Actress Rasika Dugal to explore comedy in commercial space

Actress Rasika Dugal's name is often attached to independent films with strong storylines. She is now ready to explore comedy in the commercial space. "I can't talk much about it. The film is more in the commercial and comic space, which is a genre that I was really waiting to explore," Rasika told IANS here. "I think I have a flair for it (comedy). I have finished shooting for it. The thing about comedy is that you don't have to play funny," added the ‘Manto’ actress, who admitted to doing "fun parts in theatre" as well.

Last year, she had also performed a comic set on the online project titled "So Basically... this is an actor's Life | Rasika Dugal". She has no qualms about being a part of the commercial space or mainstream cinema. But there's a catch. "I want to do roles that are important for the story and not there for ornamental value or to just aid another character in the film which is often a 'friend's role' in mainstream films," she said.

"I have been offered roles in mainstream films which have not been interesting to me. They have been too insignificant." She pointed out that interestingly in mainstream cinema, a lot of films are with an ensemble cast. Rasika is currently shooting for a film helmed by Karan Gour. "He is the same director, who had directed my first film ('Kshay') in a lead part. It was the first film that got me known in the indie circle.

"Karan and I have been very close friends. You know when you are working with each other in the initial stages, you grow together. This is the second time I am working with him." Her happiness doubled on Saturday as two of her projects -- a series titled ‘Mirzapur’ and film ‘Hamid’ -- had their world premiere at the ongoing Jio MAMI 20th Mumbai Film Festival with Star. In ‘Hamid’, the actress plays the role of a mother to boy named Hamid, a Kashmiri local whose father goes missing.