Surabhi Das is all set for one of the biggest leaps in her career. Having built a strong presence on television, she is now ready to present herself Nitesh Tiwarithe much awaited epic ‘Ramayana’. Das, who moved from the Northeast to Mumbai for his television career, has bagged a major role in the upcoming film, directed by Nitesh Tiwari.
Surabhi Das clarifies her role in ‘Ramayana’
In a conversation with Moneycontrol, Surabhi talked about landing a role in the big budget film and shed light on her character. Addressing the rumors head on, he confirmed that he will not be playing Urmila. “I am not playing Urmila. I am playing Shrutakirti, Sita’s younger sister and Shatrughan’s wife,” she said. The actress also admitted that she was overwhelmed to learn that she had been selected for one of India’s most ambitious films to date. “I’m so grateful to be a part of ‘Ramayana’, even if it’s a small role. When I got the call, I wondered if I’d just been selected or if they’d really locked me in for the film. I couldn’t believe it. To be a part of a film with such a huge star cast and such a massive scale felt unreal,” he said.
Surabhi Das on the audition journey and her foray into cinema
Das shared that his journey began with an audition for casting director Mukesh Chhabra, though it took almost two months for the confirmation to come, by which time he was already shooting for his show Pandya Brothers. “I went to Mukesh Chhabra and auditioned. About two months later, I got a call saying I had been locked in. After that, there were make-up tests and wardrobe tests. Little by little, it all started to fall apart. I couldn’t believe I would be sharing screen space with these legends. It’s an amazing feeling and I’m thankful to God,” said an ecstatic Surabhi. Despite spending the last few years on television, she made it clear that her transition to films was not born out of frustration but a genuine desire to grow as an actor. “I won’t call it a struggle. That’s just the process. We don’t belong to film families where someone can make a phone call and get us to work. You have to audition and keep auditioning. Until your projects come out, you have to keep contacting casting directors whenever there’s a suitable role.”Das added that the switch has gone smoothly, largely because opportunities aligned. “I was already doing Nima Denzongpa when I switched from Assam. After that I did Pandya Store. Then I decided to stay away from TV, Ramayana happened and now I have two more films lined up. I’ve been lucky that I’ve never had a long period without work,” she said. Among her upcoming projects is a film set against the backdrop of the 1971 war, in which she plays a woman who is both mentally and physically resilient. She also participates Vikas BahlDil Ka Darwaza Kholna Darling. On why she found movies and OTT more appealing than television, Surabhi explained that she wanted to go beyond the repetitive character types. “When you do television, the female lead is often written in a similar way. I wanted to explore different emotions and different personalities. OTT and films give you that space as an actor. Audiences can expect characters they haven’t seen me play before. They will see women standing up for themselves and others. I am excited because every project is giving me something new,” she said.
Surabhi Das on the difference between regional cinema and Bollywood
Having worked in Assamese cinema and stepping into a big-ticket Hindi production, Surabhi notes that scale is the most striking difference, noting that Bollywood projects have far more resources at their disposal. “In terms of budget, there is a big difference. In Ramayana, the sets are huge and there are hundreds of people working every day. Regional films are made on much smaller budgets. In regional films, you often have to manage a lot of things yourself. In Bollywood, there is a team for everything from wardrobe to styling. The work style is much more organized. But acting itself does not change. The performance remains the same,” he said.