Right from her childhood, Rashi Mal was sure about what she wanted to do when she grew up. Though nobody in her family came from an artistic background, she developed a penchant for performing arts. In a short span of time, the actress has left an impression in films and TV and web shows. In this interview, she talks about ‘A.I.S.H.A My Virtual Girlfriend Season 3’, working with Kajol in ‘Helicopter Eela’, why working on the digital medium excites her and being a part of ‘Brahmastra’.
You have been a part of all the seasons of ‘A.I.S.H.A My Virtual Girlfriend’.
Yes, I was introduced towards the end of season one. The audience just saw a glimpse of me and then, in season two, my character came into prominence and it played an important part in the narrative. I am now happy to be a part of season three and hope that it is received well by the audiences like the last two seasons.
You made your film debut last year with ‘Helicopter Eela’. How was the experience of working on that film?
It was a great experience. I feel grateful about the fact that I made my debut with a lovely film like ‘Helicopter Eela’ and got to work with a wonderful director like Pradeep Sarkar in in my first film. Working with Kajol was surreal as I used to have a poster of her in my room back in the day. On the sets, half of the time I would just stare at her with an open mouth.
You started your career with the show MTV Rush.
Yes, that was my first acting job. I was born in Delhi but grew up in Mumbai. I do not come from a family which was into performing arts but I had a creatively inclined since childhood. I have been singing, dancing and acting from a very early age. I have done a lot of theatre and was a part of a dance company. These things were happening along with my education. One fine day, you realise you have got just one life and you must do what you really wish to. I think it started with my desire to explore myself. I was shy and reserved as a child, so I had the urge to express myself through art.
The entire season was wrapped up in a month. That is incredible for a sci-fi show.
Actually, we shot for less than a month. A lot of work goes into the making of a sci-fi show or a film but most of that work happens in the post-production stage. So, the team spent a lot of time working on the post-production process but we finished the shoot quickly.
You do not come from a film family. Was it difficult to get a foothold into the industry?
Yes, it is difficult for a person to get into the industry without any connections. I distinctly remember my first audition. It was for an ad. I entered into a room filled with a large number of boys and girls who were literally pushing each other to get inside. I got completely scared and ran away. If you are persistent and hard-working, things will get better eventually and you will find your way.
You have worked in TV, films and web. Do you have a favourite medium out of these three?
I prefer films and web over TV because of the kind of work happening in these mediums. I do really like the kind of content being made on television but it was a great experience doing the TV shows I did. Every medium is important as each of them caters to a specific set of audience. I feel people’s attention span has gone drastically down and that is why there is this huge demand for web shows which are finite in nature.
You are a part of ‘Brahmastra’. Tell us something about that film.
It has been a great experience working with Mr. (Amitabh) Bachchan, Ranbir, Alia and the entire team but I am not at liberty to talk about the film. Because of what the film is, there is a lot of secrecy around it and rightfully so. We are still shooting for it. It is supposed to be one of the biggest and most expensive films ever made and I am really excited to be a part of it.
You are a singer too. How do you plan to take it forward?
I have sung a song for Manisha Koirala starrer ‘Dear Maya’. I have also sung for several ads. I have put together a band and will release my first single soon. I am equally passionate about dance and used to be a part of Ashley Lobo’s dance group. My primary focus is on acting but I will continue to pursue dance and music simultaneously.
Which are the projects you are working on at the moment?
Right now, ‘Brahmastra’ is taking most of my time. I am also playing an important role in a films produced by Yash Raj Films.