After the success of Mirzapur: The Movie, Rasika Dugal will be next seen in a completely different genre. Rasika will be seen in a children’s film called Little Thomas. The actress recently spoke about the need for stories that speak to young audiences.&nbsp;In conversations about inclusive cinema, the focus is often on representation, diverse stories and reaching wider audiences. But one audience that rarely gets enough attention is children. Actor Rasika Dugal believes that children deserve films made specifically for them, stories that entertain them while giving them the freedom to question, imagine and understand the world around them.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/it-took-a-decade-rasika-dugal-reflects-on-her-breakthrough-in-bollywood-after-2016-1789711743523">'It took a decade': Rasika Dugal reflects on her breakthrough in Bollywood after 2016</a>&nbsp;Directed by Kaushal Oza, the film tells the story of Thomas, a curious young boy whose questions about where babies come from and his wish for a sibling become central to the narrative. Playing Jessie Miranda, Rasika is part of a story that looks at the world through a child’s eyes and the often-unexpected conversations that emerge from childhood curiosity.&nbsp;Talking about the need for more children’s films, Rasika Dugal says, “Cinema is a wonderful way to expand your world and fuel your imagination. Many of the thoughts and ideas we have as adults can be traced back to the films we watched growing up. We therefore need films that children can relate to — films that embrace their curiosity rather than dismiss it. Children’s cinema can be entertaining without being frivolous and meaningful without becoming preachy. I would love to see more filmmakers explore stories that children can enjoy and that open up new possibilities for their imagination.”&nbsp;Watch: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/fairy-folk-cast-mukul-chadda-rasika-dugal-interview-694890">Fairy Folk cast Mukul Chadda, Rasika Dugal Interview</a>&nbsp;Little Thomas brings this perspective to the screen through a familiar family situation that grows out of a child’s innocent insistence on finding answers. Rather than treating his questions as trivial, the film makes them an integral part of its storytelling, opening up conversations about childhood, family and how adults communicate with children.&nbsp;Little Thomas also stars Gulshan Devaiah in the lead.&nbsp;

Rasika Dugal's latest film, Little Thomas, is a children's film. The actress has opened up about the importance of telling stories for children. 

After the success of Mirzapur: The Movie, Rasika Dugal will be next seen in a completely different genre. Rasika will be seen in a children’s film called Little Thomas. The actress recently spoke about the need for stories that speak to young audiences. In conversations about inclusive cinema, the focus is often on representation, diverse stories and reaching wider audiences. But one audience that rarely gets enough attention is children. Actor Rasika Dugal believes that children deserve films made specifically for them, stories that entertain them while giving them the freedom to question, imagine and understand the world around them. Also read: 'It took a decade': Rasika Dugal reflects on her breakthrough in Bollywood after 2016 Directed by Kaushal Oza, the film tells the story of Thomas, a curious young boy whose questions about where babies come from and his wish for a sibling become central to the narrative. Playing Jessie Miranda, Rasika is part of a story that looks at the world through a child’s eyes and the often-unexpected conversations that emerge from childhood curiosity. Talking about the need for more children’s films, Rasika Dugal says, “Cinema is a wonderful way to expand your world and fuel your imagination. Many of the thoughts and ideas we have as adults can be traced back to the films we watched growing up. We therefore need films that children can relate to — films that embrace their curiosity rather than dismiss it. Children’s cinema can be entertaining without being frivolous and meaningful without becoming preachy. I would love to see more filmmakers explore stories that children can enjoy and that open up new possibilities for their imagination.” Watch: Fairy Folk cast Mukul Chadda, Rasika Dugal Interview Little Thomas brings this perspective to the screen through a familiar family situation that grows out of a child’s innocent insistence on finding answers. Rather than treating his questions as trivial, the film makes them an integral part of its storytelling, opening up conversations about childhood, family and how adults communicate with children. Little Thomas also stars Gulshan Devaiah in the lead.

Rasika Dugal's latest film, Little Thomas, is a children's film. The actress has opened up about the importance of telling stories for children.&nbsp;

‘Cinema for all must include children too,’ says Rasika Dugal ahead of Little Thomas

Actor Rasika Dugal recently appeared on Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi’s Double Date with her husband, actor Mukul Chadda, for a candid conversation that touched upon their professional journeys, struggles, marriage, college days and some of the more personal chapters of their lives. During the episode, Neha Dhupia reflected on Rasika’s distinctive body of work and told her, “Rasika, you have become a genre and it is amazing.”&nbsp;The conversation also saw Rasika open up about the point in her career when she felt she had finally found her place in the industry. When Neha asked her when she truly felt, “This is it, I have come for this and maine apni jagah bana li hai,” Rasika looked back at the period when her work started becoming more consistent.&nbsp;Talking about that phase, Rasika said, “From the time work became more continuous, it was between 2016-17. I moved from FTII in 2006, so it was a good 10 years later. There was always stuff in between to encourage me and keep me alive, but that was not so known as the work I did after 2016”&nbsp;Rasika also recalled some of the projects that came before this more consistent phase, including films such as Qissa and Kshay, which gave her the opportunity to work with some of the finest talent in the industry. However, she explained that the period after 2016 brought a significant shift, with several projects coming her way back-to-back.&nbsp;“It was after 2016 that work like Manto, Mirzapur and Delhi Crime, and a couple of other works, started happening back to back. And largely because streaming platforms started coming out. Then I felt something like that It was a movement,” she shared.&nbsp;Rasika’s journey has seen her move across films, series and varied characters, gradually becoming known for choosing diverse and layered roles. Her work in projects such as Manto, Mirzapur and Delhi Crime further established her as an actor capable of moving seamlessly between different worlds and characters. It is this distinctive body of work that prompted Neha to describe Rasika as having become a “genre” of her own.&nbsp;Beyond her professional journey, the episode also offered a glimpse into Rasika and Mukul’s relationship and their life together. The couple spoke candidly about their struggles, their college days and their experiences through different phases of their relationship. In one of the lighter and more heartwarming moments of the episode, Rasika and Mukul also adopted a pet, adding a personal and unexpected dimension to their double date.&nbsp;The episode brought together the professional and personal sides of Rasika Dugal, from reflecting on the decade-long journey after FTII to finding a more consistent space for herself in the industry, and from discussing the evolution of her work to sharing everyday moments with Mukul. Their conversation on Double Date offered an honest glimpse into the journey behind the actor audiences have come to recognise today.

Rasika Dugal, who is currently basking in the success of Mirzapur: The Film, has revealed that stardom came to her long after she joined the film industry. 

Actor Rasika Dugal recently appeared on Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi’s Double Date with her husband, actor Mukul Chadda, for a candid conversation that touched upon their professional journeys, struggles, marriage, college days and some of the more personal chapters of their lives. During the episode, Neha Dhupia reflected on Rasika’s distinctive body of work and told her, “Rasika, you have become a genre and it is amazing.” The conversation also saw Rasika open up about the point in her career when she felt she had finally found her place in the industry. When Neha asked her when she truly felt, “This is it, I have come for this and maine apni jagah bana li hai,” Rasika looked back at the period when her work started becoming more consistent. Talking about that phase, Rasika said, “From the time work became more continuous, it was between 2016-17. I moved from FTII in 2006, so it was a good 10 years later. There was always stuff in between to encourage me and keep me alive, but that was not so known as the work I did after 2016” Rasika also recalled some of the projects that came before this more consistent phase, including films such as Qissa and Kshay, which gave her the opportunity to work with some of the finest talent in the industry. However, she explained that the period after 2016 brought a significant shift, with several projects coming her way back-to-back. “It was after 2016 that work like Manto, Mirzapur and Delhi Crime, and a couple of other works, started happening back to back. And largely because streaming platforms started coming out. Then I felt something like that It was a movement,” she shared. Rasika’s journey has seen her move across films, series and varied characters, gradually becoming known for choosing diverse and layered roles. Her work in projects such as Manto, Mirzapur and Delhi Crime further established her as an actor capable of moving seamlessly between different worlds and characters. It is this distinctive body of work that prompted Neha to describe Rasika as having become a “genre” of her own. Beyond her professional journey, the episode also offered a glimpse into Rasika and Mukul’s relationship and their life together. The couple spoke candidly about their struggles, their college days and their experiences through different phases of their relationship. In one of the lighter and more heartwarming moments of the episode, Rasika and Mukul also adopted a pet, adding a personal and unexpected dimension to their double date. The episode brought together the professional and personal sides of Rasika Dugal, from reflecting on the decade-long journey after FTII to finding a more consistent space for herself in the industry, and from discussing the evolution of her work to sharing everyday moments with Mukul. Their conversation on Double Date offered an honest glimpse into the journey behind the actor audiences have come to recognise today.

