Rasika Dugal: Hope I get a chance to explore comedy, I really want to do that | EXCLUSIVE

Actress Rasika Dugal needs no introduction; she has captivated everyone’s hearts with her portrayal of Beena Tripathi in the hit series Mirzapur, and now she is seen in this intriguing character of Iraboty in the recently released detective series Shekhar Home.

We have seen Rasika Dugal play some serious roles in films like Qissa, Manto, No Smoking, and Hamid, to name a few from the long list. But the actress admits she has been itching to do some comedy roles now.

Rasika Dugal spoke exclusively to MoneyControl before the release of Shekhar Home and said she wants to ‘explore comedy.’

“I really want to explore comedy in a good way. Central characters for women in comedic material are very rare to find. And I don't like that at all because I feel like I know so many actors around me who I think would have been fantastic and done good comic work. And it's just that we don't get those parts often enough, and those parts are not written for women often enough. And I hope that changes, and I hope that I get a chance to explore that more because I'm really wanting to do that,” said Rasika.

She did try her hands at some comedy in Lootcase, where she was seen opposite Kunal Kemmu and Ranvir Shorey. The actress says she wants good comic roles to be written for women actors too.

Rasika is being loved for her portrayal of Beena Tripathi in the hit crime series Mirzapur, which has Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Shweta Tripathi, and others in pivotal roles.

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When asked if Iraboty in Shekhar Home is similar to her famous character Beena Tripathi from Mirzapur, Rasika replied that there is no ‘cunningness in Iraboty’ and she is not in any way like Beena.

“It's a different genre that is a crime thriller series; this is a detective drama. I guess the only similarity would be that these two women are very mysterious. But what I'd say about Irabati’s got an aura. She's got a mystery around her, but there's no manipulation. There's no cunningness,” said Rasika talking about her role in Shekhar Home.

She further added, “It's a stance of an intelligent person. She's that person, you know, who's functioning with the kind of intelligence, and it’s kind of a mystery, but also straightforwardness.”

Talking about Beena Tripathi, Rasika said Beena is a master manipulator, whereas Iraboty is a sophisticated and intelligent woman.

“Beena (of Mirzapur) has manipulation; she's hiding something. You know, and she's playing somebody. Iraboty is not playing someone. She's probably hiding something for a very good reason. I mean, because it's going to be revealed. And like I said, this is one where there is sophistication to Iraboty. There is an artistic charm, if I may say so. There's no cunningness or manipulation.

So, I guess she would be one of those people who sort of stay in themselves because there's so much happening in their artistic mind, and there's so much happening with them creatively. Master manipulator,” she further says.

Also Read: Shekhar Home Review: Kay Kay Menon, Ranvir Shorey Impress As Bengali Sherlock-Watson In A Phenomenal Whodunit

Is the role inspired by Irene Adler, who was a part of the Sherlock Holmes series?

Well, these stories are inspired by a story by Arthur Conan Doyle. And, so in his stories, yes, there is a mystery. There are, in some stories, this woman who comes, who's the only one who can match the main detective's wits. I think everybody had their own interpretation of those stories and of those characters, and many people have done it very interestingly. So, this is our own interpretation of the detective and the characters around him. And I think Ira Bhatti and Shekhar have a very interesting dynamic. They know that; it's like a clash of the equals, where you know that the person standing in front of you can match you in intelligence and wit.”

But sometimes you're not sure whether they're on your side or not. So I think that's what's interesting about their relationship, and there's a curiosity, and there's an attraction. And there's also the amusement of getting to know this one person.

Irene is a fictional character in the Sherlock Holmes stories which have been written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. She is one of the most notable female characters in the series.

Working with Kay Kay Menon and Ranvir Shorey

Rasika: I've always wanted to work with Kay Kay because I've worked with some of the best actors, who have all sort of been his contemporaries and peers. I've worked with Irfan (Irrfan Khan). I've worked with Nawaz (Nawazuddin). I've worked with Pankaj (Tripathi). And it was a desire to work with Kay Kay for a very long time. I mean, Hazaron Khwaishein Aisi was one of my favorite films, is one of my favorite films, and it's really a delight to finally get an opportunity to work with him.

I have worked with Ranvir in Lootcase, and I've also known him for many years from the theatre days. I think what's interesting about Ranvir and Kay Kay both is that they really know their way around comedy. They really know how to make a comic moment happen. And they brought all of that to this show. It's very interesting to see their relationship, their dynamic. And it was quite a treat for me to work with them. I'm very intrigued by comedy, and I really want to explore more of it. So it was an experience for me where, you know, I could watch them and learn more.

Shekhar Home stars Kay Kay Menon, Ranvir Shorey, and Kirti Kulhari in pivotal roles. The series, directed by Srijit Mukherjee, is streaming on JioCinema.