Actress Girija Oak opened up about how ethnicity influences casting decisions in Bollywood, calling it a ‘strange game of perception’. She said it has mostly worked in her favour. The actress is currently receiving widespread praise for her role as a nurse in ‘Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata’, based on the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
Girija Oak, who has made a name for herself in both the Marathi and Hindi film industries, has opened up about how ethnicity and one’s physical appearance can influence casting decisions in the entertainment industry. She pointed out that such perceptions can work both ways, sometimes giving artists an advantage when it comes to bagging roles, and at other times working against them.
Girija Oak calls ethnicity in casting a ‘strange game of perception’
In an interview with PTI, the actor said, “I haven’t done any Marathi work in the last few years, and of late, more Hindi projects have come my way. I’ve always been offered a variety of roles. Maybe I don’t look Maharashtrian, or maybe I do to some people. Sometimes your ethnicity can work in your favour, and sometimes it can work against you. It’s a strange game of perception”.
Girija Oak’s journey from ‘Taare Zameen Par’ to ‘Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata’
Over the years, Girija Oak has built an impressive body of work across both Marathi and Hindi cinema. Some of her most notable projects include ‘Goshta Choti Dongraevadhi’, ‘Gulmohar’, ‘Baji’, ‘Taare Zameen Par’, ‘Shor in the City’, ‘Jawan’ and ‘Inspector Zende’. She was most recently seen in ‘Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata’, which has just hit the screens.
Girija Oak’s casting in ‘Perfect Family’ breaks industry stereotypes
Girija Oak cited her casting in the 2025 series Perfect Family as a perfect example of how stereotypes in the industry can be broken. She was cast in the show by renowned casting director Mukesh Chhabra, and she feels that this particular casting choice went against the usual norms and expectations that exist in the industry.
Girija Oak on playing a Punjabi character in ‘Perfect Family’: ‘It ultimately comes down to how people perceive me’
In the series, Girija Oak plays the role of Neeti Karkaria, a daughter-in-law who finds herself caught in the middle of the tensions and complications of a dysfunctional Punjabi family. Talking about how her ethnicity has influenced her casting over the years, she said, “Some people cast me for Maharashtrian characters because I can speak the language well and mix it with ‘Bambaiya Hindi’. Although I don’t speak that way in real life, I can work on it if the character requires it. So, if language and appearance are the only considerations, then it ultimately comes down to how people perceive me. But, overall, it has worked in my favour.” The 38-year-old actress also revealed that she was recently offered the role of the mother of a 40-year-old male lead, which came as quite a surprise to her. She also looked back on a contrasting experience, recalling how filmmaker Atlee, during the casting process of Jawan, told her that she looked very young and felt she would be a perfect fit for Shah Rukh Khan’s core team in the film.
Girija Oak on ‘Inspector Zende’ bringing her a new audience: ‘Cross-pollination between mediums is the best reward’
Reflecting on the uncertainty around how she is perceived in the industry, Oak said, “So, I don’t know how I’m perceived, where I’m placed in terms of age, ethnicity, region.” In Jawan, she played the role of Iskra, one of the six core female vigilantes who formed the vigilante squad working alongside Shah Rukh Khan’s character in the 2023 superhit action-thriller. The actress also expressed her gratitude for her role in Inspector Zende, where she starred opposite Manoj Bajpayee, saying that the project brought her a whole new wave of recognition and introduced her to a fresh set of audiences. She said, “Suddenly, a section of the audience has watched my work, and a new audience base has connected with me. The best outcome of this is that I do a lot of theatre, and every time I have a show, at least three people come up to me and say, ‘We’re watching theatre for the first time because we saw you on social media or watched one of your films.’ So, this kind of cross-pollination between mediums is the best reward.”
Girija Oak receives widespread acclaim for her role as a nurse in ‘Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata’
Girija Oak is currently being praised by audiences and critics alike for her powerful portrayal of a nurse in ‘Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata’, which released in theatres on Friday. The film tells the inspiring and moving story of the nurses and ward boys of Cama Hospital, who silently and bravely played a crucial role in saving lives during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. The film is led by Kangana Ranaut and also stars Smita Tambe and Esha Dey as nurses, and has been written and directed by Manoj Tapadia. To ensure that their performances were as authentic and realistic as possible, Oak and her co-stars, including Ranaut, Tambe and Dey, went through intensive workshops before the shoot. Real nurses were brought on set to train the cast on the finer details of the medical profession, such as how to handle syringes, administer injections and set up saline drips correctly, as revealed by Tambe.
Esha Dey visits hospital to prepare for her role in ‘Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata’
Esha Dey shared that she took it upon herself to visit a hospital personally and speak with real nurses and hospital staff to prepare for her role. She was deeply moved to see how humble and camera-shy these real-life heroes were, completely unaccustomed to being in the spotlight. Expressing her feelings, she said, “I feel grateful that we are representing such people, who are not able to talk about themselves because nobody has really acknowledged their work. We always remember doctors, but we don’t remember which nurse was there at my birth.” ‘Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata’ is produced by PEN Studios, Manikarnika Films and Paramhans Creations, in association with Eunoia Films LLP and Floating Rocks Entertainment Pvt Ltd. Go to Source
