People need to look beyond nudity in that sex scene in 'Sacred Games': Rajshri Deshpande

Rajshri Deshpande is not completely alien to controversies. The actress who has been part of films like ‘Angry Indian Goddesses’ and ‘S Durga’ has found herself in the middle of controversy for a scene in Netflix India’s new show ‘Sacred Games’. Rajshri plays Subhadra, Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s wife in the series and a lovemaking scene between them has been creating much uproar on the internet for showing frontal nudity.

The actress has been trolled online and some of the clips have reportedly landed up in a few porn sites. Admitting that she had no clue about the circulation of the clip to any other site, the actress said that she hoped that people would look at the scene beyond nudity and sex. “That scene was important for the narrative. There is so much more to that scene other than just nudity and sex. Its a moment that two individuals share after they fall in love– a person like Gaitonde falls in love.”

Rajshri statesshe was aware that she would have to enact such a scene from the beginning. “As an actor, I did what I was asked to do. Right from the beginning, I knew that there was nudity involved. So it never came as a surprise."

Rajshri states that those who have made a big deal of the scene should realise that not just her but even Nawazuddin was shirtless in the scene.

A voracious reader, the actress admitted to have picked up the book (by Vikram Chandra on which the series is based) soon after she had auditioned for her role. "I finished the book in 10 days and I knew I was offered Subhadra's role so was curious to see how Varun Grover and his team would write the character for the series. My character comes in the fourth episode and doesn't have too many lines in the beginning, yet so many people have come and told me how much they liked her. Says a lot about the character and how brilliantly Varun wrote it for the series," says the actress who made her debut in a small role in 'Talaash' in 2012.

Since then the actress has been part of films that have had her in strong, author-backed roles. She has been part of projects which have strong women characters in them. Does she feel that now there are better roles written for women? "I think that not enough roles are written for women. There is so much more that can be done. Women are still mostly given supportive roles- and its time to write stories where women are the central characters. Also, there needs to be more backing for women-centric projects. I remember we had a tough time finding a distributor for 'Angry Indian Goddesses'. We need more people to distribute such films, support them. Only then can one safely say that there has been a change."

'Sacred Games', in fact, is not her first foray into digital space. Rajshri has in the past been a part of BBC One's series 'McMafia'. Having dabbled in theatre, television, cinema and digital medium, the actress says for her the medium is not much of a concern. "Platform can be anything. The storytelling matters. I want to be part of a story that is strong. The intention should be good and honest - how they make it comes later."

The actress will next be seen playing poetess Ismat Chugtai in Nandita Das' 'Manto'. "I am glad Nandita chose me for the role. There is so much to draw from the character. We all just know Ismat Chugtai as the controversial writer, poetess. But she was such a strong personality which is inspirational. She was also associated with a lot of social work- something that I do myself."

Considering a lot of work that Rajshri does somehow manage to grab eyeballs, how does her family take it. "I come from a small town like Aurangabad. My parents know I am an actor, but that's about it. They are supportive and proud but they don't know too much about what kind of stuff I do. When 'Sacred Games' was coming out- I told them I'm part of a TV series and they wanted to know if it will on TV and on which channels,"Rajshri laughs. "I think they are happy with the social work that I do. I work for the betterment of the farmers - that is something that they are very proud of," the actress adds.

Rajshri has been part of some very serious films and she now craves to be a part of comedy. "I am pretty good with comedy. I hope someone offers me a comedy. Or a love story- like a 'Gharonda' that would be nice," the actress says as she signs off.