Rasika Dugal, who is currently basking in the success of Mirzapur: The Movie, has revealed that stardom came to her long after she joined the film industry.&nbsp;

'It took a decade': Rasika Dugal reflects on her breakthrough in Bollywood after 2016

There are some songs that never really leave the cultural consciousness. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s Saanson Ki Mala is one of them. Decades after becoming a cult classic, the iconic qawwali has found a striking new context in Mirzapur: The Movie, becoming almost synonymous with one of the film’s most talked-about moments featuring Rasika Dugal as Beena Tripathi and Mohit Malik as Birju Lohar.&nbsp;&nbsp;The song plays over the pivotal sequence involving Beena Tripathi and Birju Lohar, creating an unexpectedly poignant contrast between the lyrics of eternal love and the drama that unfolds on screen. The moment has since taken on a life of its own on social media, with fans sharing clips, memes, edits and reactions to the sequence, further cementing Saanson Ki Mala as an unlikely anthem for Beena and Birju.&nbsp;For Rasika Dugal, who has played Beena through the Mirzapur universe, seeing the song resonate so strongly with audiences has been particularly special.&nbsp;“It's really special that the song has been around for generations, and people have had such a deep relationship with it. And now, to see it find a completely new context through Beena. And to see people reacting to it, making content, sharing their own takes on the dialogue while simultaneously rediscovering the music is wonderful. It reinforces how timeless the song really is,” she says.&nbsp;The choice of Saanson Ki Mala is particularly significant to Beena’s arc. The song, with its themes of devotion, longing and an enduring connection to the beloved, gives the character’s emotional journey an unexpected poetic dimension.&nbsp;Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/mirzapur-did-it-now-it-s-their-turn-ott-shows-we-want-as-movies-family-man-bandish-bandit-and-more-1789032139879">Mirzapur did it, now it's their turn - OTT shows we want as movies</a>&nbsp;“For Beena, the song is not just playing in the background. It almost becomes a part of her emotional world in that moment. There is so much history in that moment, and there is so much that she cannot say. The song says things that she herself doesn’t. That’s what makes the sequence so powerful for me,” Dugal adds.&nbsp;And perhaps that is a fitting new chapter for Saanson Ki Mala: a song that has lived across generations, now finding a new context through Beena and the world of Mirzapur.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/mirzapur-the-movie-review-nostalgia-meets-high-stakes-bhaukaal-as-kaleen-bhaiya-and-company-take-over-theatres-1788514466844">Mirzapur: The Movie review: Nostalgia meets high-stakes 'bhaukaal' as Kaleen Bhaiya and company take over theatres</a>&nbsp;For Rasika, the audience response has added another dimension to the scene. “It’s lovely when something you’ve been a part of creating takes on a life of its own and becomes a part of people's conversations and imagination. Experiencing the reactions to the scene in theatres has been so special, and then seeing it travel beyond the film-through the song- is a new one for me.”

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's iconic song ‘Saason Ki Mala’ has found a new audience, all thanks to Mirzapur: The Movie. Rasika Dugal, on whom the song has been picturised, has reacted to its renewed popularity. 

There are some songs that never really leave the cultural consciousness. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s Saanson Ki Mala is one of them. Decades after becoming a cult classic, the iconic qawwali has found a striking new context in Mirzapur: The Movie, becoming almost synonymous with one of the film’s most talked-about moments featuring Rasika Dugal as Beena Tripathi and Mohit Malik as Birju Lohar. The song plays over the pivotal sequence involving Beena Tripathi and Birju Lohar, creating an unexpectedly poignant contrast between the lyrics of eternal love and the drama that unfolds on screen. The moment has since taken on a life of its own on social media, with fans sharing clips, memes, edits and reactions to the sequence, further cementing Saanson Ki Mala as an unlikely anthem for Beena and Birju. For Rasika Dugal, who has played Beena through the Mirzapur universe, seeing the song resonate so strongly with audiences has been particularly special. “It's really special that the song has been around for generations, and people have had such a deep relationship with it. And now, to see it find a completely new context through Beena. And to see people reacting to it, making content, sharing their own takes on the dialogue while simultaneously rediscovering the music is wonderful. It reinforces how timeless the song really is,” she says. The choice of Saanson Ki Mala is particularly significant to Beena’s arc. The song, with its themes of devotion, longing and an enduring connection to the beloved, gives the character’s emotional journey an unexpected poetic dimension. Also read:Mirzapur did it, now it's their turn - OTT shows we want as movies “For Beena, the song is not just playing in the background. It almost becomes a part of her emotional world in that moment. There is so much history in that moment, and there is so much that she cannot say. The song says things that she herself doesn’t. That’s what makes the sequence so powerful for me,” Dugal adds. And perhaps that is a fitting new chapter for Saanson Ki Mala: a song that has lived across generations, now finding a new context through Beena and the world of Mirzapur. Also read: Mirzapur: The Movie review: Nostalgia meets high-stakes 'bhaukaal' as Kaleen Bhaiya and company take over theatres For Rasika, the audience response has added another dimension to the scene. “It’s lovely when something you’ve been a part of creating takes on a life of its own and becomes a part of people's conversations and imagination. Experiencing the reactions to the scene in theatres has been so special, and then seeing it travel beyond the film-through the song- is a new one for me.”

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's iconic song ‘Saason Ki Mala’ has found a new audience, all thanks to Mirzapur: The Movie. Rasika Dugal, on whom the song has been picturised, has reacted to its renewed popularity.&nbsp;

Rasika Dugal on ‘Saanson Ki Mala’ becoming Beena Tripathi’s anthem: Beautiful to see it find a completely new context

The zing is gone! For fans of the hit franchise Mirzapur, it has been a long wait. Four years after Guddu (Ali Fazal) and Golu (Shweta Tripathi) gunned down Munna (Divyenndu) and dethroned Kaleen Bhaiya (Pankaj Tripathi) from Mirzapur's highest position, the hit web series is back to take the story from the hinterland forward. With two key characters gone (one quasi-missing actually), Mirzapur 3 begins on a grim note and never really scales higher in the 10 episodes of this new season. Making a part three to two already hit seasons is a risk, the curiosity is high and most tend to compare the new season to the previous ones. So does Mirzapur Season 3 match up to the expectations? Let's find out.&nbsp;

Guddu and Golu are now the rulers of Mirzapur after Munna's death while Kaleen Bhaiya is missing. While Guddu, always using the brawn more than the brain, is quick to claim the throne of Mirzapur, his adviser and the more calculative Golu feels that unless Kaleen Bhaiya's body is found, they can't fully claim the seat of power. There is also unrest in the Purvanchal as Munna's widow and newly appointed CM, Madhuri (Isha Talwar) wants to make the state violence-free.&nbsp;

With Kaleen Bhaiya's wife, Bina's help Guddu and Golu can take over his home and his factory but Sharad (Anjum Sharma) poses as Guddu's biggest threat. Guddu's family meanwhile is also dealing with a crisis where his father has surrendered himself to the cops, for killing the local cop.&nbsp;

