Rasika Dugal, who essays the role of Beena Tripathi, has always been one of the most quietly formidable characters in ‘Mirzapur’. Unlike the men around her, Beena rarely relies on guns or physical intimidation to assert herself. Instead, she understands the power dynamics inside the Tripathi household, reads the people around her and repeatedly finds ways to reclaim control. With the the release of ‘Mirzapur: The Movie’ today, Dugal opened up about Beena’s darkest chapter, her sexual assault by father-in-law Satyanand Tripathi aka Bauji and the revenge that followed.
Rasika Dugal opens up on understanding Beena Tripathi
For Rasika, understanding Beena’s emotional core was never particularly difficult because the character’s motivations were clearly established in the writing. The bigger challenge was developing a physicality that could communicate Beena’s confidence and authority.In a conversation with NDTV, Dugal said, “For me, it was never challenging to understand the emotional core of Beena Tripathi. It was on paper. The challenging part was to adapt her body language. When I first heard the story, my impression was that when Beena enters the room, people should turn around and look at her.”
Rasika Dugal on feeling ‘shattered to see Beena in a powerless situation’
Beena’s vulnerability was laid bare towards the end of Mirzapur Season 1 when Bauji sexually assaulted her at gunpoint. For Rasika, the sequence was particularly difficult because it represented the complete loss of agency for a character who had always fought to maintain control.“What I really like about the writing is that whenever Beena’s agency is taken away, she finds her way to a comeback. It was a moving moment for me when Beena locks the door at the end of season one. There was a sense of resignation in doing that. She knew that this day would come one day and she had to go through it. She was raped at gunpoint. I felt shattered to see Beena in a powerless situation. She is always self-assured, in control, but now she’s in a powerless situation,” she said.
Rasika Dugal opens up on Beena Tripathi, patriarchy and female agency
For Rasika, Beena’s story extends beyond the crime and violence of Mirzapur. The character’s journey also reflects the ways women can be denied agency in patriarchal structures, particularly when they begin asserting ownership over their lives.“The truth about women in a patriarchal society is that when a woman owns a place, people don’t like it and they try to take her agency,” Rasika said.Beena’s ability to survive within the Tripathi family has therefore been less about physical strength and more about her understanding of people, relationships and power.
Rasika Dugal on trolling over Beena Tripathi’s sexuality and female desire
Beena has also emerged as one of the more sexually uninhibited women in the ‘Mirzapur’ universe, with her character often becoming part of conversations around female desire and sexuality. Dugal, however, says she has developed her own filters when it comes to dealing with online reactions and criticism. She does not want trolling or public commentary to interfere with her instincts as an actor.“Nowadays, it’s not about films anymore. Everyone is commenting on everything around. So, if you read everything, you will be confused. I have my own filters. I don’t want anything that can affect my decision as an actor, that disturbs my integrity as an actor. I don’t want to be doubtful about my choices,” she said.
‘Mirzapur: The Movie’ releases in theatres today
Directed by Gurmeet Singh, ‘Mirzapur: The Movie’ has released in theatres today, September 4, 2026. The film brings the popular ‘Mirzapur’ universe to the big screen, with Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Divyenndu and other familiar faces returning to the franchise.
