Rasika Dugal has spoken about the emotional difficulty of portraying Beena Tripathi’s assault in Mirzapur, saying the character’s sudden loss of control was particularly painful to watch.
According to Times of India, Dugal, who plays Beena in the popular franchise, discussed the character’s journey as Mirzapur: The Movie arrived in theatres on 4 September.
Unlike many of the men in the series, Beena does not depend on weapons or physical force to assert herself.
Instead, she understands the power structure within the Tripathi family and uses her awareness of people and relationships to regain control.
Dugal said understanding Beena’s emotional motivations was not difficult because they were clearly established in the script.
Her greater challenge was developing the body language needed to convey the character’s confidence and authority.
“When Beena enters the room, people should turn around and look at her,” she said in an interview with NDTV.
However, Beena’s vulnerability becomes clear near the end of the first season, when her father-in-law Satyanand Tripathi, known as Bauji, sexually assaults her at gunpoint.
Dugal said the sequence was difficult because it showed Beena, usually self-assured and in command, being stripped of her agency.
“What I really like about the writing is that whenever Beena’s agency is taken away, she finds her way to a comeback,” the actor said.
Recalling the moment when Beena locks the door after the assault, Dugal described it as deeply moving.
She said the character appeared resigned to what had happened, even though the experience left her feeling shattered.
Dugal also connected Beena’s story to the wider issue of patriarchy and women’s autonomy.
“When a woman owns a place, people don’t like it and they try to take her agency,” she said.
Beena has also drawn attention for her open approach to sexuality and female desire. Dugal said she has learned to filter online reactions and criticism so they do not interfere with her creative instincts.
“I don’t want anything that can affect my decision as an actor, that disturbs my integrity as an actor,” she said.
Directed by Gurmeet Singh, Mirzapur: The Movie brings the franchise’s familiar cast, including Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal and Divyenndu, to the big screen.