Stakes are higher as with Kaleen Bhaiya gone, everyone is keen to claim the Mirzapur throne and cement their position in the Purvanchal as the leader of all the warlords- but with CM Madhuri's new policies, divided camps, and uncertainty around Kaleen Bhaiya's whereabouts, things look bleak for both Sharad and Guddu.&nbsp;

The blood and gore are still there but Mirzapur Season 3 is much more sombre as compared to the previous two seasons. The first three episodes, when multiple plots and characters are established are slow and unlike the usual episodes of Mirzapur. The series has always been about multiple characters eyeing the coveted Mirzapur throne. While the third season remains true to the core story, it is slightly exhausting to keep pace with the multiple characters and subplots.&nbsp;

I found myself, like many other fans of the series, terribly missing Divyendu and his superb act as Munna Bhaiya. Munna and Kaleen, the nemesis of Guddu, Bablu (Vikrant Massey in the first season) and subsequently Golu were the essence of Mirzapur. With one gone and one appearing only after three episodes, the whole onus falls on Guddu, Golu and to some extent Bina to take the story forward. They are after all part of the original cast and the audience has seen their characters evolve through seasons. Yet, in the third season, Rasika Dugal as Bina gets only limited scope to shine as her character is not fully fleshed out.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/33o3s4Vs4Sw?si=GCRhNqLXSLir7qY6" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

The women get more prominence in the third season. In a world dominated by gun-wielding abuse hurling men, Mirzapur's female characters were initially depicted as the supportive cast. But the third season has women taking charge. Dimpy, Guddu's sister comes out of her brother's shadow, Golu plays the mastermind, Bina forges ahead to claim what is her own, Madhuri plots to seek revenge and set things straight and even Guddu's second wife Shabnam takes charge of her father's empire even as Lala himself waits in jail to get bail.&nbsp;

Ali Fazal, Shweta Tripathi and Anjum Sharma get the maximum screen time and deliver credible performances even though the screenplay is jaded. I wanted to see more of Liliput, Vijay Verma and Rasika Duggal's characters on screen but the the chaotic narrative never allowed these actors to fully flex their talent. Pankaj Tripathi seems to take a backseat in the new season as well and lets the younger lot take charge, much like the characters in the series. &nbsp;

Divyendu's absence looms large on Mirzapur 3. The character Munna was well-written and performed with utmost honesty by Divyendu. For years, Mirzapur has dominated conversations and become a part of meme culture. Some of the characters from the show have gained legend-like status. But the third season lacks&nbsp;the spunk of the previous seasons. Sure the violence, the gore, and the core story are intact, but with Munna's death, the spunk of the show has gone.&nbsp;

Mirzapur Season 3 is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.&nbsp;

The zing is gone! For fans of the hit franchise Mirzapur, it has been a long wait. Four years after Guddu (Ali Fazal) and Golu (Shweta Tripathi) gunned down Munna (Divyenndu) and dethroned Kaleen Bhaiya (Pankaj Tripathi) from Mirzapur's highest position, the hit web series is back to take the story from the hinterland forward.

The zing is gone! For fans of the hit franchise Mirzapur, it has been a long wait. Four years after Guddu (Ali Fazal) and Golu (Shweta Tripathi) gunned down Munna (Divyenndu) and dethroned Kaleen Bhaiya (Pankaj Tripathi) from Mirzapur's highest position, the hit web series is back to take the story from the hinterland forward. With two key characters gone (one quasi-missing actually), Mirzapur 3 begins on a grim note and never really scales higher in the 10 episodes of this new season. Making a part three to two already hit seasons is a risk, the curiosity is high and most tend to compare the new season to the previous ones. So does Mirzapur Season 3 match up to the expectations? Let's find out. Guddu and Golu are now the rulers of Mirzapur after Munna's death while Kaleen Bhaiya is missing. While Guddu, always using the brawn more than the brain, is quick to claim the throne of Mirzapur, his adviser and the more calculative Golu feels that unless Kaleen Bhaiya's body is found, they can't fully claim the seat of power. There is also unrest in the Purvanchal as Munna's widow and newly appointed CM, Madhuri (Isha Talwar) wants to make the state violence-free. With Kaleen Bhaiya's wife, Bina's help Guddu and Golu can take over his home and his factory but Sharad (Anjum Sharma) poses as Guddu's biggest threat. Guddu's family meanwhile is also dealing with a crisis where his father has surrendered himself to the cops, for killing the local cop. Stakes are higher as with Kaleen Bhaiya gone, everyone is keen to claim the Mirzapur throne and cement their position in the Purvanchal as the leader of all the warlords- but with CM Madhuri's new policies, divided camps, and uncertainty around Kaleen Bhaiya's whereabouts, things look bleak for both Sharad and Guddu. The blood and gore are still there but Mirzapur Season 3 is much more sombre as compared to the previous two seasons. The first three episodes, when multiple plots and characters are established are slow and unlike the usual episodes of Mirzapur. The series has always been about multiple characters eyeing the coveted Mirzapur throne. While the third season remains true to the core story, it is slightly exhausting to keep pace with the multiple characters and subplots. I found myself, like many other fans of the series, terribly missing Divyendu and his superb act as Munna Bhaiya. Munna and Kaleen, the nemesis of Guddu, Bablu (Vikrant Massey in the first season) and subsequently Golu were the essence of Mirzapur. With one gone and one appearing only after three episodes, the whole onus falls on Guddu, Golu and to some extent Bina to take the story forward. They are after all part of the original cast and the audience has seen their characters evolve through seasons. Yet, in the third season, Rasika Dugal as Bina gets only limited scope to shine as her character is not fully fleshed out. The women get more prominence in the third season. In a world dominated by gun-wielding abuse hurling men, Mirzapur's female characters were initially depicted as the supportive cast. But the third season has women taking charge. Dimpy, Guddu's sister comes out of her brother's shadow, Golu plays the mastermind, Bina forges ahead to claim what is her own, Madhuri plots to seek revenge and set things straight and even Guddu's second wife Shabnam takes charge of her father's empire even as Lala himself waits in jail to get bail. Ali Fazal, Shweta Tripathi and Anjum Sharma get the maximum screen time and deliver credible performances even though the screenplay is jaded. I wanted to see more of Liliput, Vijay Verma and Rasika Duggal's characters on screen but the the chaotic narrative never allowed these actors to fully flex their talent. Pankaj Tripathi seems to take a backseat in the new season as well and lets the younger lot take charge, much like the characters in the series. Divyendu's absence looms large on Mirzapur 3. The character Munna was well-written and performed with utmost honesty by Divyendu. For years, Mirzapur has dominated conversations and become a part of meme culture. Some of the characters from the show have gained legend-like status. But the third season lacks the spunk of the previous seasons. Sure the violence, the gore, and the core story are intact, but with Munna's death, the spunk of the show has gone. Mirzapur Season 3 is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

Mirzapur 3 review: Ali Fazal, Shweta Tripathi starrer web series loses its spunk

What is love? What is marriage? What are all the checkboxes to tick to call it a happy married life? This and more, Mukul Chadda and Rasika Dugal discuss as onscreen couple in Fairy Folk, a magical realist drama film that had them emote without dialogues. The film’s lead cast and director spoke to WION’s Zeba Khan on Fairy Folk and more. The film will release on March 1.

