I am willing to play someone whose politics is not in sync with mine, but not if the overall politics of the film is an antithesis to what I believe in, says Rasika Dugal

Nonika Singh

Actors improvise all the time…but an entire film based on improvisation sounds like a Herculean task. Only talented actress Rasika Dugal, whose film Fairy Folk is exactly that, found the experience liberating.

My idea of love is to evolve together. I think it is an exciting and fun experience to be privy to see someone so close to you transforming along with you.

As the film is creating waves at international film festivals and is ready for a theatrical release on March 1, she shares, “Improvisation might be an impromptu art but it’s like a sport and you have to practise it. There certainly is a method behind it and there are rules to the game. For instance you can’t contradict or question your co-actor, only add to it for you have to carry the scene forward.”

And in a film which combines magical surrealism with biting reality, things can’t just come out of thin air. If her experience with an Improv theatre in Mumbai held her in good stead, the fact that her husband Mukul Chadda is playing her reel spouse made both acting and meaningful improvisation even easier. With ‘working rhythm’ already in place she could not have asked for a better co-actor. On the sets there were no abhimaan stories in tow. She says, “Any good actor will tell you that there never is any desire to outshine the other. A scene only works if both actors shine.” Even otherwise hubby dearest is her hugest cheerleader and also someone whose feedback she truly values. She adds, “The best thing about Mukul is while he is frank and honest, he is kind too, something that people often forget to be while critiquing your performance.”

If she gives him 10 on 10 as a co-actor, she rates her director Karan Gour, with whom she has worked previously as well in Kshay, very highly as a ‘bright mind with a unique directorial voice.’

She states, “Much before the likes of Richie Mehta (Delhi Crime), Mira Nair (A Suitable Boy) and Nandita Das (Manto) gave me a chance, Karan reposed faith in me. He is like a friend and on the sets our constant bickering is actually disguised camaraderie in the best interest of the film.”

As Fairy Folk deals with multiple issues like loneliness, gender identity, marriage and companionship, she also feels it is not didactic but a ‘dramedy with a keen sense of humour.’ Since it’s a story of a couple in urban space examining their relationship, she doesn’t know whether the film helped her and Mukul to understand each other better. But yes, they did bring in their experiences as a couple to the film. On the eternal debate of whether cinema and actors have a social responsibility, she observes, “I am willing to play someone whose politics is not in sync with mine. But, I would say no if the overall politics of the film is an antithesis to what I believe in.”

However, she had no apprehensions playing brazen Beena in Mirzapur for, “It’s about a woman who completely owns her body and sexuality.” Mirzapur 3 incidentally is the first in the impressive line-up of innumerable projects she will be seen in. Besides, Lord Curzon Ki Haveli with Arjun Mathur, Little Thomas with Gulshan Devaiah there are several series, including a sports drama and another one with great co-actor Kay Kay Menon. Of course, the part this Punjaban has been dying to play that of Punjabi poetess Amrita Pritam still eludes hers. She laughs, “I have put out my desire in public but no one has taken the bait so far.”

On her wish-list also is something that either requires complete physical transformation or one that makes her dive deep within. “I want to question all my experiences and beliefs.” In short, as Tony Ribbons said, “Don’t limit your challenges, challenge your limits,” Rasika is forever in quest to redefine the actor in her.