Rashmi Agdekar is one of the most amazing and talented young actresses in the Hindi entertainment industry. After making a successful debut in Ayushmann Khurrana starrer Andhadhun, Rashmi has taken her popularity quotient a lot higher with multiple projects & influencer collaborations. And now, she’s back with her portrayal of Chandni, someone who belongs to the LGBTQA community. Rashmi exclusively speaks to IWMBuzz about Dev DD 2, her on-screen portrayal of a lesbian, the state of homosexuality in India & a lot more. Read to find out.
From making your debut alongside Ayushmann Khurrana in Andhadhun to playing progressive characters on-screen with your new show Dev DD, how do you sum up your journey?
My journey till now as an actor has been a comprehensive one. Every project I’ve worked on, every role I’ve auditioned for has made me a confident actor by making me aware of my strengths and weaknesses. I was in awe of all the things happening on the sets of Andhadhun and overwhelmed by the fact that I’m getting a chance to be in the same room of Sriram Sir, Tabu Ma’am, Ayushmann Khuranna, and many more. Merely observing these legends at work gave me valuable insight into how I can approach my work. I am so grateful for that opportunity.
You are playing a lesbian character and it’s of extreme relevance in today’s Indian society. What made you say yes to this?
Back in 2017, we had mostly seen caricaturish/stereotypical portrayals of LGBTQA characters on screen. But Chandni was written in a normal, human way. She’s a regular small-town girl, with her own set of values, but likes girls! I liked how the makers didn’t sensualize her and just let her be, which is why I was drawn towards taking this up.
How much have you researched or explored the life of homosexual human beings to get deep into the skin of the character?
I spoke to a couple of my friends who have come out as gay/lesbian, read some real-life stories about the community and their challenges. But at the core of it, feelings of love, acceptance, and personal conflict are universal. I approached this as loving another human instead of a girl. And that is how we all should perceive same-sex relationships, as ‘two humans in love’.
What is your own personal opinion on homosexuality and same-sex love?
I was never confused in forming my opinion of same-sex relationships when I first learnt about it as a kid. Maybe because I love diversity and I am amused by different personalities and their opinions, etc. So I have only become more respectful and admire the spirit of the entire LGBTQA community who have been fighting for their basic rights. And I support them completely.
Lastly, what are the kind of roles you would want to do in the near future after this?
The list is long. I want to do all kinds of roles and every genre of film or series, to be honest. But my immediate wish is to play someone who is daring and challenges me as an actor. I also want to play the protagonist and tell stories from a female perspective.