Fairy Folk cast Mukul Chadda, Rasika Dugal Interview

Give her an intense role like Beena Tripathi from Mirzapur or one with a funny bone like Kavya Goyal in Humorously Yours, Rasika Dugal manages to do justice to both and with an ease unmatched. Now that a new season of Humorously Yours is tickling its audiences and ending the year on a fun note, we got talking to the actress about her experience working on a genre we’ve rarely seen her explore before.&nbsp;

Rasika Dugal spoke to us about her character in Humorously Yours, trying her hands at comedy,&nbsp;the much-awaited Mirzapur season 3 release date, and what she hopes from the new year. Here are the edited excerpts from our chat:&nbsp;

WION: What's the high point of the show? &nbsp;

Rasika Dugal: I'm always excited to do Humorously Yours because it's a breath of fresh air from all the emotionally intense work I usually do. While I really enjoy that, and it fulfills my artistic desires, it's sometimes nice to have a break. Just being on a set that is lighthearted and dealing with a lighthearted script allows you to learn your lines and have a lot of fun when you show up on set.&nbsp;

WION: If you were to pitch the show to someone who hasn't seen it, what would your tagline be? &nbsp;

Rasika Dugal: I would say it's a slice-of-life drama about a couple trying to navigate a bustling city.&nbsp;

WION: So, what does it take to do a funny role and do justice to it? &nbsp;

Rasika Dugal: Well, if you watch Humorously Yours, the first two seasons, in any comedy, you need to create a comic moment. It's not about being funny, it's about making people see the humour in a moment that wouldn't be funny otherwise. Comedy is structured around that, and for that, you need someone who can see that and someone who's a foil to that comedy. Kavya, very often in this series, plays that role. She makes people look funny. So, that's how the show is structured.&nbsp;

<h2>Watch the trailer of Humorously Yours here:&nbsp;</h2>

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="362" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kdma3Rtskbw" title="Humorously Yours Season 3 | Official Trailer | A ZEE5 Original | Watch Now on ZEE5" width="644"></iframe>

Like any other acting job, you need to be very present with your co-actors, whether it's comedy or not. However, the timing of things becomes crucial in comedy. The punch of things and how a joke lands are more important than in other genres. Paying attention to these details is what makes it interesting.&nbsp;

WION: We’re almost towards the end of 2023, any plans for the new year?&nbsp;

Rasika Dugal: I get a bit overwhelmed when everyone gets festive about things like New Year's. My first reaction is, "I just want to sleep at home." I'm one of those people who wants to be invited to a party but doesn't really want to go. I'm spending Christmas with my family in Jamshedpur, but for New Year's, I don't have any concrete plans yet. A few plans are floating around, mostly with close friends.&nbsp;

<h2>Rasika reveals when Mirzapur 3 will release</h2>

WION: On the work front, what’s next? &nbsp;&nbsp;

Rasika Dugal: I've shot for a bunch of things over the last 1.5 to two years—about 6-7 projects at different stages of completion. I don't know which will come out when, but the next release is most probably going to be Mirzapur. Once I finish shooting for a project, I have no idea who comes next. Some people are very quick in their post-production turnaround, while some take a long time.&nbsp;

There's a festival film that has done the festival circuit, but I don't know when it will be released. There's also a commercial film I'm not allowed to speak about and a sports drama series. It's a variety of things.&nbsp;

<h2>Rasika's wish for the New Year</h2>

WION: How do you wish 2024 turns out for you?

Rasika Dugal: If I have to break it down professionally, I really want to do two things -- The first is to play a lead role in a biopic, and the second is to have a central role in a comedy-drama. Those are my two professional desires.&nbsp;

On the personal front, from a self-improvement perspective, I'm a very detailed and obsessive person. If you give me a task, I will delve into the layers of it, and it will occupy the time I have. It can be a good habit for an actor, but it takes a long time to do everything. I'm often overwhelmed by everything, so I hope to manage that a little better this year.&nbsp;

Starring Vipul Goyal, Rasika Duggal, and Abhishek Banerjee, the show Humorously Yours premiered its third season on&nbsp;December 22. You can stream it online on ZEE5.&nbsp;

Give her an intense role like Beena Tripathi from Mirzapur or one with a funny bone like Kavya Goyal in Humorously Yours, Rasika Dugal manages to do justice to both and with an ease unmatched.

Give her an intense role like Beena Tripathi from Mirzapur or one with a funny bone like Kavya Goyal in Humorously Yours, Rasika Dugal manages to do justice to both and with an ease unmatched. Now that a new season of Humorously Yours is tickling its audiences and ending the year on a fun note, we got talking to the actress about her experience working on a genre we’ve rarely seen her explore before. Rasika Dugal spoke to us about her character in Humorously Yours, trying her hands at comedy, the much-awaited Mirzapur season 3 release date, and what she hopes from the new year. Here are the edited excerpts from our chat: WION: What's the high point of the show? Rasika Dugal: I'm always excited to do Humorously Yours because it's a breath of fresh air from all the emotionally intense work I usually do. While I really enjoy that, and it fulfills my artistic desires, it's sometimes nice to have a break. Just being on a set that is lighthearted and dealing with a lighthearted script allows you to learn your lines and have a lot of fun when you show up on set. WION: If you were to pitch the show to someone who hasn't seen it, what would your tagline be? Rasika Dugal: I would say it's a slice-of-life drama about a couple trying to navigate a bustling city. WION: So, what does it take to do a funny role and do justice to it? Rasika Dugal: Well, if you watch Humorously Yours, the first two seasons, in any comedy, you need to create a comic moment. It's not about being funny, it's about making people see the humour in a moment that wouldn't be funny otherwise. Comedy is structured around that, and for that, you need someone who can see that and someone who's a foil to that comedy. Kavya, very often in this series, plays that role. She makes people look funny. So, that's how the show is structured. Watch the trailer of Humorously Yours here: Like any other acting job, you need to be very present with your co-actors, whether it's comedy or not. However, the timing of things becomes crucial in comedy. The punch of things and how a joke lands are more important than in other genres. Paying attention to these details is what makes it interesting. WION: We’re almost towards the end of 2023, any plans for the new year? Rasika Dugal: I get a bit overwhelmed when everyone gets festive about things like New Year's. My first reaction is, "I just want to sleep at home." I'm one of those people who wants to be invited to a party but doesn't really want to go. I'm spending Christmas with my family in Jamshedpur, but for New Year's, I don't have any concrete plans yet. A few plans are floating around, mostly with close friends. Rasika reveals when Mirzapur 3 will release WION: On the work front, what’s next? Rasika Dugal: I've shot for a bunch of things over the last 1.5 to two years—about 6-7 projects at different stages of completion. I don't know which will come out when, but the next release is most probably going to be Mirzapur. Once I finish shooting for a project, I have no idea who comes next. Some people are very quick in their post-production turnaround, while some take a long time. There's a festival film that has done the festival circuit, but I don't know when it will be released. There's also a commercial film I'm not allowed to speak about and a sports drama series. It's a variety of things. Rasika's wish for the New Year WION: How do you wish 2024 turns out for you? Rasika Dugal: If I have to break it down professionally, I really want to do two things -- The first is to play a lead role in a biopic, and the second is to have a central role in a comedy-drama. Those are my two professional desires. On the personal front, from a self-improvement perspective, I'm a very detailed and obsessive person. If you give me a task, I will delve into the layers of it, and it will occupy the time I have. It can be a good habit for an actor, but it takes a long time to do everything. I'm often overwhelmed by everything, so I hope to manage that a little better this year. Starring Vipul Goyal, Rasika Duggal, and Abhishek Banerjee, the show Humorously Yours premiered its third season on December 22. You can stream it online on ZEE5.

Rasika Dugal on ZEE5 comedy show, Mirzapur 3 release date & hopes from year 2024| Interview

Prime Video recently dropped the spine-chilling trailer of its first Hindi horror series Adhura, and it has managed to send shivers down the spine. The series stars Ishwak Singh, Shrenik Arora, Poojan Chabra and &nbsp;Rasika Dugal in pivotal roles. Interestingly, with Adhura, the Mirzapur fame actress Rasika too ventures into the realm of horror and suspense. Ahead of the premiere of the Amazon Original, Rasika revealed that she used to get spooked every time she would go back to her room post the shoot of Adhura.

"The eerie atmosphere on set was unlike anything I've experienced before which spooked me every time I got back to the room after shooting. The suspenseful storyline and the immersive production design had a profound effect on me," shared Rasika.&nbsp;

The actor further added, "As an actor, I pride myself on immersing myself into my characters, but Adhura took it to another level. There were moments when the line between fiction and reality blurred, leaving me with a lingering sense of unease even when the cameras stopped rolling. It's a testament to the exceptional storytelling and the dedication of the entire team. I can't wait for audiences to feel the same spine-tingling thrill when they watch Adhura on Prime Video on July 7."

