Akansha Ranjan Kapoor: I Want to Push Myself Into Unfamiliar, Uncomfortable Spaces

Mumbai – Actress Akansha Ranjan Kapoor is drawn to characters that resonate with audiences and says she’s open to taking on roles that challenge her and push her beyond her comfort zone.

When asked about the kind of roles she’s eager to explore, Akansha told IANS, “I don’t think I’m too selective when it comes to specific roles. What matters to me is finding myself in situations that are uncomfortable and unfamiliar—something I haven’t done before and that’s very different from who I am.”

For her, the genre of a project isn’t a major factor.

“I’m not fixated on any particular genre,” she added. “I just want to keep challenging myself and take on roles that leave a lasting impression—characters that connect with people. With TVF, it was quite seamless because the way they write their characters is so well thought out and author-backed.”

Speaking about her role in Gram Chikitsalay and whether her character will develop further in Season 2, she shared: “Yes, Gargi is the female lead of the series. She didn’t have a major presence in the first season as her character was still being developed. But there’s definitely a lot more of Dr. Gargi to come in Season 2 and beyond.”

Akansha found it relatively easy to portray the de-glamorized character of Gargi.

“The character was so well-written that I found it easy to slip into her skin,” she said. “After all the preparation and script readings, I understood her—her motivations, her background. It became fairly easy to embody her.”

However, she admitted that the role came with its own challenges, as it was quite different from her real self.

“It was definitely challenging in the way any role is when you're playing someone so unlike yourself—but it was also fun and exciting. I've worked a lot on my Hindi diction over the years through film school and diction classes, so that helped.”

To better understand the nuances of her character, Akansha immersed herself in research.

“I watched a lot of YouTube videos of girls preparing for entrance exams and girls from tier-two towns—just to pick up on their speech patterns, accents, and local expressions.”

As for what’s next, Akansha revealed that new projects are on the horizon.

“There are two streaming projects I’m set to start either later this year or early next year. I’ll hopefully begin prepping for them soon,” she teased. “I can’t reveal much yet since they haven’t been officially announced, but they’re very exciting. Hopefully, you’ll hear more soon.”

With inputs from IANS