I'd Love To Play Absurd Characters That Are Flawed And Complicated - Prashansa Sharma
– By Farhad Dalal
With the success of her movie ‘Mirzapur’, Prashansa Sharma is riding on a high. In an Exclusive Interview with Farhad Dalal from Popcorn Reviewss, she talks about Mirzapur, her character Radhiya, her journey, and her aspirations
It Has Been Over A Week Since Mirzapur Released. How Has The Response Been To The Film And To Your Character, Radhiya?
I don’t think any of us ever imagined that the film would be received the way it has been.
That said, I always firmly believed it would be an absolute superhit. I remember watching it and being completely blown away by the performances, by how the film looked, and by everything it had to offer.
When I came out, I think my first words were, “It’s pure cinema.” It genuinely felt like cinema in every sense of the word. I could imagine people sitting in theatres, having fun and thoroughly enjoying the experience.
And that has come true in so many ways. The entire country, if not the world, seems to be enjoying the film immensely. I feel this is exactly what films need to do—we need to make films that are enjoyable, engaging and watchable.
The response has been overwhelming. What I love most is that every member of the cast is a great actor in their own right, and the film celebrates their talent alongside the storytelling, writing, direction, art, sound and every other aspect of filmmaking. It’s that collective effort that makes the film what it is.
I’m incredibly proud and deeply grateful to be a part of it. It’s also the first time a show like Mirzapur has made the transition to a film, and to see it become such a massive success is very special.
I hope people take notice and that we continue making films with talented actors, powerful performers and good stories. Perhaps we just need to trust those elements. Sometimes, that really can be enough to make a film a superhit.
What Kind Of Preparation Went Into Getting Under The Skin Of Radhiya, Particularly Across The Three Seasons Of The Show?
I started working on Radhiya in Season One, and for me, the preparation began with understanding the socio-economic, political and class circumstances she comes from—her upbringing, her limitations, and why she continues to stay in a house where so much violence is inflicted upon her.
I’ve always tried to stay away from the trope of portraying her merely as a victim. How the audience perceives her is up to them, but for me, Radhiya is constantly working towards survival and building a better life for herself.
Even when you’re playing a small character, you don’t build half a life. You have to build the character’s entire life. With someone like Radhiya, whose circumstances are very different from mine, I have to get under her skin and see the world from her perspective. The way she sees Munna, Guddu, Golu, Akhandanand and Beena is very different from how anyone else sees them.
In every scene, even when I’m not speaking, I try to absorb all the information around me. Radhiya is like a fly on the wall. People barely notice she’s there, yet she is listening intently. Information is power.
Her trajectory begins to shift in Season Three. When Golu comes to the Tripathi house, Radhiya is fascinated by this woman who is independent and accustomed to living life on her own terms. She has probably never encountered a woman like that before.
While preparing for the season, I met Shweta one day and discussed Golu with her. I told her, “I’m going to imbibe a few things from you.” I picked up little details from her personality and incorporated what I felt Radhiya might observe in Golu. I don’t know how much of it comes across on screen, but it was a lovely element to bring into the character.
Radhiya starts wearing a shirt, cuts her hair and begins reading books again. In many ways, she starts dreaming of a different life. She’s acquiring knowledge and power, drawing inspiration from women who are more empowered than she is, and slowly growing into someone stronger.
That’s incredibly exciting to explore as an actor. In Season Three, Radhiya begins to dream again—to believe that there could be something beyond her present circumstances. Where that takes her will be revealed in Season Four.
Radhiya Had Very Limited Screen Time In Mirzapur: The Movie, And Even On The Show. Did You Ever Feel She Was Underused And Had More To Offer?
Yes, of course! As an actor, how could I not feel that Radhiya has more to offer? I would absolutely love to see more of her.
She is a character built around silences, observation and the unique position she occupies in that house. She often exists on the periphery, quietly taking everything in, and I think there is something incredibly powerful about that.
There’s an entire inner life that we haven’t necessarily seen, and there are so many directions in which her character could evolve. As an actor, I would love the opportunity to explore more of that.
At the same time, I trust the creators and Guru (Director Gurmmeet Singh) completely. He understands the larger story and what each character needs within that world. As an actor, I can always imagine ten more things I’d like to explore with my character, but that may not necessarily be the story the creators are trying to tell.
So yes, selfishly, I would always want more Radhiya. But I also understand that sometimes what isn’t shown—and what remains unsaid—is precisely what makes a character so compelling.
In A Largely Alpha-Male Setup, How Important Are The Women Of Mirzapur, And How Have They Contributed To The Layers Of This Universe?
The women hold and balance the world of Mirzapur. In a universe so dominated by power, violence, guns and masculinity, they bring different kinds of stakes, relationships and ways of navigating power. They aren’t there simply to support the men—they’re integral to shaping that world.