Adhura marks Prime Video’s foray into the Hindi Horror genre. Produced by &nbsp;Emmay Entertainment and directed by Ananya Banerjee and Gauravv K Chawla, the series features Ishwak Singh, Poojan Chhabra, Rijul Ray, Zoa Morani, Sahil Salathia, Aru Krishansh Verma as high school friends alongside Rasika Dugal, Shrenik Arora and Rahul Dev playing pivotal roles.

Prime Video recently dropped the spine-chilling trailer of its first Hindi horror series Adhura, and it has managed to send shivers down the spine. The series stars Ishwak Singh, Shrenik Arora, Poojan Chabra and Rasika Dugal in pivotal roles.

Prime Video recently dropped the spine-chilling trailer of its first Hindi horror series Adhura, and it has managed to send shivers down the spine. The series stars Ishwak Singh, Shrenik Arora, Poojan Chabra and Rasika Dugal in pivotal roles. Interestingly, with Adhura, the Mirzapur fame actress Rasika too ventures into the realm of horror and suspense. Ahead of the premiere of the Amazon Original, Rasika revealed that she used to get spooked every time she would go back to her room post the shoot of Adhura. "The eerie atmosphere on set was unlike anything I've experienced before which spooked me every time I got back to the room after shooting. The suspenseful storyline and the immersive production design had a profound effect on me," shared Rasika. The actor further added, "As an actor, I pride myself on immersing myself into my characters, but Adhura took it to another level. There were moments when the line between fiction and reality blurred, leaving me with a lingering sense of unease even when the cameras stopped rolling. It's a testament to the exceptional storytelling and the dedication of the entire team. I can't wait for audiences to feel the same spine-tingling thrill when they watch Adhura on Prime Video on July 7." Adhura marks Prime Video’s foray into the Hindi Horror genre. Produced by Emmay Entertainment and directed by Ananya Banerjee and Gauravv K Chawla, the series features Ishwak Singh, Poojan Chhabra, Rijul Ray, Zoa Morani, Sahil Salathia, Aru Krishansh Verma as high school friends alongside Rasika Dugal, Shrenik Arora and Rahul Dev playing pivotal roles.

Rasika Dugal on Adhura: 'I used to be spooked every time I got back to the room after the shoot'

On Wednesday, the spine-chilling trailer of Amazon Prime's upcoming horror series titled Adhura was released. The show stars Ishwak Singh, Poojan Chhabra, Rijul Ray, Zoa Morani, Sahil Salathia, and Aru Krishansh Verma as high school friends alongside Rasika Dugal, Shrenik Arora and Rahul Dev playing pivotal roles. 
 
The trailer of Adhura takes us on a chilling journey revolving around a prestigious boarding school in Ooty, set in two timelines - 2022 and 2007. Secrets, disappearances, and eerie occurrences connect a guilt-ridden alumnus Adhiraj (Ishwak Singh) and a troubled student Vedant (Shrenik Arora), blurring the lines between the past and present. As the shocking truth threatens to unravel, the batch of 2007 is forced to confront their inner demons, as the school’s core is threatened, forever changing the lives of those involved. 
 
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The series marks Prime Video’s foray into the Hindi horror genre. Produced by Nikkhil Advani’s Emmay Entertainment and directed by Ananya Banerjee and Gauravv K Chawla. 
 
“As an actor, I found it extremely interesting to explore the life of a person who is seemingly in complete control… only to realise, as the story unfolds, that no one is free from their inner demons. That’s why I was thrilled that a character like Supriya came my way,” said Rasika Dugal. 
 
"As a student counsellor in a boarding school, Supriya has a complex and captivating journey in which she finds herself torn between her need to nurture and a terrifying past that she cannot seem to leave behind. Adhura explores the delicate balance between human compassion and the unknown forces that lurk within. I'm glad to be back on Prime Video with a new genre and I am hoping audiences will resonate with the humanness of this story while enjoying the spookiness if it all," she added.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

On Wednesday, the spine-chilling trailer of Amazon Prime's upcoming horror series titled Adhura was released. The show stars Ishwak Singh, Poojan Chhabra, Rijul Ray, Zoa Morani, Sahil Salathia, and Aru Krishansh Verma as high school friends alongside Rasika Dugal, Shrenik Arora and Rahul Dev playing pivotal roles.

On Wednesday, the spine-chilling trailer of Amazon Prime's upcoming horror series titled Adhura was released. The show stars Ishwak Singh, Poojan Chhabra, Rijul Ray, Zoa Morani, Sahil Salathia, and Aru Krishansh Verma as high school friends alongside Rasika Dugal, Shrenik Arora and Rahul Dev playing pivotal roles. The trailer of Adhura takes us on a chilling journey revolving around a prestigious boarding school in Ooty, set in two timelines - 2022 and 2007. Secrets, disappearances, and eerie occurrences connect a guilt-ridden alumnus Adhiraj (Ishwak Singh) and a troubled student Vedant (Shrenik Arora), blurring the lines between the past and present. As the shocking truth threatens to unravel, the batch of 2007 is forced to confront their inner demons, as the school’s core is threatened, forever changing the lives of those involved. The series marks Prime Video’s foray into the Hindi horror genre. Produced by Nikkhil Advani’s Emmay Entertainment and directed by Ananya Banerjee and Gauravv K Chawla. “As an actor, I found it extremely interesting to explore the life of a person who is seemingly in complete control… only to realise, as the story unfolds, that no one is free from their inner demons. That’s why I was thrilled that a character like Supriya came my way,” said Rasika Dugal. "As a student counsellor in a boarding school, Supriya has a complex and captivating journey in which she finds herself torn between her need to nurture and a terrifying past that she cannot seem to leave behind. Adhura explores the delicate balance between human compassion and the unknown forces that lurk within. I'm glad to be back on Prime Video with a new genre and I am hoping audiences will resonate with the humanness of this story while enjoying the spookiness if it all," she added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Adhura trailer: Rasika Dugal starrer horror series looks eerie

It's important to keep things fresh and Indian actress Rasika Dugal is doing just that. With another year coming to a close, the actress has her eyes set on changing the game of content for herself and for her fans. After a busy 2022, she plans on experiementing with different genres in 2023. Here is a look at what all she has in her kitty:

SPIKE: SPORTS DRAMA

Rasika will be seen playing a volleyball coach in this sports drama series. The actor trained in volleyball for four months as prep for the role. This is the first time we will see her in a sports drama.

LORD CURZUN KI HAVELI: BLACK COMEDY THRILLER

Rasika's first attempt at comedy thriller genre with Lord Curzun Ki Haveli. The film has wrapped its shoot in London and is expected to release this year.

ADHURA: SUPERNATURAL HORROR

The film is an Amazon Prime Original. Rasika will be seen playing the role of a school counsellor. The story takes place in a prestigious boarding school and is centred around a deadly secret that "shakes up the lives of everyone connected to it".&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/vicky-kaushal-on-fighting-inferiority-complexes-and-closing-2022-in-style-for-designer-kunal-rawal-544860/embed" width="560" height="350" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" autoplay=1 allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

FAIRY FOLK: IMPROV COMEDY

Shot in an improvised style, Fairy Folk follows the story of a squabbling couple, Ritika and Mohit, who have lost their spark and are tired of each other. More difficulties arise when they come across a genderless being in the woods and it casually follows them home. Written and directed by Karan Gour, Fairy Folk is an improv comedy, also starring Mukul Chaddha.

LITTLE THOMAS: DRAMEDY

Little Thomas is a beautiful and lyrical story about a Goan family. A film directed by National Award-winning director Kaushal Oza. Rasika and Kaushal have previously collaborated on the short film 'The Miniaturist of Junagadh'.

