She has been noticed and liked a lot for her character Alia in the Vidya Balan-Shefali Shah starrer Jalsa. Meet the confident and very talented Kashish Rizwan who talks about her film Jalsa, working with stalwarts like Vidya Balan and Shefali Shah, challenges of wearing prosthetic makeup, nepotism and more.

Kashish, you’ve been noticed and liked in Jalsa, how did your journey in the entertainment industry begin?

I am really glad people have been noticing and liking me in the film. I came to Mumbai three years back when I joined an acting school ‘Actor Prepares’. It was a 3 month diploma course. As soon as I graduated from the school, I began auditioning and instantly started getting ads. Also, very soon after the course, I got my first film, which actually people don’t know about. It was an independent feature film and I was playing the protagonist in the film. That film never came out but I got so much to learn from it – it was my first time on a film set, knowing how I function as an actor, what my process for the craft is. I am very grateful for that. So yes, that’s how it all begun.

“I remember the whole process of creating it was so challenging but interesting for me. To get the measurements accurate, they wrap your whole body and face with plasters for around 3 hours or so – honestly the only connection to life are your nostrils.”

How did you bag Jalsa?

Last year around March, I actually came across an Instagram post that this casting company (Casting Bay) had put up! They needed an actor who could also dance. I thought I fit all the requirements, so I contacted them and sent my profile. I got a call back for an audition. It all happened very organically. We did a scene work for the audition – I sent them my dance videos and a couple of other things. Alia, the character that I play in the film – if you notice loves to make Tiktok/reel videos which is why the dance was required. The director and the team ended up liking me and called me for a screen-test. Soon after, I got a call back saying I had been locked for the part. I took some time to process that happiness!

“I am really glad people have been noticing and liking me in ‘Jalsa’.”

You had to go through prosthetic makeup for your character, tell us about this, was it difficult?

It was an extremely fun but challenging time for me. My makeup team was very kind and we used to spend hours to do that kind of prosthetic make in my Van. My one eye was throughout shut after the makeup came on. I had to stay with that for the entire day while we shoot. But my team was very careful and protective about me on set. Even Shefali Ma’am would very sweetly make sure that I am being handled with care! Also, it was my first time with prosthetics – and we also did something which is called extreme prosthetics where you create a replica dummy (for the accident scene). I remember the whole process of creating it was so challenging but interesting for me. To get the measurements accurate, they wrap your whole body and face with plasters for around 3 hours or so – honestly the only connection to life are your nostrils. I am very claustrophobic in real life and this did change a part of me. I had a mini ‘Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara’ moment for myself, haha. But of course, we had meetings before we did that and the entire team was extremely careful about it.

You had stalwarts like Vidya Balan and Shefali Shah in Jalsa, how was it working with them? Were you at any point intimidated working with these iconic women?

I have always looked up to both these wonderful women making it happen in the industry! I was very excited when I got to know that I was going to be working with them and I knew instantly I would come back home with some great learnings. They were extremely warm right from the beginning. So I wasn’t intimidated by them at all. I remember when we did the hospital scene where Maya comes to visit and Alia extends a hand to her, Vidya Ma’am was so happy to see my take and after my close up, she came to me and said the sweetest things about my performance. I had the biggest smile despite that the makeup barely allowed my lips to move, haha. I came back home with the happiest heart. Shefali Ma’am has my heart and I got such good energies from her. Like I had mentioned, she was very protective about me on set. Indeed, there’s so much to learn from both these strong women and not just by how incredible actors they are but also as people.

You are not from a filmi family so technically an outsider, what do you have to say about the nepotism and ‘outsiders versus insiders’ debate that’s been raging on?

I don’t really have a take on it right now because I am fortunate enough to have met very kind people but I know one thing for sure, that if you are talented enough you will get through. Honestly speaking, I admire Alia Bhatt who is a star kid but she is fabulous at what she does. If you are talented and you love your craft, you will get through despite the fact that you are a star kid or not.

“Vidya (Balan) Ma’am was so happy to see my take and after my close up, she came to me and said the sweetest things about my performance.”

“Shefali (Shah) Ma’am has my heart and I got such good energies from her.”

You’ve done ads too, tell us about them?

Yes, I have done ads for brand like Paytm, Coca Cola, Hershey’s kisses, Philips, Margo, Nykaa, Vivo, Everyuth and a few others. Ads usually have one or two shooting days and are quite fun. For me, as long as I am on set is all that matters. I love being on set and in front of the camera!

What’s next in terms of projects for you?

I am shooting for some project which I can’t talk about right now. I am also auditioning for many! I definitely see myself cracking some lead projects in the near future and that’s what I want to do – work on good stories and pull out good characters.