Look at Beena, Vasudha—Guddu’s mother—Golu, or even Radhiya in Season Three. They all have their own identities, ambitions and desires. They have their own understanding of power and their own ways of surviving it. That’s what gives the Mirzapur universe so much depth.
What’s beautiful is that this extends beyond the show as well. I’ve worked with the women of Mirzapur for almost nine years now, and the camaraderie among us is something I deeply value. Off-screen, we’re incredibly supportive of one another. There’s so much love, care and a genuine sense of looking out for each other. Everyone has everyone else’s back.
I don’t get to experience that kind of relationship everywhere, and I think that’s what makes the women of Mirzapur so special to me. In many ways, we hold each other together—and they’ve held me, too.
What Kind Of Flak Do Women, Particularly Actors, Face On Social Media Following Moments Of Intimacy On Screen? Do You Feel Women Are Being Objectified Online As Well?
Open almost any female actor’s Instagram and look at the comments. In many ways, they reflect the psychology of men and patriarchy, and sometimes it can be quite disturbing. It’s a lot to take in.
As a woman, you do experience that kind of flak, particularly after scenes involving intimacy or when you’ve portrayed something people have very strong reactions to. Sometimes it gets to you because, ultimately, you’re doing your job, and the way people choose to perceive you isn’t something you can control.
I also feel it reflects something much larger about our society. The frustration, fear, lack of vulnerability, rage and anger that men carry—and the way so much of it gets suppressed—sometimes finds an outlet in these comments.
People really need to distinguish between a character and the actor playing that character. You may go to someone’s Instagram because you’ve enjoyed a show or connected with its storytelling, but somewhere along the way, people forget that there is an actual person behind that character.
We have lives, feelings and vulnerabilities. We’re whole human beings just like everybody else. In fact, part of the reason we’re able to do the work we do is because we’re willing to make ourselves vulnerable.
Sometimes it does get to me. But I also try to have compassion because, in a strange way, what we see online is a reflection of where we are as a society.
Is There A Particular Image You Wish To Maintain Through Your Body Of Work? What Kind Of Versatility Would You Like To Explore With Meatier Characters In The Future?
I don’t really want to maintain a particular image. I want to build a body of work that has a point of view, that I’ve chosen carefully, and that reflects something about me as an artist. More importantly, I want the work to be fun for me.
I don’t want to be cast a certain way simply because I’ve played one kind of character well and suddenly everyone sees me only in that light. There’s nothing wrong with those characters, and I’m grateful for the work I’ve had the opportunity to do, but I know I’m capable of so much more. I want to keep surprising myself as an actor.
I don’t think I’ve ever played a character who is very close to who I am in real life, so I’d love to explore that too. I’d love to do comedy, absurd characters, leads, and women who are flawed and complicated. I’d also love to take on roles that challenge me physically. I really enjoy changing my physicality for a character, and I’d love to push that much further.
Ultimately, I want to look back at my work and feel that I didn’t keep repeating myself—that I took risks, chose interesting people to inhabit, and surprised audiences with something they didn’t expect from me.
What Insecurities Or Vulnerabilities Have You Faced As An Actor, And How Do You Keep Yourself Motivated When Things Don’t Go Your Way?
Rejection is hard. I’ve faced a lot of it, and I keep telling myself that the more rejections I get, the closer I’m getting to my dreams.
I don’t really feel insecure about my craft because I’m constantly working on it and trying to get better. Of course, I get nervous before a performance or when something I’ve worked on is about to come out, but I don’t constantly question whether I’m a good actor.
Where I do feel vulnerable is rejection. I’ve heard the line, “The look doesn’t fit,” so many times. Sometimes, it really is just about what the creators have imagined for a character. We have so many preconceived ideas about what a certain person or character is supposed to look like, and you can’t possibly fit all of them. But when you hear it often enough, of course it rattles you.
I think, as an actor, you need a very thick skin on the outside and a very soft, sensitive heart on the inside. That sensitivity is what makes you an actor, but you also need to be able to take rejection and keep going.
For me, that’s what keeps me motivated. I keep working, I keep learning, I keep showing up, and I keep reminding myself why I wanted to do this in the first place.
2026 Has Been A Solid Success Story With The Release Of Mirzapur. Are There Any Other Films Or Shows Lined Up That Fans Should Be Looking Forward To?
Honestly, there’s nothing I can talk about right now. Mirzapur has been such a lovely part of my year, and I’m incredibly grateful for it.
I’m taking a little time to figure out what I want to do next, and I’m hoping it’s something that genuinely excites me. So, there’s nothing to announce just yet—but hopefully, there will be soon.
