Cinema VinesRasika Dugal, who has portrayed Beena Tripathi for eight years across three seasons of the Amazon Prime series Mirzapur and its latest film, spoke with the Hindustan Times about the mixed reactions to her character’s actions in Mirzapur: The Movie. The film, which opened two weeks ago, has already grossed more than ₹280 crore worldwide, cementing the franchise’s status as a box‑office juggernaut.
In the movie, Beena rekindles a romance with Birju Lohar, a newcomer played by Mohitt Maalik, and conspires to murder her husband, Kaleen Bhaiya, portrayed by Pankaj Tripathi. When the plan is foiled, Beena disowns Birju to protect herself, a pivotal moment that has sparked debate among viewers. While some praised the twist, others launched a barrage of hate toward Beena’s character.
Dugal noted that Beena receives criticism for killing a single man, whereas Munna Tripathi, played by Divyenndu, remains a beloved figure despite committing multiple murders. “This is very typical of a patriarchal society,” she said. “People are open to revering men, not women. Anything a woman does is questionable, and everything a man does is heroic and excusable.” She added that this double standard is a recurring issue for public figures, especially women.
Despite the negativity, Dugal said she also receives supportive messages, such as “More power to you!” She believes that playing strong female characters is a way to challenge the cycle of patriarchy. “I don’t think that will ever go away, but through these characters, I just get a glimpse into how the cycle of patriarchy is very difficult to get out of,” she explained. “It is often very discouraging, but it is a long battle. This is my one way of fighting it.”
The film also features Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Divyenndu, and Ravi Kishan, and continues to draw audiences to theatres. Dugal’s candid comments highlight the ongoing conversation about gender bias in Indian entertainment and society at large.
