newsletter issue 351

For most of us, Rasika Dugal is a serious actor known to portray embattled characters with a rare combination of rawness and restraint. But as a friend you see the unfiltered, goofy side of her; her distinctive laughter rings out in short, metronomic bursts and goes on for a while. The triggers are many, ranging from a corny meme to an ironic insight. She’s self-critical to a fault, some might say.

‘You know too much!’ she exclaims as we begin our conversation, so let me lay it all out for everyone. I know Rasika comes from a Sikh family settled in Jamshedpur, who, because of their Burmese roots, can make a magical khow suey. Jamshedpur, where she grew up and often returns to for themed birthday parties (‘Polkas & Pearls’ was the last one) and eggnog-flavoured Christmas evenings, still seems like her happy place. Few know Rasika studied for a year in Brazil. And that both she and her partner Mukul Chadda are Math majors. She took Urdu lessons for ‘Manto’ (2018), learned piano for ‘Little Thomas’ (2024), and religiously practised volleyball for an unreleased project. These days, she trains for pickleball but does not play competitively because ‘I’ll be very sad if I lose’. I know she’s aching to adopt dogs but doesn’t have ‘two straight months to spend with the puppies at the moment’.”

The ‘Mirzapur’ actor sits down with her friend Rehana Munir for a candid chat covering her college days, her growing filmography, and why she’ll never play pickleball competitively.