MIRZAPUR 3: ACTION CRIME THRILLER

Lastly, a show that made Rasika Dugal a household name - Mirzapur. Rasika has wrapped the shoot of its season 3 and is expected to release it in 2023.&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/tu-beer-hai-gang-is-back-in-exclusive-chat-with-tvf-pitchers-season-2-cast-545258/embed" width="560" height="350" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" autoplay=1 allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

6 different genres and 6 different kinds of characters are what Rasika is all set to surprise the audiences with this year.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src=https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&mute=1 width="100%"></iframe>

It's important to keep things fresh and Indian actress Rasika Dugal is doing just that. With another year coming to a close, the actress has her eyes set on changing the game of content for herself and for her fans.

It's important to keep things fresh and Indian actress Rasika Dugal is doing just that. With another year coming to a close, the actress has her eyes set on changing the game of content for herself and for her fans. After a busy 2022, she plans on experiementing with different genres in 2023. Here is a look at what all she has in her kitty: SPIKE: SPORTS DRAMA Rasika will be seen playing a volleyball coach in this sports drama series. The actor trained in volleyball for four months as prep for the role. This is the first time we will see her in a sports drama. LORD CURZUN KI HAVELI: BLACK COMEDY THRILLER Rasika's first attempt at comedy thriller genre with Lord Curzun Ki Haveli. The film has wrapped its shoot in London and is expected to release this year. ADHURA: SUPERNATURAL HORROR The film is an Amazon Prime Original. Rasika will be seen playing the role of a school counsellor. The story takes place in a prestigious boarding school and is centred around a deadly secret that "shakes up the lives of everyone connected to it". FAIRY FOLK: IMPROV COMEDY Shot in an improvised style, Fairy Folk follows the story of a squabbling couple, Ritika and Mohit, who have lost their spark and are tired of each other. More difficulties arise when they come across a genderless being in the woods and it casually follows them home. Written and directed by Karan Gour, Fairy Folk is an improv comedy, also starring Mukul Chaddha. LITTLE THOMAS: DRAMEDY Little Thomas is a beautiful and lyrical story about a Goan family. A film directed by National Award-winning director Kaushal Oza. Rasika and Kaushal have previously collaborated on the short film 'The Miniaturist of Junagadh'. MIRZAPUR 3: ACTION CRIME THRILLER Lastly, a show that made Rasika Dugal a household name - Mirzapur. Rasika has wrapped the shoot of its season 3 and is expected to release it in 2023. 6 different genres and 6 different kinds of characters are what Rasika is all set to surprise the audiences with this year.

Rasika Dugal to explore six new genres in 2023

5 standout performers in Bollywood in the first half of 2019

As on-screen Manto and his wife, Safia, played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Rasika Dugal opened up on their experiences while shooting for the film, director Nandita Das explained why she took 6 years to make it as she worked 'to portray Manto as a human being'.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui is gold; at least what he touches turns gold if his recent record of films and shows are seen as a measure of this acting genius. Stern-faced, spectacled Nawazuddin clad in white cotton kurta pajama is ready to take over the cinema screens this Friday as his latest offering ‘Manto’ releases all over the country. The film now comes to its home turf on September 21 after having earned accolades at foreign film festivals where it had its world premiere. Based on crucial years in the life of iconic writer Saadat Hasan Manto who was Indian by birth, Pakistani by country of residence; Nawazuddin in and as Manto in the film aims to bring to the audience the “honesty and daring (character)” of the celebrated visionary artist. In a conversation with WION, at the press conference of their film in New Delhi, ‘Manto’ star cast Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Rasika Dugal along with director Nandita Das revealed details about the making of this film, how we can relate to Manto’s struggles as India went through partition and its relevance in today’s testing times. Nawazuddin is a polished actor who adds something extra to every character he portrays on the screen, be it essaying the role of a crime lord, Ganesh Gaitonde in ‘Sacred Games’ to a quirky Pakistani reporter, Chand Nawab in ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ but this time, he agrees to have taken something from ‘Manto’. In his own words, Nawaz explains that he took the man’s (Manto) “honesty, courage and his ability to dare”. Nawazuddin says, “I tried to show it on screen, imbibed these traits in myself and tried to lead a life like he would have. It became difficult after some time to carry it forward, so I had to leave it.” For those who haven’t read Manto’s literature won’t be able to relate to it. Nawaz explains, “When you read his (Manto) writings, when you see this film too, you will realize like I did, that Manto was a lot like us with similar qualities. What differentiates him from us is ‘courage’. We keep these emotions in check, self-censor ourselves while he did not burden himself with societal pressures and did what he felt like, at all times.” View this post on Instagram I pick up a pen when my sensibility is hurt... A post shared by Nawazuddin Siddiqui (@nawazuddin._siddiqui) on Aug 25, 2018 at 4:35am PDT × Manto was perceived as a big threat to the social fabric, to law and order as many people in British India believed he had no inhibitions. He challenged the said notions, which didn’t earn him the popular vote most of the times. Filmmaker- actress Nandita Das who has helmed the film spoke about how Manto’s non-conformity is relevant today. In fact, she pits the film as “a response to what is happening in the world at present.” She says, “I felt this would be the best way to respond to what was happening today instead of being didactic and polarizing the conversation. But by just sharing something from history, sharing the life of a writer and his work and through that saying the things that we all care for.” ‘Manto’ just happened to her as she had no plans of doing another film after ‘Firaaq’. Nandita says, “When I did ‘Firaaq’, I didn’t even think I’ll do the second film. I did it because I wanted to tell that story. I wasn’t looking for a script. In fact, if I was looking, I would have never taken up this project” and adds, “It was only after I started reading about Manto in 2012, that I wanted to make a film on him. It fascinated me how relevant he was to today’s times.” On why it took her so long to come back to direction, Nandita explains, “6 years is not that long. When you have to dig deep into a subject like this, it takes time. You have to read so much, as everything was from the written word -- and then you’re creating a story and its characters.” View this post on Instagram मैं अफ़साना नहीं लिखता... A post shared by Nawazuddin Siddiqui (@nawazuddin._siddiqui) on Aug 3, 2018 at 1:28am PDT × Nandita takes us through her journey of making the film and says, “I needed to have a fine language (for the film) that would be true and authentic to that period and at the same time accessible to today’s audience. There were many drafts that I wrote. Urdu is not really my language; I didn’t grow up speaking it. I was raised in Delhi; Hindustani is my language.” “I took the help of many people, raising funds for it, finding cast and crew, finalizing locations. It’s so tough to find those locations in today’s modern day clutter. We had to create Lahore here, all of this was a very challenging yet fulfilling experience,” she continues. View this post on Instagram Scenes from the @MantoFilm JNU visit. The students' excitement and enthusiasm made me reminisce about my days in college. Nawaz enthralled them by reciting dialogues from the film. #Mantoiyat #MantoLivesOn A post shared by Nandita Das (@nanditadasofficial) on Sep 19, 2018 at 7:49am PDT × Even as Nandita dealt with internal conflicts on what to choose and what to leave out of Manto’s life’s narrative with respect to the film, she was sure about one thing all along the way and that was to show “humanity to the world via his work”. She said, “Manto was bebaak (fearless). He fought for the truth. I wanted to show his free-spirited character to the world that is full of contradictions, (and is) flawed. The idea of the film is to talk about Manto as a human being.” Rasika Dugal, who was equally influenced by Manto’s writings was moved by his passion as she worked for the film in the role of Manto’s onscreen wife, Safia. When asked if the film has had a lingering effect on her, she replied, “I don’t think it’s worth it if the film you’ve done doesn’t affect you. But you don’t realize what you feel or how it has affected you while you are in the process of making the film. I'm not conscious of it while I’m shooting because then it's mechanical. Then you’re analyzing from an intellectual point of view. It becomes unidimensional, very boring. There’s no room for surprise or magic. It’s only retrospectively you understand what you went through.” ‘Manto’ is interestingly the first Hindi film based on the life of a writer. Nandita revealed in the interaction that their team including her wasn't aware that they were touching a genre never explored in Bollywood before. She said that while writers produce works of art, not many have lives that can be sketched on the canvas of a film; not like Manto.

