Rashami Desai might be a mainstay in the television industry, but not many know that the actor made her Bollywood debut with Yeh Lamhe Judaai Ke (2004) five years before joining the cast of Uttaran, a show that propelled her to fame.

Desai, who was seen in the recently released film, Jahangir National University (JNU), admits that while her Bollywood career did not take off at the time, she feels it has finally picked up pace.

“I have always believed that good things take time and patience. Sometimes, in order to accelerate in life, you need to move in reverse first,” says the actor, who is labelling the film as the “beginning” of her film career. “A lot of fans and critics appreciated JNU. So yes, this is the beginning but there’s a long way to go and I am all up for it,” she tells us.

Ask if her stint in television might have hampered her trajectory in films and Desai replies, “It’s about how you look at the situation, instead of just labelling it as an obstacle. But yes, when you have been acting in television for a long time, there is a certain sense of acceptance from your audience. Breaking away from that comfort zone into unknown territory is always difficult and a brave call.”

The 38-year-old acknowledges that it has been a rocky ride, but shares that she’s looking forward to whatever comes her way. “It’s been difficult but nothing is really impossible if you have clarity about your approach,” she says, adding, “Eventually things work in your favour; I am now looking forward to working harder and doing better work in cinema.”

Desai also reveals that she has multiple Bollywood and OTT projects in the pipeline. “There’s quite a lot that’s happening. I am not in a position to talk about any of it till the official announcements take place, but yes, I am really excited about this phase as an actor,” she ends.