Criminal Justice actor Asha Negi: 'I was typecast then, I might be getting typecast again'
Ahead of the release of Criminal Justice: A Family Matter—currently streaming on JioHotstar—actor Asha Negi spoke exclusively to OTTplay about evolving as an artist, the conscious shift from television to web platforms, and the challenges of typecasting.
Stream Asha Negi's performances in Pavitra Rishta, Baarish, and Abhay now streaming on OTTplay Premium.
Reflecting on how her choices as an actor have evolved, Asha said, "That is actually a very interesting question, because I feel when I look back at my journey, how lost and naive I used to be, even like picking my (roles). But even if you're young, you just want to do work. You want to be famous, and you love the whole glamour part of it. But I think with time, as you were, as an actor, as a person, you want to do more meaningful work."
The actor added that her current decisions are more rooted in the desire to be creatively fulfilled and pushed out of her comfort zone. "So lately, I've been choosing the kind of work that is meaningful, that challenges me, that maybe sometimes gives me sleepless nights, and that charges me up. I see when I'm really, really passionate about something; after this entire journey, the entire process of doing Criminal Justice was so, so satisfactory."
Describing the personal satisfaction she drew from the show, she recalled, "So many times when I would come back home and call my friends and tell them about it, I could see my eyes twinkling or charged up. The kind of project and the kind of characters that make me feel that feeling are how I've been selected for my work lately."
When asked about shifting from daily soaps to web series, Asha revealed the unlearning process wasn't immediate. "So when I consciously quit television, I remember going to a lot of workshops; that is where I started unlearning. I remember I wasn't even aware that I was unlearning a lot of stuff."
She added, "In fact, people would tell me who have seen me long back during television days, and then that you've done a lot of unlearning, and that is the most difficult part, which it is; unlearning is actually more difficult than learning. But the good part is that I wasn't aware that I was unlearning it."
According to her, even now, it's an ongoing process. "Even now, I would be unlearning a lot of things that I learnt back then. Where it's only when you see the progress later that you realise, 'Okay, that has happened.'"
Asha also opened up about facing typecasting at various stages of her career. "When I had initially started working, when I was new, people typecast me then, but I think that's how it is. That's how it works in industry, and I don't blame them for it being easy to see somebody's work in a box."
She noted how rarely people are willing to take casting risks. "In fact, today only, I'm talking to a friend who was a director, and he's like, 'It is a very risky job to anti-cast somebody, to cast somebody in a role where people would be, 'What? It is so risky.' But if it's actually done well, it would create something really beautiful."
Recognising a recurring pattern in her career, she concluded, "So I was typecast earlier, and I think I'm again getting typecast now that you've asked me this question, and when I'm realising that again, it has started happening but now I feel I will have to take risks idhar-udhar."
Criminal Justice: A Family Matter is now streaming on JioHotstar.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Vikramaditya Motwane says Bhavesh Joshi Superhero was ‘angrier'; fans ask sequel even as he says ‘no one watched it'
Director-producer Vikramaditya Motwane spoke about his 2018 vigilante film Bhavesh Joshi Superhero, which did not work at the box office but has gained a cult following through the years. In an interview with IMDb, the filmmaker got candid about how 'no one watched' the film, but it has since received love. (Also Read: Vikramaditya Motwane has a mic-drop reaction to Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos' comment on Sacred Games. See pic) Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor in a still from Vikramaditya Motwane's Bhavesh Joshi Superhero. Vikramaditya spoke about how Bhavesh Joshi Superhero was born out of his anger at the system, with the passport scene from the film, in particular, being inspired by real life. He then said, 'The original script was a lot angrier. It almost got made a couple of times but didn't, so I put it to bed for a while.' The project was revived when Abhay Koranne read the script and asked Vikramaditya to work on it. Vikramaditya also said that his love for superhero films and graphic novels, along with a sense of real-life injustice, inspired Bhavesh Joshi Superhero. He said, 'When the film was released, no one went and saw it in theatres. To see the love and passion for the film now is very heartening. " He ended the video by teasing that there might be a sequel. Comments under the interview saw fans of the vigilante film ask for a sequel. One person wrote, 'Only a Bhavesh Joshi sequel can fix me now.' Another wrote, 'Sequeeeeelll.' Another wrote, 'Movie to achi thi hi soundtrack bhi Boht mast tha (The movie was good, as was the soundtrack).' Some fans even commented, asking Vikramaditya to re-release the film in theatres. About Bhavesh Joshi Superhero Bhavesh Joshi Superhero follows the origin tale of a young man named Siku (Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor) who turns into a masked vigilante after his friend is murdered. Set against a corrupt system, Siku fights against indifference as a crusader on a mission. Priyanshu Painyuli, Ashish Verma, and Nishikant Kamat also star in the film, which is available for streaming on JioHotstar.
