But Mishti Chakraborty is glad she took up the role of Kashibai
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 17, 2018)

Mishti Chakraborty who made her debut with Subhash Ghai’s Kaanchi: The Unbreakable opposite Kartik Aaryan in 2014, will be seen next as Kashibai in Kangana Ranaut’s Manikarnika - The Queen of Jhansi. She informs that it was the film’s producer, Kamal Jain,who had reached out to her with the role. “I was hesitant because I wasn’t keen on a secondary character. He (Jain) explained that the character is an important one as Kashibai was Lakshmibai’s childhood friend and her emotional anchor. Every historical figure cannot be a hero all by himself or herself, there are others who make them in becoming one,” she reasons.

Speaking about her rapport with Kangana, Mishti asserts that the actress was a co-operative costar. “Towards the end, when she directed the film, we bonded more. She’d describe the scenes in great detail,” she shares.

Mishti admits she’d still think twice before accepting a character that isn’t the lead considering she is a Ghai protégé. “I have been doing well down South with movies in four-five other languages. Even Manikarnika was not a film I needed to take up but I’m glad I did. I had grown up hearing about Rani Lakshmibai and it was fantastic to see her and other characters come to life,” she concludes.