'Manto': Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Rasika Dugal, Nandita Das open up on making Bollywood's first film on the life of a writer

Nawazuddin Siddiqui is gold; at least what he touches turns gold if his recent record of films and shows are seen as a measure of this acting genius. Stern-faced, spectacled Nawazuddin clad in white cotton kurta pajama is ready to take over the cinema screens this Friday as his latest offering ‘Manto’ releases all over the country. The film now comes to its home turf on September 21 after having earned accolades at foreign film festivals where it had its world premiere. Based on crucial years in the life of iconic writer Saadat Hasan Manto who was Indian by birth, Pakistani by country of residence; Nawazuddin in and as Manto in the film aims to bring to the audience the “honesty and daring (character)” of the celebrated visionary artist. Watch trailer here. In a conversation with WION, at the press conference of their film in New Delhi, ‘Manto’ star cast Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Rasika Dugal along with director Nandita Das revealed details about the making of this film, how we can relate to Manto’s struggles as India went through partition and its relevance in today’s testing times. Nawazuddin is a polished actor who adds something extra to every character he portrays on the screen, be it essaying the role of a crime lord, Ganesh Gaitonde in ‘Sacred Games’ to a quirky Pakistani reporter, Chand Nawab in ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ but this time, he agrees to have taken something from ‘Manto’. In his own words, Nawaz explains that he took the man’s (Manto) “honesty, courage and his ability to dare”. Nawazuddin says, “I tried to show it on screen, imbibed these traits in myself and tried to lead a life like he would have. It became difficult after some time to carry it forward, so I had to leave it.” For those who haven’t read Manto’s literature won’t be able to relate to it. Nawaz explains, “When you read his (Manto) writings, when you see this film too, you will realize like I did, that Manto was a lot like us with similar qualities. What differentiates him from us is ‘courage’. We keep these emotions in check, self-censor ourselves while he did not burden himself with societal pressures and did what he felt like, at all times.” View this post on Instagram I pick up a pen when my sensibility is hurt... A post shared by Nawazuddin Siddiqui (@nawazuddin._siddiqui) on Aug 25, 2018 at 4:35am PDT × Manto was perceived as a big threat to the social fabric, to law and order as many people in British India believed he had no inhibitions. He challenged the said notions, which didn’t earn him the popular vote most of the times. Filmmaker- actress Nandita Das who has helmed the film spoke about how Manto’s non-conformity is relevant today. In fact, she pits the film as “a response to what is happening in the world at present.” She says, “I felt this would be the best way to respond to what was happening today instead of being didactic and polarizing the conversation. But by just sharing something from history, sharing the life of a writer and his work and through that saying the things that we all care for.” Also read: 'Manto' actress Rasika Dugal on working with Nawazuddin Siddiqui, film's relevance & more ‘Manto’ just happened to her as she had no plans of doing another film after ‘Firaaq’. Nandita says, “When I did ‘Firaaq’, I didn’t even think I’ll do the second film. I did it because I wanted to tell that story. I wasn’t looking for a script. In fact, if I was looking, I would have never taken up this project” and adds, “It was only after I started reading about Manto in 2012, that I wanted to make a film on him. It fascinated me how relevant he was to today’s times.” On why it took her so long to come back to direction, Nandita explains, “6 years is not that long. When you have to dig deep into a subject like this, it takes time. You have to read so much, as everything was from the written word -- and then you’re creating a story and its characters.” View this post on Instagram मैं अफ़साना नहीं लिखता... A post shared by Nawazuddin Siddiqui (@nawazuddin._siddiqui) on Aug 3, 2018 at 1:28am PDT × Nandita takes us through her journey of making the film and says, “I needed to have a fine language (for the film) that would be true and authentic to that period and at the same time accessible to today’s audience. There were many drafts that I wrote. Urdu is not really my language; I didn’t grow up speaking it. I was raised in Delhi; Hindustani is my language.” “I took the help of many people, raising funds for it, finding cast and crew, finalizing locations. It’s so tough to find those locations in today’s modern day clutter. We had to create Lahore here, all of this was a very challenging yet fulfilling experience,” she continues. View this post on Instagram Scenes from the @MantoFilm JNU visit. The students' excitement and enthusiasm made me reminisce about my days in college. Nawaz enthralled them by reciting dialogues from the film. #Mantoiyat #MantoLivesOn A post shared by Nandita Das (@nanditadasofficial) on Sep 19, 2018 at 7:49am PDT × Even as Nandita dealt with internal conflicts on what to choose and what to leave out of Manto’s life’s narrative with respect to the film, she was sure about one thing all along the way and that was to show “humanity to the world via his work”. She said, “Manto was bebaak (fearless). He fought for the truth. I wanted to show his free-spirited character to the world that is full of contradictions, (and is) flawed. The idea of the film is to talk about Manto as a human being.” Rasika Dugal, who was equally influenced by Manto’s writings was moved by his passion as she worked for the film in the role of Manto’s onscreen wife, Safia. When asked if the film has had a lingering effect on her, she replied, “I don’t think it’s worth it if the film you’ve done doesn’t affect you. But you don’t realize what you feel or how it has affected you while you are in the process of making the film. I'm not conscious of it while I’m shooting because then it's mechanical. Then you’re analyzing from an intellectual point of view. It becomes unidimensional, very boring. There’s no room for surprise or magic. It’s only retrospectively you understand what you went through.” ‘Manto’ is interestingly the first Hindi film based on the life of a writer. Nandita revealed in the interaction that their team including her wasn't aware that they were touching a genre never explored in Bollywood before. She said that while writers produce works of art, not many have lives that can be sketched on the canvas of a film; not like Manto.

'Manto': Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Nandita Das on making Bollywood's first film on the life of a writer

Rasika Dugal was recently seen in Cannes Film Festival for the world premiere of her much-awaited project Manto, directed by Nandita Das and starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the titular role.

The story is based on the life of the Indo-Pakistani author, Saddat Hassan Manto in the post-independence period.

Rasika plays the role of Manto’s wife, Safia and the film premiered to a packed audience at Cannes who lauded the lead pair's performance.

Nandita’s pet project also stars Rajshri Deshpande as the celebrated author, Ismat Chugtai and the movie has&nbsp;guest appearances of several actors including Shabana Azmi, Purab Kohli, and Chandan Roy Sanyal.

Rasika, who had to do a great deal of preparation for her role as the noted author’s wife, recently revealed that she did not require any prosthetics or makeup to look like Safia.

The stylists made sure that the clothes and hairstyle from that era would be enough to give viewers an authentic replication of a real-life person, in a respectful manner. Interestingly the results of her look are more than uncanny as when compared to images of the real-life Safia.

