Actor Rasika Dugal has said she would not have agreed to be part of a film like Animal, stating that she refuses to participate in projects that celebrate misogyny or push propaganda.
Dugal was speaking at the We The Women Mumbai session during a conversation with journalist Barkha Dutt. Speaking about the kind of roles she rejects, she said, “The things that I won’t do is celebrate misogyny or be part of a propaganda film those things are non-negotiable for me.”
When asked if that meant she would not have accepted a film like Animal, Dugal responded with a clear “No.”
Dutt noted that some actors argue that portraying problematic characters is part of the craft, citing her earlier conversation with Rashmika Mandanna. She suggested that Dugal’s objection was not about playing an unlikeable character but about lending legitimacy to a film’s larger message. “I think your point is it’s not the actor, it’s the institutionalisation or the respectability given to the misogyny that’s the problem.”
Agreeing, Dugal explained that she has no hesitation in playing characters whose values differ from her own. “I would be very happy to play a character whose politics is not in sync with mine. That’s exciting for me,” she said. “I’m not Beena Tripathi in real life. I don’t go around killing people or violating men. Understanding a mind different from mine is why I do what I do.”
However, she added that the overall ideology of the project must align with her principles. “It’s important for me that the politics of the project is aligned with mine,” Dugal said, emphasising that while character choices can vary, the broader narrative cannot compromise her values.
Her remarks come amid ongoing debates about representation, responsibility, and misogyny in mainstream cinema.
On the work front, Rasika Dugal’s latest release was Delhi Crime Season 3 on Netflix. She plays ACP Neeti Singh in the series.
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