New Indian Express
6 hours ago
- New Indian Express
The 2nd edition of World Santoor Day celebrations to begin in Delhi, honouring late Pandit Bhajan Sopori
The day also marks the birth anniversary of Pandit Bhajan Sopori. His son, Abhay Rustum Sopori—general secretary of the Sopori Academy of Music and Performing Arts (SaMaPa)—explains that he felt a deep responsibility to dedicate this day to the broader cause of cultural upliftment: for the artists, their art, and the musical traditions they represent. 'Anybody who calls me always talks about Papa—his humanitarian work, his music, his love for people, and of course, his Santoor,' says Abhay. Today, the world celebrates World Music Day, or Fête de la Musique—a tribute to music and musicians everywhere, and their power to connect people across cultures, languages, and borders. Just a day after these global festivities, the soulful strains of the Kashmiri santoor will take centre stage as the 2nd edition of World Santoor Day is celebrated on June 22. An artist-led initiative, the day honours the legacy of santoor maestro Pandit Bhajan Sopori and seeks to spotlight the instrument's ancient origins and cultural significance. World Santoor Day was born from that spirit—a conscious decision to mark June 22 not with grief, but with celebration. 'Focusing on the Santoor, we decided to centre this day around my father,' says Abhay. 'He was a musician who devoted his entire life to music and the service of culture. So instead of sitting with a sense of loss, I wanted to celebrate his life—75 years of it—and over seven decades of contribution to music.' For Abhay, the day is both personal and deeply philosophical. 'My father and I shared a unique bond—not just as father and son, but as guru-shishya and co-creators. He taught me music, also how to build systems, festivals, and institutions. And most importantly, he taught me to give back,' he says. Beyond the personal, the day also seeks to reclaim the cultural legacy of Kashmir, placing the Santoor—also known as the Shatha Tantri Veena—on the global stage. 'Kashmir has always been a cradle of art and culture. Aesthetics is Kashmir's gift to the subcontinent, and the santoor is one of its most beautiful expressions,' he explains. 'Our family has carried this tradition for centuries. And when the instrument travels, it carries a piece of Kashmir's soul with it.' This year's celebration spans borders, with performances in Argentina, Colombia, China, and the USA, alongside sessions in Odisha and a full-scale concert in New Delhi, where the main event will take place. Through the Sopori family's SaMaPa (Sopori Academy of Music and Performing Arts), this ethos of giving back continues—by providing platforms to emerging artists, promoting cultural literacy, and supporting documentation efforts, including a forthcoming book next year based on Abhay's research into the instrument's antiquity and spiritual lineage. When asked what audiences should expect from the event, Abhay says, 'They should take back a sense of great pride—in Indian culture, in our musical heritage, and in the santoor itself. They should feel the essence of Kashmir, and the ethos that the santoor carries through centuries of tradition.' The celebration also serves to reclaim the Santoor's rightful space in Indian classical music. 'This day is about pride,' Abhay affirms. 'It's about taking home not just the sound of the Santoor, but the spirit of Kashmir, the depth of our traditions, and the joy of cultural unity through music.' The 2nd World Santoor Day celebrations will take place on Sunday, June 22, at Chinmaya Mission Auditorium, Lodhi Road, New Delhi, from 5:30 PM onwards
Hindustan Times
7 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Liked Dhanush in Kuberaa? 5 Indian films in which heroes were convincing as beggars
Tamil superstar Dhanush's recent performance as a beggar in the Telugu-Tamil bilingual Kuberaa, has earned him much praise. Dhanush's raw and realistic portrayal as a man asking for alms has won over audience. While it is to be appreciated, it is also noted that there have been previous instances when famous actors have played beggars onscreen. We list you five such films. Stills from Bloody Beggar and Muthu Watch the best of 2025 Tamil films; from family drama Kudumbasthan to horror thriller Murmur on OTTplay Premium Bloody Beggar (Prime Video) Bloody Beggar is a 2024 Tamil black comedy starring Kavin in the lead role and is directed by debutant Sivabalan Muthukumar. In the film, Kavin plays a nameless lazy beggar, who finds glory in the joy of begging. What happens when he partakes in a feast organised by a rich family is the crux of the story. The film is produced by Nelson Dilipkumar and stars Radha Ravi, Redin Kingsley, Padam Venu Kumar, Prudhvi Raj, Saleema, Priyadharshini Rajkumar, Sunil Sukhada ,among others. Pichaikkaran Pichaikkaran is a 2016 Tamil film, written and directed by Sasi and stars Tamil actor-composer-producer Vijay Antony in the lead role. The film revolves around a millionaire who has to be a beggar for 48 days and not reveal his true identity, in order to fulfill his prayers to save his sick mother. Satna Titus, Bagavathi Perumal, Vazhakku En Muthuraman, and Dheepa Ramanujam form the supporting cast. Traffic Signal Traffic Signal is a 2007 Hindi social drama starring Kunal Khemu, Neetu Chandra, Ranvir Shorey and Konkona Sen Sharma among others. The film written and directed by Madhur Bhandarkar, explores the lives of people who live at traffic signals, a bustling spot in the city. Traffic Signal won two National Film Awards; one for Best Director and other National Film Award for Best Make-up Artist for Anil Moti Ram Palande. Muthu In the 1995 Tamil film Muthu, directed by KS Ravikumar, actor Rajinikanth played dual roles as father and son. The film revolves around a wealthy zamindar's close friendship with his chariot driver, an orphan. However, the film also explores the past of these two men, and how the father of one of them who was a flourishing zamindar, now lives a life of a beggar. Featuring Meena, Sarath Babu, Vadivelu, Radha Ravi and others, the film was a commercial blockbuster. Otta Nanayam (JioHotstar) Otta Nanayam is a 2005 Malayalam film directed by Suresh Kannan, featuring Dinu Dennis and Priya Mani in the lead roles. The film follows the life of a poor man who is forced to take to begging so that he can get some money to do an operation on his sick mother. It explores the lives of beggars, the exploitation of the down-trodden and how rackets are organised with those seeking alms.
