Rajshri Deshpande’s performance in the Marathi social comedy ‘Baapya’ has earned her recognition beyond India. The actor, who played a trans man in Sameer Tewari’s film, has now received a nomination in the Best Actor (Female) category at the upcoming Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. For Deshpande, however, the appreciation carries a deeper meaning because of the responsibility attached to portraying a marginalised community.
Connecting with the character beyond the script
Deshpande believes an actor’s real achievement lies in how audiences remember the characters they portray rather than the awards or popularity that follow.
Speaking to Mid-Day, the actress shared, “People recognise me through my characters, and I think that’s true success of an actor. It cannot be measured by any award or how many likes you get,” smiled the actor, thrilled to have her performance recognised at a global platform.
Her role in ‘Baapya’ required her to approach the transgender experience with sensitivity and authenticity. Deshpande plays Shailesh, who returns to his village after undergoing gender reassignment surgery, bringing his changed identity into a setting where acceptance and rejection exist side by side.
Months of conversations helped shape Rajshri Deshpande’s performance
To prepare for the part, Deshpande spent considerable time interacting with transgender friends and listening to their personal experiences. She wanted the character’s mannerisms and emotions to emerge naturally rather than rely on stereotypes.
“When I was working on this film, I spent months talking to my trans friends, hearing their pain, how they hide their dreams to be seen. You have to walk that walk, [capture] the gaze, the voice, and every tiny detail, and most importantly, understand their stories of rejection as well as acceptance. My years of work with the community helped me.”
The actor’s previous engagement with the transgender community also became an important foundation while approaching Shailesh. Her understanding of their lived experiences helped her explore the character’s emotional journey with greater depth.
Rajshri Deshpande returns to learning
Alongside her acting work, Deshpande is currently pursuing another long-standing ambition. She has enrolled in a Shakespeare course at London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, commonly known as RADA.
Explaining her decision to return to formal training, she said, “I have come here to study Shakespeare, something I wanted to do for years. I have enrolled in RADA to learn because I want to revive myself as an actor. I want to learn more tools, more about characterisation, and do better”
For Rajshri, the course is an opportunity to sharpen her craft, explore new approaches to characterisation and continue evolving as a performer.
Courtesy : TOI
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