Rafuchakkar actor Priya Bapat: Want people to see my worth as an actor; language is not even a barrier anymore

Priya Bapat is disappointed because one can make it in show business with just talent, but it doesn't. The third season of his show City of Dreams premiered last month on Disney+ Hotstar, adding to the actor's packed summer schedule. JioCinema's Rafuchakkar, a swindle drama, is up next. Priya says that while skill is important, it is not the sole criterion in deciding whether or not an actor gets cast in a project, even though she has become a familiar face in OTT offerings.

The actor told Midday that she is sad because talent is what lasts in the long run. She asked how far one will go before giving up if they can't improve their skills. People should put their trust in the performer. She emphasises that the actor's native language and geographic background are irrelevant.

Priya has appeared in both Marathi and Hindi films and has noticed that the latter tend to categorise their stars more quickly. For a long time, people just assumed she was a Marathi actor, but then Nagesh Kukunoor recognised potential in her, Sameer Nair supported him, and City of Dreams happened to her. She would like to be recognised for her acting skills. Today, language is only a means of communication, and not even that.

Priya knew it would be difficult to shed the moniker, but she was confident in her abilities. She felt much more capable of taking on the role because filmmaker Sanjay Gupta had cast her in Visfot after seeing her in City of Dreams Season 2.

Her performance left him speechless. Then there was Rafuchakkar, in which she plays the role of a Delhi attorney. To improve her diction, she worked with a coach. Her professional career began in 2003, when she appeared in a scene of Munna Bhai MBBS. It took her 20 years to stop being typecast as a "Marathi actor" and start getting serious roles.