As Mirzapur: The Movie arrives in theatres on September 4, 2026, actor Rasika Dugal has opened up about the emotional toll of portraying Beena Tripathi, one of the most quietly formidable and complex characters in the Mirzapur franchise. Unlike many of the male characters in the violent universe, Beena rarely relies on guns or physical intimidation. Instead, she reads the people around her, understands the power dynamics inside the Tripathi household, and repeatedly works to reclaim control.
Rasika Dugal Reflects on Beena Tripathi’s Trauma and Powerless Situations
In a conversation with NDTV, Dugal discussed the character’s darkest chapter: the end of Season 1, when Beena is sexually assaulted at gunpoint by her father-in-law, Satyanand Tripathi, also known as Bauji and played by Kulbhushan Kharbanda. Looking back at the sequence, Dugal admitted it was particularly difficult to portray a self-assured character stripped of her agency. I felt shattered to see Beena in a powerless situation,
Dugal said, highlighting the heavy emotional impact of the scene.
Understanding Beena’s Emotional Core and Physicality
According to Dugal, understanding Beena’s internal emotional world was never particularly challenging because the character motivations were clearly laid out in the writing. The greater hurdle for the actor was developing a physical presence that matched the character’s inherent confidence.
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,
Dugal explained. She praised the writing for ensuring that whenever Beena loses her agency, she manages to find a way toward a comeback. Reflecting on the moving moment when Beena locks the door at the end of the first season, Dugal noted that there was a deep sense of resignation in the action, as Beena knew the ordeal was something she had to endure.
Patriarchy, Female Agency, and the Character’s Comeback
Beyond the immediate crime and violence depicted in the series, Dugal noted that Beena’s storyline reflects broader societal truths about women living under patriarchal structures. The character eventually exacts revenge in Season 2 by brutally killing Bauji.
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,
Dugal stated, connecting Beena’s struggles to real-world dynamics. This ongoing battle for control has made Beena’s journey—moving constantly between vulnerability and strength—a central thread for viewers following the franchise into its big-screen adaptation directed by Gurmeet Singh.
Navigating Online Scrutiny and Female Desire
As one of the more sexually uninhibited characters in the series, Beena has frequently drawn discussions around female desire, sexuality, and subsequent online commentary. Addressing the backlash and trolling that often surrounds such portrayals, Dugal shared that she deliberately maintains strict personal boundaries to protect her creative process.
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,
Dugal said. Away from the intense media scrutiny and the heavy themes of the Mirzapur series, the cast—including Ali Fazal and Divyenndu—recently reunited over a special feast featuring food from Lucknow ahead of the theatrical release.
