Ridhi Dogra had been one of the most prolific names in the Indian television industry when she decided to leave all of it at her peak and try for greener pastures. However, she has started to do well in her new innings away from television on OTT and in films. She recently had two of the most popular OTT shows this year, ‘Asur 2’ and ‘Badtameez Dil’. Prior to that, she had come up with ‘Pitchers 2’ earlier this year. Soon, she will be seen in ‘Jawan’ and ‘Tiger 3’.
Talking to Prateek Sur, Ridhi Dogra opens up about how she is enjoying this new phase in her career. She also talks about her decision to move away from television, and how OTT and films have given her characters that she never could have imagined earlier that she would do. All this, and lots more from Ridhi Dogra in this candid chat.
Ridhi we had spoken sometime in December last year, 2023 then looked very exciting for you. Now that we are halfway through 2023, how does it feel? You made your Bollywood debut with a special film 'Lakadbaggha', then two of your shows ‘Asur 2’ and ‘Badtameez Dil’ released this June and you are part of 2 more exciting projects. How does it feel? Are you grateful for all this hustle?
Extremely grateful. Especially because I’ve waited for some years for this. I’ve shot for all this in 2021. And it’s all coming out now. So, feels really really good that my work is getting out to the audience. It feels good to be in a space where you can be an actor who works across mediums and there’s no limit set on you. It’s an actor’s time. We can explore all mediums and actually do it without any fear of the regular industry labels. The audience is king and if you do your work with conviction, they see you and appreciate you.
Both your shows have done amazing and the audiences are loving you in ‘Asur 2’ and ‘Badtameez Dil’. Fans are raving about your chemistry with Barun Sobti. What do you say to your audiences?
As I said in the last question, the audience is king. Also, I feel truly blessed to have had a loyal fan base since television gives you that. At least when I did. So, I’m just extremely grateful. They appreciate you if you put in the work. And whether ‘Asur 2’ or ‘Badtameez Dil’, I have tried to earnestly do my work. Bring complete conviction to my character and work as a team. Basically, you can’t do half work. I think the audience catches everything and you cannot fool them, there’s no taking the audience for granted if they invest their time in watching you. So, I have tried to do that with everything I have done till now.
There are a lot of fan reactions/theories on the possibility of you being the Asur in S3, we know it is too early to comment on the same, but is S3 on cards? If so, is there a possibility that Nushrat will be seen on the other side of Asur as ASUR?
Well, that’s a question for the creator - Gaurav Shukla! And trust me he’s not going to give away anything to anyone. Even to us in the cast. Till it’s in head it’s in his head. I join the audience in all their fab theories or at least I can be their messenger to Gaurav. So guys give me all your theories. And about Nusrat being on the other side. Trust me Gaurav will not do anything that’s expected.
Ridhi, Liz is very fresh and vibrant she is a boss lady and sort of a childish character all at the same time, and we have seen you bodying Liz very authentically. How was it playing Liz? What were your creative inputs for the role of Liz in ‘Badtameez Dil’?
This character was the trickiest of everything I have done. Probably the most tricky. She is seen in a typical romantic show from the lens of love and its many shades. And, because it’s the romcom genre that’s been done to death it was my personal choice to make her as believable as possible. Liz has a graph, an evolution like many romcom heroines. So while the trappings were all there. I was very clear I wanted her to be very real. I didn’t want her to go from an ugly duckling to a swan. I didn’t want to audience to get the same old vibe that a girl gets love when she gets pretty or elegant. I wanted the audience to feel her growth rather than see it. The writing of the show had that approach. I wanted to do complete justice to it. So I worked on her body image issues and self-worth issues. I wanted those to be on display. Even when no one’s saying it. You should be able to tell she feels a certain way. I also didn’t want her to become completely different by the end of it. I didn’t think she needs to be slim with washboard abs. It's a msg we’re giving to every rom-com viewer. You can love yourself just the way you are. It was my intention to achieve that with Liz.
It was good to see you do a Rom-com, are you planning to take another project in the same genre? And what else is it that you want to play next/ any genre or character?
Yes. Absolutely. Now that I have done it. What a joyride this genre is. My god! I have always played intense strong characters and while I love them I love the power they exude. I would love to do more rom-com where I secretly try to change the norms of a rom-com heroine. That’s the only reason I’d like to do it. I would love to play a badass princess in a period drama or a girl from a remote place. Someone who quietly goes about her life as ordinarily as possible.
You have been a popular face on television. But I think due to the advent of OTT, you have got the opportunity to give more nuanced performances. It's like a new birth for you. What do you have to say about it?
Yes. It’s been a blessing. I didn’t know when I took the decision to stop television and what lies ahead. As OTT wasn’t there then apart from YouTube. I worked on myself, and my craft, did some writing work, and assisted a director on it. Did courses. Learnt different skills. Now that I think, I was living life to be able to give life to all these different characters.
How do you look back at your career?
With a lot of gratitude. I feel blessed. For someone who never wanted, passively or actively, to be an actor. All I knew was I like people, I’m comfortable on stage and I was always my own boss and a rebel without a cause. So it all feels amazing. The flow of life and where it’s got me. To this interview right here!
You are going to star in one of the biggest movies of the year Jawan. Isn't it a dream come true for you? Did you ever manifest something like this would have happened?
Actually no. It was honestly something that literally just came to me. I am a student of cinema and these big films are opportunities for me to learn on massive sets and see how the biggest names work. It was an absolute joyride for the student of cinema in me.
‘Asur 2’ has good positive reviews. How did you help you on a personal level?
I’m so happy. It’s amazing the love people give Nusrat. I feel encouraged and really good. Because Asur is designed for two characters even though it’s an ensemble cast. But the appreciation Nusrat gets each time is heartwarming and gives me confidence in my craft and in Nusrat. She should also headline the show next time. Why not!
In ‘Badtameez Dil’, you are shown as a romantic who is so old school in love. Are you the same kind of person in real life?
Unless it’s mad, passionate, extraordinary love it’s a waste of your time. There are too many mediocre things in this world. Love should never be one of them. I believed in this quote as a little girl and still totally believe in it. I am a mixture of Liz and Karan. A little practical but when in love I’m mad.
