Latest news with #Devika
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Shriya Pilgaonkar talks about receiving guidance from her actor parents Sachin & Supriya
Actress is the daughter of acclaimed actors, Sachin and . Despite coming from an acting background, Shriya revealed that her parents are never eager to give her answers and instead encourage her to ask the correct questions from herself. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Speaking to IANS, the 'Mirzapur' actress shared, "Whenever I face any doubt, I definitely ask my parents, but the amazing thing is that despite having a huge experience, they always try to enable me to ask the right questions from myself. They never instruct me to do or not do a certain thing, instead, they ask me to clear the doubt in my mind. Many a time, I refrain from discussing my work with them as I want them to witness it as an audience, and give me genuine feedback." Sharing the best part of having actor parents, Shriya said, "The best part is if I have to work on a dialect or have any query regarding any language, I have the luxury to ask them. Whenever they see my work, they see it as an audience, and give me genuine feedback." Work-wise, Shriya recently graced the screen as a police officer for the drama "Chhal Kapat The Deception". As part of her preparation for the role, Shriya talked to the female police officers of Uttar Pradesh, including ADG Padmaja Chauhan. Additionally, she was also introduced to 1090, a cutting-edge women's redressal helpline in the state. Talking about how her interaction with the female officers, enriched her character Devika, she revealed, "It gave me newfound love for my character in 'Chhal Kapat The Deception'. Devika, the character I play, isn't just a cop-she's a woman balancing her own pain and past while standing tall in the face of injustice. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now I hope audiences connect with that emotional truth when they watch the series". Helmed by Ajay Bhuyan, "Chhal Kapat The Deception" enjoys a stellar cast with Kamya Ahlawat, , , Yahhve Sharma, , , and Anuj Sachdeva in significant roles, along with others. Produced by Juggernaut Production, "Chhal Kapat The Deception" premiered on OTT on June 6. Chhal Kapat - The Deception Trailer: Shriya Pilgaokar, Kamya Ahlawat and Ragini Dwivedi Starrer Chhal Kapat - The Deception Official Trailer
Hans India
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Shriya Pilgaonkar interacts with women Police Officers for her role in ‘Chhal Kapat The Deception'
Actress Shriya Pilgaonkar has taken on the role of a police officer for the drama 'Chhal Kapat The Deception'. In order to enhance her performance, Shriya interacted with the female police officers of Uttar Pradesh, including ADG Padmaja Chauhan. She was further introduced to 1090, a cutting-edge women's redressal helpline in the state. Calling her time in Lucknow an eye-opener, Shriya said, 'Lucknow has such a timeless charm. I have visited the city many times including for shoots and I've always admired the city for its rich culture, warm people, and lip-smacking food.' Shedding light on her conversation with the lady officers, she added, 'But what truly moved me was meeting the incredible women police officers and learning about the 1090 helpline. It's not just a call centre—it's a lifeline for women across Uttar Pradesh. I was amazed by the scale of operations and the commitment with which these officers handle distress calls, often from women in deeply vulnerable situations. The way they respond—with empathy, urgency, and resolve—left a lasting impact on me.' Revealing how her experience enriched her character Devika for 'Chhal Kapat The Deception', the diva went on to say, 'It also gave me newfound love for my character in 'Chhal Kapat The Deception'. Devika, the character I play, isn't just a cop—she's a woman balancing her own pain and past while standing tall in the face of injustice. I hope audiences connect with that emotional truth when they watch the series'. Set in a village near Burhanpur, 'Chhal Kapat The Deception' talks about a rising social media influencer, who is found dead at her friend's wedding. Made under the direction of Ajay Bhuyan, the project boasts a stellar cast including Kamya Ahlawat, Ragini Dwivedi, Tuhina Das, Yahhve Sharma, Pranay Pachauri, Smaran Sahu, and Anuj Sachdeva, among others. Produced by Juggernaut Production, 'Chhal Kapat The Deception' premiered on ZEE5 on June 6.
