s the reality.”

Instead, she focuses on what she can control: “I’m just doing the work that I can do. Maybe in another two releases, Costao will give me some more opportunities. I don’t know. But I just feel we can do our work with utmost honesty, and then just leave it to destiny.”

With Costao about to release and Priya Bapat clearly at a new turning point in her career, it’s exciting to see what’s next for this talented, grounded, and fiercely driven actor. Her versatility, dedication, and thoughtful approach to her craft are not only shaping her own path but are helping to redefine the space for women in Indian cinema.