All this was managed to be achieved without any use of heavy makeup or prosthetics. It’s a usual practice in several real-life stories and biopics for makers to resort to the art of makeup to make the actors come as close as possible to looking their real people.&nbsp;

Speaking about the process, Rasika said "Srikant and his team did a fabulous job of designing the look of the characters. On most days I shot with no makeup.&nbsp;The team just found ways to tweak small things to show a change in the look over the years, since the story of the film is over six years and Manto and Safia go through a lot in those years.&nbsp;They are the tiniest of changes but, in my opinion, make a strong impact and affect the look of the character. And also really helped enhance the performance.&nbsp;We really didn't use any makeup or prosthetics. But the smallest of details were looked into by Nandita."&nbsp; 
 
Manto is scheduled to release in India later this year. 
&nbsp;

'Manto's' story is based on the life of the Indo-Pakistani author, Saddat Hassan Manto in the post-independence period

Rasika Dugal was recently seen in Cannes Film Festival for the world premiere of her much-awaited project Manto, directed by Nandita Das and starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the titular role. The story is based on the life of the Indo-Pakistani author, Saddat Hassan Manto in the post-independence period. Rasika plays the role of Manto’s wife, Safia and the film premiered to a packed audience at Cannes who lauded the lead pair's performance. Nandita’s pet project also stars Rajshri Deshpande as the celebrated author, Ismat Chugtai and the movie has guest appearances of several actors including Shabana Azmi, Purab Kohli, and Chandan Roy Sanyal. Rasika, who had to do a great deal of preparation for her role as the noted author’s wife, recently revealed that she did not require any prosthetics or makeup to look like Safia. The stylists made sure that the clothes and hairstyle from that era would be enough to give viewers an authentic replication of a real-life person, in a respectful manner. Interestingly the results of her look are more than uncanny as when compared to images of the real-life Safia. All this was managed to be achieved without any use of heavy makeup or prosthetics. It’s a usual practice in several real-life stories and biopics for makers to resort to the art of makeup to make the actors come as close as possible to looking their real people. Speaking about the process, Rasika said "Srikant and his team did a fabulous job of designing the look of the characters. On most days I shot with no makeup. The team just found ways to tweak small things to show a change in the look over the years, since the story of the film is over six years and Manto and Safia go through a lot in those years. They are the tiniest of changes but, in my opinion, make a strong impact and affect the look of the character. And also really helped enhance the performance. We really didn't use any makeup or prosthetics. But the smallest of details were looked into by Nandita." Manto is scheduled to release in India later this year.

For 'Manto', Rasika Dugal stayed away from makeup and prosthetics!

Nandita Das' labour of love, period biopic 'Manto', got a standing ovation from the audience as the film premiered at Cannes on Sunday.&nbsp 
 
Twenty-three members of the cast and production team took the stage after the festival's general delegate Thierry Fremaux introduced the director and noted the size of the "Manto" contingent. 
"It's India," Das quipped. 
 
"Yes, it's India," Thierry said in response. 
 
'Manto' is set in the 1940s and 1950s, but it is about what is happening (on the subcontinent) today," the director said. 
 
"Cannes is like home, and it is great to have my second film premiere here," she said. 
 
In the audience was the director's father and celebrated painter Jatin Das. 
 
"My films are rooted in a milieu but I do not seek to explain everything. If you are true to the emotions you are dealing with, a film connects instantly with the audience," Das quoted as saying to a news agency post the film's screening.&nbsp 
 
'Manto' did, in fact, manage to connect and stun the audience as many stayed on for long to congratulate the team behind the biopic of the long-deceased Saadat Hasan Manto, an uncompromising writer who fought all his working life to protect creative freedom.

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Today - <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Manto?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Manto</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/worldpremiere?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#worldpremiere</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCR?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UCR</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cannes2018?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cannes2018</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CannesFilmFestival?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CannesFilmFestival</a> 
Great <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Urdu?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Urdu</a> writer <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/20thcenturybboy?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#20thcenturybboy</a> <a href="https://t.co/02D3ULLHah">pic.twitter.com/02D3ULLHah</a>
— asianculturevulture (@asianculturevul) <a href="https://twitter.com/asianculturevul/status/995752169105248256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp

 
"People across the world are fearful of all the unsettling developments around them. That is why Manto's writings are as relevant today as they were back in his time," Das said. 
 
"Initially, the script spanned a ten-year period from 1942 to 1952. In the film, that has eventually been whittled down to four years," she said, throwing light on the six-year process from conception to completion. 
Das said she has used Manto's writings extensively in developing the film but also used some fictional elements.

Das, earlier, had shared the first teaser of the film on her Twitter page.&nbsp

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Presenting the official teaser of Manto Film. 
 
Nawazuddin Siddiqui | Rasika Dugal | Tahir Raj Bhasin<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Manto?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Manto</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CannesWithManto?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CannesWithManto</a> <a href="https://t.co/92jtMbaILq">https://t.co/92jtMbaILq</a>
— Nandita Das (@nanditadas) <a href="https://twitter.com/nanditadas/status/995341985962749952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The film's leading lady, Rasika Dugal, also shared images from the red carpet prior to the film's premiere

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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BiuAQK9nlvM/" style=" color:#000 font-family:Arial,sans-serif font-size:14px font-style:normal font-weight:normal line-height:17px text-decoration:none word-wrap:break-word" target="_blank">And it's out there! World premiere of #Manto #Cannesfilmfestival</a>

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'Manto', an Indo-French co-production got off the ground a couple of years ago in Cannes, where Das and lead actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui announced their collaboration. The actor is one of the co-producers of the film.&nbsp 
In 2017, the duo was back in Cannes to reveal the first look of 'Manto'. 
 
That the film is now in the festival's competitive Un certain regard section only brings its journey to a logical launch pad from where it can kick on towards other conquests.&nbsp 
 
Manto featuers Nawazuddin Siddqui, Rasika Dugal, Tahir Raj Bhasin and Chandan Roy Sanyal in key roles.&nbsp

The lead actor Nawazuddin Siddqiqui was present with other members of the film for its premiere.

Nandita Das' labour of love, period biopic 'Manto', got a standing ovation from the audience as the film premiered at Cannes on Sunday. Twenty-three members of the cast and production team took the stage after the festival's general delegate Thierry Fremaux introduced the director and noted the size of the "Manto" contingent. "It's India," Das quipped. "Yes, it's India," Thierry said in response. 'Manto' is set in the 1940s and 1950s, but it is about what is happening (on the subcontinent) today," the director said. "Cannes is like home, and it is great to have my second film premiere here," she said. In the audience was the director's father and celebrated painter Jatin Das. "My films are rooted in a milieu but I do not seek to explain everything. If you are true to the emotions you are dealing with, a film connects instantly with the audience," Das quoted as saying to a news agency post the film's screening. 'Manto' did, in fact, manage to connect and stun the audience as many stayed on for long to congratulate the team behind the biopic of the long-deceased Saadat Hasan Manto, an uncompromising writer who fought all his working life to protect creative freedom. Today - #Manto #worldpremiere #UCR #Cannes2018 #CannesFilmFestival Great #Urdu writer #20thcenturybboy pic.twitter.com/02D3ULLHah — asianculturevulture (@asianculturevul) May 13, 2018 × "People across the world are fearful of all the unsettling developments around them. That is why Manto's writings are as relevant today as they were back in his time," Das said. "Initially, the script spanned a ten-year period from 1942 to 1952. In the film, that has eventually been whittled down to four years," she said, throwing light on the six-year process from conception to completion. Das said she has used Manto's writings extensively in developing the film but also used some fictional elements. Das, earlier, had shared the first teaser of the film on her Twitter page. Presenting the official teaser of Manto Film. Nawazuddin Siddiqui | Rasika Dugal | Tahir Raj Bhasin#Manto #CannesWithManto https://t.co/92jtMbaILq — Nandita Das (@nanditadas) May 12, 2018 × The film's leading lady, Rasika Dugal, also shared images from the red carpet prior to the film's premiere And it's out there! World premiere of #Manto #Cannesfilmfestival A post shared by Rasika (@rasikadugal) on May 13, 2018 at 6:10am PDT × Manto and Safias red carpet chats ?#Mantopremiere #Manto #Mantothefilm #CannesFilmFestival A post shared by Rasika (@rasikadugal) on May 13, 2018 at 10:53pm PDT × 'Manto', an Indo-French co-production got off the ground a couple of years ago in Cannes, where Das and lead actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui announced their collaboration. The actor is one of the co-producers of the film. In 2017, the duo was back in Cannes to reveal the first look of 'Manto'. That the film is now in the festival's competitive Un certain regard section only brings its journey to a logical launch pad from where it can kick on towards other conquests. Manto featuers Nawazuddin Siddqui, Rasika Dugal, Tahir Raj Bhasin and Chandan Roy Sanyal in key roles.

Nandita Das takes 22 cast and crew members of 'Manto' for its premiere at Cannes; film gets a standing ovation

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