Hans India
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Shriya Pilgaonkar steps into uniform with empathy for ‘Chhal Kapat The Deception'
Actress Shriya Pilgaonkar has stepped into the role of a determined police officer in the gripping drama Chhal Kapat The Deception, which premiered on ZEE5 on June 6. To bring authenticity to her character Devika, Shriya undertook an immersive experience in Lucknow, interacting with female police officers, including ADG Padmaja Chauhan, and learning about the innovative women's safety helpline, 1090. Calling her visit to the city 'an eye-opener,' Shriya shared, 'Lucknow has such a timeless charm. I've always loved its culture, warmth, and food. But what truly moved me was meeting the incredible women police officers and learning about the 1090 helpline. It's not just a call centre—it's a lifeline for women across Uttar Pradesh.' The actress expressed admiration for the scale and sensitivity of the helpline's operations, adding, 'The way these officers respond—with empathy, urgency, and resolve—left a lasting impact on me.' Speaking about how the experience shaped her portrayal of Devika, she said, 'Devika isn't just a cop—she's a woman carrying her own pain while standing against injustice. This experience gave me a deeper understanding of her strength and vulnerability. I hope viewers connect with her emotional truth.' Set in a village near Burhanpur, Chhal Kapat The Deception unfolds around the mysterious death of a rising social media influencer at a friend's wedding. Directed by Ajay Bhuyan and produced by Juggernaut Production, the series also features Kamya Ahlawat, Ragini Dwivedi, Tuhina Das, Yahhve Sharma, Pranay Pachauri, Smaran Sahu, and Anuj Sachdeva in key roles. The series blends suspense with social commentary, anchored by Shriya's compelling performance shaped by real-life heroes in uniform.
The Hindu
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘Devika & Danny' review: Ritu Varma impresses in her debut web series
In the first few minutes of the Telugu web series Devika & Danny, streaming on Jio Hotstar, Devika Nandan (Ritu Varma) discloses that she has lived her life within a 25-kilometre radius. She teaches music at a nearby village and is the sort of young woman who, despite her reservations about a groom being picked for her, thinks she can walk the line chosen by her father in the hope that a few 'adjustments' would make things work. Written by Deepak Raj and directed by B Kishore, this is a coming-of-age story of a woman who breaks boundaries and in the process, finds her voice. It is easy to gauge the path that Devika is likely to take; she cannot be restrained. The makers gradually reveal the different cards of the story, relying on uncomplicated storytelling. Romance and horror cross paths but unlike long-form stories on digital platforms that milk the genres for shock value with jumpscares and foul language, Devika & Danny caters to family viewing. Devika & Danny (Telugu) Director: B Kishore Cast: Ritu Varma, Surya Vashistta, Shiva Kandukuri, Subbaraju Streaming on: Jio Hotstar Ritu Varma's web series debut comes nearly nine years after her breakthrough Telugu film, Pelli Choopulu, and there are a few uncanny similarities. Like in that romance comedy drama, here too, she plays a woman who tries, without rebelling too much, to make her father understand her point of view. Unlike the urban-bred character of Pelli Choopulu, here she is limited by her conditioning and lack of exposure. However, the narrative is peppered with a few supporting characters who act as a catalyst, helping Devika take that leap of faith. Ritu plays Devika with restraint and conviction; the part is a cakewalk for her and she brings in both the required innocence and strength. Surya Vashistta steps in to play the other titular character, Danny, initially coming off as a free-spirited, breezy personality. That this character sweeps Devika off her feet is not a surprise. In the meantime, we get glimpses of several other characters, ranging from a gangster, his wife and brother-in-law to an elderly man who is weighed down by his ability to see and listen to spirits, and a self-centred groom (Subbaraju). The prospect of a triangular post-engagement romance drama unfolds in an endearing manner. What makes this less predictable is a crucial reveal and the need for a character to seek redemption. It also sets Devika's character on a new trajectory. Danger lurks as she takes on forces that may be too huge for her to handle. However, the makers opt for a few convenient writing choices that almost dilute the intrigue in the later episodes. The over-reliance on voiceovers that explain a character's point of view could have also been toned down, letting the audience connect the dots. Harsha Chemudu appears in a brief part that doesn't add value to the series, but Goparaju Ramana, in his brief appearance, enacts a character that establishes how generational patriarchy works. The underlying aspect of patriarchy and how Devika rises above it is dealt with sensitivity and the right amount of assertiveness. Shiva Kandukuri gets a pivotal character that may have further scope in the coming season. While Devika & Danny makes for an easy watch, the intrigue wears off once the key plot points are revealed. For the next season, the story will require more heft.
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First Post
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- First Post
Shriya Pilgaonkar on her series 'Guilty Minds' not being renewed for season 2: 'Don't know what the reasons were, it wasn't even a very expensive show and...'
