Doc on a mission

Akansha Ranjan Kapoor returns in a powerful avatar with Prime Video’s Gram Chikitsalay. She portrays Dr Gargi—the only female doctor in a remote Jharkhand village. The actress brings strength, depth and dignity to her character that navigates isolation, tradition as she heals people around her.

What made you say yes to this role?

I’ve always been a fan of TVF. I always wanted to be part of their world. I also wanted to work with Deepak sir. I’m a big fan of Panchayat, like the rest of the country. So, it was honestly a no brainer for me. I’ve been trying to manifest a role with them, a series with them for the longest time. And this kind of happened.

Your character operates in a rural setup with limited resources. How did you prepare for it?

I feel all the characters in the show were author-backed, so thoroughly written that it was easy to sink into the skin of the character. Of course, we did a lot of prep, to understand her motives, her likes or dislikes, who she is. Even though this this season was a build-up season for Gargi’s character, we still had her backstory, her arc, established.

Was there a particular scene or moment in the film that challenged you emotionally or artistically?

The entire show was emotionally and artistically challenging for all of us. Challenging in a good way. At least for me, it was a departure from who I am.

How did working in Gram Chikitsyala help you understand the rural healthcare system?

This series brought to light a lot of things I did not know earlier. I did not know much about the rural healthcare system. Working in this series opened my eyes.

You’re acted in modern, urban roles. Did playing Dr Gargi push you out of your comfort zone?

I was not out of my comfort zone, because I think an actor’s job is to play different characters. You do not keep playing yourself. It was actually exciting for me to do something different.