Actress Girija Oak has spoken about how race influences casting decisions in Bollywood, calling it a “weird game of perception”. She said it mostly worked to her advantage. The actress is currently receiving widespread acclaim for her role as a nurse in Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata, based on the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai.
Girija Oak, who has made a name for herself in both the Marathi and Hindi film industries, spoke about how race and physical appearance influence casting decisions in the entertainment industry.
She noted that such perceptions can work both ways, sometimes giving artists an advantage when it comes to packaging roles, and other times working against them.
Girija oak He calls race in casting a “weird game of perception.”
In an interview with PTI, the actor said, “I have not done any Marathi work in the last few years, and recently, more Hindi projects have come my way. I have always been offered a variety of roles. Maybe I don’t look from Maharashtria, or maybe I look with some people.”
Sometimes your ethnicity can work for you, and sometimes it can work against you. “It’s a weird game of perception.”
Girija Oak’s journey from ‘Tari Zamin Par’ to ‘Bharat Bhagya Vidhata’
Over the years, Girija Oak has built an impressive body of work in 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 recently seen in the movie ‘Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata’ which has just hit the screens.
Girija Oak’s casting for ‘Perfect Family’ breaks stereotypes in the industry
Girija Oak cited her casting in the 2025 series Perfect Family as a perfect example of how to break stereotypes in the industry. She has been cast in the show by renowned casting director Mukesh Chhabra, and she feels that this casting choice goes against the usual norms and expectations that exist in the industry.
Girija Oak on playing a Punjabi character in ‘The Perfect Family’: ‘Ultimately it’s about 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 complexities of a dysfunctional Punjabi family.
Speaking about how her ethnicity influenced her casting over the years, she said, “Some people have 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, in the end it’s about how people perceive me. The 38-year-old actress also revealed that she was recently offered the role of the mother of a 40-year-old hero, which came as a big surprise to her. She also looked back on the contrasting experience, recalling how director Atlee, during the casting process for Joan, 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’ brings her new audience: ‘Cross-media cross-pollination is the best reward’
Reflecting on the uncertainty of how she will be perceived in the industry, Oak said: “So, I don’t know how I’m perceived, where I’m placed in terms of age, race or region.” In Jawan, she plays the role of Iskra, one of the six primary female guards who form the vigilante squad that works alongside Shah Rukh Khan’s character in the blockbuster action thriller of 2023. 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 appreciation and introduced her to a new set of audiences.
“Suddenly, a section of the audience saw my work, and a new audience base connected with me,” she said. “The best outcome of that 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 seeing theater for the first time because we saw you on social media or we saw one of your films.’ So this kind of cross-media cross-pollination is the best bonus.”
Girija Oak received widespread acclaim for her role as a nurse in Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata.
Girija Oak is currently receiving praise from audiences and critics alike for her powerful portrayal of a nurse in Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata, which released in theaters on Friday. The film tells the inspiring and poignant story of the nurses and ward boys at Cama Hospital, who silently and courageously played a crucial role in saving lives during the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai. Directed by Kangana Ranaut, the film stars Smita Tambe and Isha Dey as nurses, and is 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 extensive workshops before filming. Real nurses were brought in to train the actors on the ins and outs of the medical profession, such as how to handle syringes, administer infusions and properly prepare saline solutions, Tambe revealed.
Isha Dey visits the hospital to prepare for her role in Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata
Isha Dey shared that she took it upon herself to personally visit the hospital and talk to real nurses and hospital staff to prepare for her role.
She was deeply moved when she saw how humble and shy these real-life heroes were in front of the camera, completely unaccustomed to being in the spotlight. “I feel grateful that we represent these people, who can’t speak for themselves because no one really acknowledges their work,” she said, expressing her feelings.
We always remember the doctors, but we don’t remember which nurse was there when I was born.” ‘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.