Shriya Pilgaonkar is making some really interesting choices as an actress. She has acted in both films and OTT and especially on the streaming platform, she has titles like The Broken News, Taaza Khabar, and Guilty Minds, which became one of the best reviewed shows of 2022. Pilgaonkar's new web-series 'Chhal Kapat' drops on Zee5 today and is a whodunnit where the actress plays the investigative officer. In an exclusive interview, she speaks about this show, her reaction to Guilty Minds not being renewed for another season, and the evolution of content in the last few years. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Edited excerpts from the interview How did you prepare for this role of an investigating officer? It's interesting because Devika Rathore's character is not like the usual aggressive cop or the usual portrayal you may see, as male cops maybe portrayed. Devika is somebody who asserts her authority even through her smile, even through her silences. And for me, it was very interesting to develop a certain kind of a body language to her and also to understand her inner world because she's recently been widowed. She lost her husband in an accident recently, and she wanted to move from a larger town to a smaller place. She wanted to change her, she she got posted there because she wanted to move away from the big city and the noise. So she is basically at a very interesting juncture in her life. So when you see her when I wanted to play her, I did not want to play her like a typical aggressive cop. So more than watching cop films or trying to copy any mannerisms, for me, it was really about working with my director and writers and creating Devika from scratch. So do you see any similarities between Shree and Devika? Devika's character is very instinctive, very, sharp, and she a good she has a very sharp instinctive sense about people. And I think that is something that I can say is common between Devika and I because, more often than not, I'm also very instinctive about people and situations. Of course, sometimes I've been wrong, but, mostly I think I can say that I'm quite sharp with my instincts. So that is one thing that I can say. And since this is a whodunnit, while you were reading the script or while the script was being narrated to you, were you curious to know what's going to happen next? That's the reason why I decided to do this because whodunit is my favourite genre. And, I've grown up watching and reading Agatha Christie, Enid Blyton, Sherlock Holmes, Nancy Drew, and we've grown up watching a lot of murder mysteries and investigative dramas. So the reason that I actually even wanted to do this is because I really like the format of seven episodes, 20-25 minutes each. It's a family entertainer. And the way it's written, it's very crisp, and I could see myself wanting to know more because I was hooked. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD You have made some really interesting choices as an actor. I want to ask you ever since the streaming platform has seen a rise, how much do you feel we have seen content evolve or change. It has. There's no two ways about it. And, see, evolution is a part of showbiz, and they'll constantly be learning and unlearning. And I'm very grateful that makers have trusted me with really good scripts and nuanced characters, whether it was a lawyer in Guilty Minds or Mirzapur or a sex worker in Taaza Khabar or a journalist. I feel like all these parts that I've played have been so beautifully written that I've had so much creative emotional fulfilment in my journey playing these different parts. But like I said, we also have to accept that the industry keeps going through its process. You know, there's a phase where sometimes there's too much content that's not very good out there, and then there'll be something amazing and inspiring that comes out, and then everyone try to make that. But, eventually, content that really works is content that is authentic, which is original and not trying to be something that it's not. So I feel like actors like me are very grateful to the OTT space because of the way it paved for us to bring our skills to the table, and the hope is for for work on OTT to also bring in more film work. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD You just said that there is a lot of content out there, which is not good, and we have seen multiple seasons of that show. But when it comes to Guilty Minds, as you said, it was original. It was inspiring. It was amazing. It was one of the best shows of 2022, and yet we get the heart-breaking news that it will not be renewed for season two. I was also heartbroken. I don't have any answer to your question. I myself don't know what to say. I don't know what to say to this. I don't know what the reasons were, whether it was a business decision because it was not even a very big show. It was not even a very expensive show. So I don't know, but I also feel like what happens is sometimes shows that people claim that they don't like, are spoken so much about on social media that eventually people are curious and they go watch it and that gives the numbers. So it becomes cringe watching. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Maybe it has to do with their machinery. I guess somewhere good shows need the support of good mounting as well. And I think somewhere, even the media needs to support it. Even the audience needs to support it. Because the same audience who's asking for good content needs to also support it with numbers. I was very emotionally attached to that show, and I felt very sad to know that we wouldn't be doing a season two, and we just have to accept it and then hopefully make others other stuff now. What do I say? How would you describe the character of Devika? Devika as a cop is very strong, but in her personal life, she feels disrespected and she knows her husband was very insecure about her. And I think a lot of women in power may be going through the same thing where they don't they have that respect of at work, but they may not be surrounded by people who are secure and respectful to them in their personal life. So I hope when people watch it, they are inspired, especially women, to stay in their power and to stand up for themselves. That is one thing that is a very interesting layer to Devika's character STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It's not about just doing this once. I think it's about creating different characters because the cop in Singham to the cop Rani Mukerji in Mardaani to Delhi Crime to Chhal Kapat, they're all different versions of people in the system.
